23 The SODS of Levi, the chief the &ther«, ■were written in the book of the ■Chroucles, even until the days of Johaoaa the son of KHashib.
24 And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Eadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise caul to ^ve thanks, ■ according; to the commaodment of David the man of God, ^ ward f>rer againit ward.
25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah,)bshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were portera keeiwair the ward at the * thresholds of the ^tes.
26 These xoere in the days Joi^m the son of Jeshua, the sonof Jozadak, and in the daysef
he must have been at this time upwaids of a immdrtd years of age: and this case is not improbable, as ma «pecial providence mi^t preserve such a very useful mm beyond the ordinary age of men. See what has been mui on the case of Ndienuah, A. i. I.
Terse 7. 7Tu thief iff lh*prUel»\ Tbef wm twimlf' /our orders or courses in number, all subordinale to can othsr, as established by David, 1 Chron. xxiv. 18. Atd these ordera, or coorsea, were continued till the deacnxy tion of Jerusalem hy the Bomane. See CaJmeL
Verse 11. Jaddua] Hiiswas tbe hirii priest vbo wot in his pontifical rooesi accompanied hy bis bre<hisi^ io meet AfexBoder tbe Cheat, iriwn be was sdvanHng lonit Jerusalem, with Ihe purpose to destroy it, afker imwwf conquered Tyre and Craza. Alexander was ao struck wM the appearance of the priest, that fae fortnm all boadtiiies egunst Jerusalem, prostrated himself before Jadte, worshipped the Lord at the temple^ and granted many privileges to tbe Jews. See Jotmua, An-. lilt. xL c. &
7\> the reign qf Daritu the Persioii] Calmetmim' tains that this must have boon DariuM Codomamn*, whs was defeated by Alexander tbe Great; but ArchKalicv Uaihtr understands tt of Darhu JVbCfttia^ in whose ie«a he thinks Jiuldua was bom vho was high priest vamr DarivM Codomanue.
Vf-rse 23. 7Vu book &e Ckmidee} TUs is not the book of Chrontetee which we have now, no snch bat being found in it| but sons other book or r^jaHrvUeh is now losL
Verse 28. T^s threehold* of ike gcda] Sums wi»m stand this of a sort of fori^xteM^ at the jates; ssid era puzzled about it, because they fii>d no mention of psitiooBs elsewtiere: But why m^ we not suppose these U: ble our woftA-ftoM^ oi some teovoRUr raorcsMe i for those who took care of the gates 'r Tliat dwn have been aoow auohooweniences^ eommooi
IVehemiah ' the governor, and of Bzra the priest, • the scribe. B."d«» 27 If And at ' the dedicaUon of the ^o.&m trail of Jenualem the^ sought the
■nLSb'tf Levitea out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the
dedication with gladoess, 'both with thanlu-
88 And the sons of the einirers gathered ihem- •dvet together, both oat m the plain country reood about Jerunlem, and ftom uie Tfllageaof Netoj^thi;
89 AlsofromthelMMwe^Oilgal.andoutorthe fields of Qeba and Azmaveth: for the singers had buHded them Tillages round about Jenualem.
30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the ffacte«Land the wall.
31 Then 1 brought up the ivincea of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companiea qf them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall ■ toward Uiednng-gate;
38 And after tbem went HoAaiah, and half af thi princes of Judah,
35 And eertaiM, of the priests* soos ^ with trumpets; namely, Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattanifdi, the son of Bdichaiah, the son of Zaceur, the son of Asaph;
36 And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, HUalai,Qilalai, Maai, NetiianQe], and Judah, Ha- Baai, wiUi > the musical instruments of David the man of Ood, and Ezra the scribe before them.
37 ■ And at the fountain-gjate, which was over against tbem, ther went upoy ■ the stairs of the city of Davki, at tne going up of the wall, above
Vem 2t. AlA* dmiication^liu ieoU\ Tbey lent for the I^itM from sll quartera, that thit deakadoD might be mm ■oleum sod majeMie u poMOrle t and it ia likely that this mu dons Si scmhiss flMnenient sfter disinlU were flnwhad. Hw dediestioD aeeai to h»e "wuiitf^ in proaeaaiona ot the moat enuneBt penona aniaiMl the walla) aod ihsnkigiTuin to God, who hsd eosbled them to brine ifae work to eo happy a ooneluaioD: and no doute to w this vera sdded a pftiealar anutenOion of the dty to Ood, and the moat esmoat invocation th&t he would take it auder hia cuardisn aus, and dafcnd it sad its inhalant* anrinat all iMr anenusK ^Ths sneients eooseerated their ellUt to the eoda; aod the veiy waiU were oonaidered aa aacred. Ovid Rivea ug mn aeeoum of Ihe oeiemooieB uaed in laying the foundationa of the woZfa ^ tluatgtif Kim*, hr RomUiu. AfUr tkSTiQg eonauuad tosetbar who titmM give name to the eity, and hare dw (Breetioa of the waU by which it waa neoeaaary to aunomd it, dtqr agreed to fat the eaaa be ileeidedbyibeflichtofbiida. Onehrolber wMttiotbe top «f the Moiia PaUUDoa, other lo thatof mount Avanthie. Romuhia aaw twelve birds, Remua aaw but aiz: the fbrdoer, therefereiaeeordingtoa^^ment, took the oommand. The _poet thus deacribea lbs oeremoniea used oa the
' A pnpw oar ia cJiown ^ wfatah ho Boay mark out the walbwilhUMplo^t Ae ft^ral afPaUawaaaihand when the work waabecun. Aditeh iadufrdown to the aolid clay, into whidi they caat the fruita « the aeaaon; and briiv ssrth bom ^ oeigbbouring ground, with which they iU np the trench; and on it boild an altar, ky vAose IhMs lbs Mwly oHds Mith is elsft UBBder.
the house of David, even unto ■ the water-gata eastward.
38 r And the other company t^f them that govt thanka went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from bevond ^ the tower of the iurnacea even unto ' the broad wall.
39 *And from above the gate of E^iraim, and above > the old gate, ana above ■ the fish* gate, * and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto ' the sheep-gate: and they stood still in ■ the prison-gate.
40 So stood the two eoim>anies of them that gave thanks in the house of^God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me:
42 And Maaseiah, and Bhenmiah, and Eleazar, and Vzzi, and JehohanaOr and Malchijab, and Elam, ana Ezer. And the singers 'sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.
43 Also that day they ofiered great saei and rejoiced: tor God had made them j
with great joy: the wives uso and the ct
rejoiced *, so that the joy of Jerusalem was baaril even afar off,
44 If 'And at that time were some appointecf over the chambers for the treasures, for the ofleritigB, for the first-fruits, and for the tkhea, to gather into them, out of the fields of the cities, the portions 'of the law for the priests and Le* vites: *■ for Judah rejoiced for the priests andibr the Levites * that wailed.
45 And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the pqrification, ''accOTding to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.
46 For in the da^s of David * and Asaph of old there were chiefof the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.
fbea Romulua^ ieizins the plou^ which a white heifer, yoked with a snowy bull, draw along, marked out the walla with a fiirrow. And thus apoke the king^'O Jupiter, and Father 3bn, with Matron Veata, proaper BW in founding thii ci^ 1 And allye goda approach whomaoever it ia right to inv(Ae 1 Under your auapieeo mav the work artae; it eaihire for coontleaa ageai ana be the miatreaa of the world land may the Eaat anil the Weat be under ita control.' Thua he prajnd.",
The above ia a literal version j and the aocount ia not a little curioua.
Verae 29. Jn-om ttu houu of OUgdl, and oui qf A« JUbU qf Geba and AxmaeahJ Or, from Beth-ailgaJ t a village erected in the place where the laraelitea encamped after they bod, under the direction of Joahua, faawd over Jordan.
Verae 30. Tfu prUtU and tlu LaUet jmrifUd Oum- <«fM«j Thii eoooisted in waAinga, abatioence from wine, and other matter*, which, on bII (Mher occaaiona, were law^. And as to the purifying of the ga/ca and the tsoUfc nothing waa requiaiie but to remove all filth from the former, and ail nAbiah that midu have been laid against the latter.
Verae 31. Thm I brmight up the prineta] Pediua thia verae ahould be read tbua: " ilien I cmiiwd the primes of Judah to goupon the wall) and appointed two great choir^ [to aing piaiaeai] and <ioo proceaiiona, one ca the ruiit band, Ac.
The following secma to have been the order of the pro* eeaaion: — He divided the prUtUy the LetUt*, the magi»- trait*, and (he people, into fuocomnonMa; each company to go round ooe half of the wall. IW b^jan at the AtwgtoiA one party goingto the WgW and the other totbe Ql^ till they met at the gnat tpaee opponU to the tempU. vrbere they all ofiered gnat ncrificea to God, and rejc^Md with exceeding great joy; dioutti^ ao that tlM neiae waa heard agreat way off.
Verae 38. The bnad woii] What part thia was w« koownott itmightbavabaaoaplaeadeeigiMdfiirapiifr. ItcpnmmmUi or aporoda fcr aasenblingthe maaa or guard (tfthsieotple.
4T And alt Israel, in the days of Zerabbabel, and in the da/s of Nehemiah, gave the portions of tbe aingeura and the porters, every day his portioD: 'And Uier ' MUietified AoJy things unto the Lervites; ''and the Levitea aanctified them vat* the ohildrea of Aaron.
c.CBrij.t_ people; and therein waa found written, " that the AmmoDite and the Moabite should not oeme into the congregation of God for ever;
2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but ■ hired Balaam a^kist them, that he should curse them: " howbeit oar God turned the curse into a hlessine.
3 Now it came to pass, when thejr had heard the law, f that they separated fi-om Inrael all the mixed multitude.
4 ^ And before this. Bliashib the priest 4haviu the eversi^t of the chamber of the house or DOT Ood, wa# allied tmte Tobiah:
5 And he had prepared for htm a great chamber, ' where aAtretiaie they laid the meat-offer' iags, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, " irty<^> was commanded to be given to the Levites^ and the singers, and the porters; and the oBerinss of the priests.
B. a «r 3 ^ ^'I this time was not I at Jerusalem: "for in the two and thircitikft M tieth year of Artaxwxee king of Baby- Lvinhj** came I unto the king, and * after certain days ' obtained 1 leave of the king:
7 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of theevllthatGHashibdid for Tobiah, in 'preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
Verae 47. AU Israel— gavt ihe portiont qf the tingert'i The tingera and the pamr* ware supportea by the people at large t and each M these bad tbeir portions sernd out (0 them daUy.
AndOteyeaneti/Led—wntoUuhevUei^ 'Hte thius vhich vera provided fer aaered ueeB, ««re delivered by tne people totbeZi«0t^«»; aodtheLevit^presentedtfaemtothepnMte.
TTie MJdrm ofAarotiS Tnia may refer principally to Ihe UAee which the people Drought to the Lente*; the tuhe, or tmtk of which the Levitee gave to the priesta. The presentiiig theee tUhee ia termed tanetifying them; that u, dedi^ing them to those ncred or eccleaiaatical uses tot which tbey were deeigned; thia is a very genaral meaning ttt the word eanetify in Scripture,
Terae 1. On Aai dai/\ I am quite of CalmePt mind, that the tianaaetions detailed in thia chapter did not immediately auceeed the dedication of the walla of Jemaalem. It ia moat likely that, when thia dedication was ended, Nehemiah retomed to Babylon, aa himaetf particalarly remariEB, ver. 6. for he did return in the thirty-eecond year of Artaxerzea i and then, after certain daya, auppoeed to be ^>oat the term of one year, he got leave to return to Jerusalem, to see how mattera were conducted: and there he found Ihe evils which he mentiona in thia chapter, and which he redressed in the manner himaelf describes. See &e introduetion to this book.
Should nirf come into Ae eongregation} ITtat i^ ye dnll not lam any kind at matrimonial aiUatue with tfaun. Thi^ and this alone, is the meanii^ of die law.
TerioS. TTutfteparated/hmuraetaUAe mixed mul- Mhide.] 'Riey exctoded all strange women, and all persons, young and o]a.who had been bom of these illegal connexions.
Terse 4. Eluuhib the priest] Peiltape this was a difftrentperson from Elioshibtheni^ priest; but there is no indubitable aTidence diat be was not the same. If he was ^ni jvieM, ha was veiy unbithfol to the high charge vnichbahKlrsovivedi and a reproseh to die priesthood.
8 And It grieved me sore t therefore t
U Then I ctuntnanded, and they 'eleansed ths chambers: and thither twotight I againtlie reseda of the house of Ood, with the meatniffiBrHV and
10 H And I perceived that the portions of tho Levites had 'not been siveathemi far the vites abd the singers, tnat did the wcrk, were fled every one to * his field.
11 Then ■'contended I with the rulers, and said, 'Why is the house of God forsaken? Aad I gathered them together, aad set them in their ■* place.
13 "And I made treasurers over the trea«t> ries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe; and of the Levites, Fedaiah; and ' next to them wa» Haoan the soa of Zaecur, the son of Mattaniah: for tbey were counted ilaithful, uul their ^ office was to distribute unto their brethreo.
14 ' Remember me, O my God, concemiu this, and wipe tuA omt my " good ileeda that Fhsre done for the house ofmy God, and lor tha 'office*
15 1| In those days saw I in Judab tome treading wine-presses " on the sabbath, and bnn^ii^ in sheaves, and lading- asses; as also wne, grapes, and figs, and all masmer ^ hordeas, p which they brought into Jerusalem oa the talthbath day: aiid I testified against tkem in the day wherein they sold victuals.
16 There dwdt men of Tyre abo therem, which brought fish, and alt manner of ware, and sold on the BaU)ath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerus^m.
17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them. What evil thing is tbis that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?
16 ' Did not y our fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon as, and upon this city?:fet ye bring more wrath upon Israel hf profaning the sabbath.
E reduced a connexion with Toteah, the £aat friend of Sasillat; in wboae favour be pvlluted tbe bcnm of Ood, giving him one of Ihe chambers for bia ofdinuy reaadanea^ which were ^ipointed for the reoeption of Ihe liAa% oUatiwH, Ac. that eame to the house « Ood.
Terse6. Was not I at JervLScUeaii Nehemiah a*M t» Jemaalem in the twmtiMi year of Anazences; aad remained there tiH the OiMy-ateond year, ttsettm yean: Ae* returned to Bal7lon,snd staid tme year; got lene to leviat his brethren, and found matters as stated in thia cbapaer.
Veraea /oMf/ffrAaU As AsuNAoltf atejf^ TWsk] He aeted as Jema CSiriit di4_wheD ha fauoa the ooaau «c the Lord'a house profened: He OMr«b«i».a« tefttof^As mtmey-^umgers, and the teat* of Aooe nAo sold doves.
Verse 10. TTie 7 ' ■ given] Hence we I aaered service, and for their supparl. This waa (be fcnk of ihs ridon, whs permitted aJi these abuses.
Versell. Wkyisihehou»enfGodforoakm\t^\tA all solemnly jn^imiaed, diui. x. 39. that tkoif wasdd mntr forsake the hov^e^Ouir Ood I but, alas, how aooo is Ada forgotten! And Nimemiah uses their own words hare \tf Yiw of reproof.
Versell ITieg viere eemtltd,fia6{fut\ "Ri^ were reported to meaa persona in iriiom I coukt confide: tbsybad been steady in God's waya nod work, wfaUe sdian had been csrelna and ralsxed.
Verae 14. Wipe not out my good deads] K dioa W«C strict to mark what is done amtaa, even my gwod 4Md0 must be unped ou/.* tmt Lord, remember me la Ay UMCJ, and let my upright eondnet be aecepnsUe to thee 1
Verse 15. Treading vrfns^rasaeal Tho satabsfli pears to have been toully disregarded.
Verse 17. I contended wtth »t nsNwT IVss esOi took blaoe thKx^ dieir negUgnee; aad dils I psfwdlsforelnero.
19 And It came to pass that, when the ^tes of Joniaalem ■ began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the ^tes should be thut, and charged that they should not be opened Ull aiter the sabbath: > and some of my servants set I at the gatea, that there ehould no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.
20 So the tnerchants and sellers of all kind of wwe lodged wiUiout Jerusalem once or twice.
21 Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye <> about the wall 1 if ye do go again, I will lay lutnds on yon. From tirat time forth came they no were en the sabbath.
22 And I commanded the Levitea, that * they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctiA' the sabbath day. * Remember me, O my God, concerning thu also, and spare me aci»>rauie to the ' greatness of thy mercy.
23 lln thoseday salso saw I Jews that ^had 'married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:
24 And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and ■ could not speak in the Jews'
Vtnb 19. When the galea— btgan to he darkX After mnaet on Friday eveaiDK, ho cauaecl the ^atea to M shut, and kept them Biuit all the sabbath; and as he could not trust the ordinary officers, he set some of hia ovm aertatUa to watch gates^ that no person tui^t enter for the purpose of traffic.
Verae20. Sotkevurdianta — U>dgediriihoutJenuaitm\ l^sy exposed their wares for sale on the outside of the walls.
VeTM2l. IvBiUlayhandaonyau] Iwillimprwon every man of you. lliiB had thededrea effect: they came no more.
Verse 22. Spare me acovrding to the greatneat qf thy mercy] By some Nehemiah has been thought to d<^ too mudi with God on the principle of merit. That he wish* fld Qod to remembtr himjor good is sufficiently evident — and who does not wish the samel But that he expected Ammh because f^Alt good does not appear. Indeed die ewcludin^ clwise orthis verse proves the contrary; and shows that he expected nothing from God but through the greatnaaa qf ki» mercy. Shame on those who, with this evidence before them, brand this ^od man with the epithet of teorkmoKger; a man, who, m inwonl holiness, outward usefulness, and genuine love to God and man, was wmih ten score of such M/^-caU«d believers.
Yens 24. BaJ^ in the a^eetA qf AAdod\ Thwe were dkUdren in the same fiumly by JevnA and Pkittatine moOura. As die Jewish mother would olwavs speak to her children in Hebrew; so they learnt to speaV Hebrew; and OS the AAdod mother would always speak to her tAiiidrea in the Aahdod language, so they learnt thai tongue. Hius there were, in the same &mily, children who could not understand each other; ha{f, or one par/, •peakinc one tanguaga, and the oBier part anolAer. Children of different wives did not ordiiutrily ^[ngU together; send the wives had separate apartments. This ia a better explanation than that which intimates ttiat the aame child apoke n Jargon, half Aahdod and half Hebrew.
Verse 26. / contended vUh them} Proved the fact ■gtunat these iniquitous fathers in a leKol assembly.
And curaed mem] Denounced the' judgments of God, and the sentence of the law, upon them.
And ma£ them awear by God, atty'me, 7e ^latl not jKm] Caused them to bind themselves by an oath, that UMy would make no intermarriages with those who were not of the seed of Israel.
Terse 28. Did not iSb/oniojil Have you not had an awful example before youl What a neavy Curse did Solomon's conduct bring upon himself, ana upon (he peepiv, for a conduct such as that of jpours?
Terse 27. Shalt w then hearken unto you] If God ■pared net him, who was so much beloved of God, shall w« spare you, who by your conduct are bringing down CM** judKmsBts ttpon Israel 1
Vwmn. Onutf the aona qfMada] This was JMo- «wm4 brsAar at Jaddua, son of Jatada, and graadmi ar.SHaiM&diahtgfapriMt.
them, and smote eertain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them ■ swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daoghtera unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your eons, or for yourselves.
36 ' Did not Solomon king of Israel sin Igr these things? yet 'among many nations was there no king like him, ^ who was beloved of his God, and Grod made him king over all Israel: I nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.
37 Shall we then hearken unto tou to do all this great evil, to ' transgress aganut our God in marrying strange wives.
S8 And one oft he sons > of Joiada, the son <^ Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.
29 " Remember them, O my God, » becans* they have defiled the priesthood, and • the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
30 p Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and 4 appointed the wards of the priests and Le* vites, every one in his business;
31 And for ' the wt>od-ofiering, at times appointed, and for the first^hiita. * Remember me, O my God, for good.
/ Aaaed him from me] Struck him oR* the list, of ths priests, and deemed him utterly unworthy of all connesim and intercourse with truly religious peo^.
Verse 29. Beeauae Oiay have deJUed the jrrieathoodl God therefore, will remember their iniquities WsiasK them, and punish them for iheir transgressionB. Tbcee words of Nehemiah are to be understood dedaraUvebf.
Verse 31. Fbr the wod-qfering] This was a most necessary regulation: without it the temple service eoiiU not have gone forward | and, therefore, Nebemiah asatioas this as one of the most important services he had reodsred to his nation. See on chap. x. 34.
Hemember me, O my God, /or good] Tbia has pra* ciscty the same meaning witl^ O my God, have mereff upon MS I And thus alone it should be understood.
Of Nehemiah the Jews speak as one of the greatest msa of their nation. His concern for his country, manitesMd by such unequivooal marks, entitles him to -the ebaraoter of the first patriot that ever lived. In the course of the divine providence be was a captive in Babylon: but thara his excellencies were so apparent that he was chosen by the Persian king to fill an t^ce the most respectable, and the most eoi\fiaentiaI, in the whole court. Here he lived in ease and affluence; be lacked no manner of thing that was good: and here he might have continued to live, m the same affluence, and in the same confidence; but he could enjoy neither so lon^ as he knew his people distressed, tha sepulchres of his fathers trodden under toot, the altars of his God overturned, and his worship either totally neglected or cominted. He sought the peace of Jerusalem; he prayed to God for it;' and was willing to sacrifice wealth, ease, safety, and even lift itself if he might be the instrument of reelorinv the desolations of Israel. And Qod, who saw the desire of his heart, and knew the excellencies with which he had ecklowed him, granted his request, and gnvs him the high honour of restoring the desolated city of his ancestors, and the pure worship of their Ood. On this account he has been considered by several as an expressive type of Jesus Christ, and many parallels have been shown in their lives and conduct.
I have already, in several note^ vindicated him from all mercenary and interested views, as well as from faJse n<^ tions of religion, grounded an Auman meriL For disinterestedness, phikuithropy, {wtriotism, pmdence, courage, zeal, humanity, and eveiy virtue that constitutes a grMX mind, and proves a soul in deep communion with Uo<^ Nehemiah will ever stand conspicuous among the greatest men of the Jewish nation: and an exemplar wortC^ lo be copied by the first patriots in every nation under heaven.
It has already been observed thai, in the Jewish canon, Ezra and Nehemiah make but one book; and that both have been attributed, but without reason, to the same author: hence the Syriae versionenda with this colophon — The end of the Book of Ezra ihe scribe, in which are contained tvo thouaand three hundred and alxty^ne venes.
Hasoutic Notes.— Bzta and Nehemiah eontain six hundred and eighty-tight verses. JUbUlt TCm is Ndb iii. 32. Sectiona ten. AsBVAST 3^ 1820.
THfi Mn and nucenor of the bnurnt Pernan Vinfr Xcti:^a, was Artaxj^xig, lamamed ZMgimaMa, or bi Persian ulmO Ardihier Dins A^i, ftit Ivn^-liiiiidtri Arcl^.ftur, Thia prince, on eomiq; to dx ttuwe, bad po««i^ op]>onento and competitm in tilt: cliilL.Wit of Ai '■■>-i">'; i'h<:!« toXerzeikaiid in faiioviifanxber Wfyitmtpu. Tha former, and their adbmata, be mcdlirev,- in a. l-<.<.'\i-; ix:A ia tbe following rear obtamed m complete vietorT over hU brottier, and totallT subdued the Bactriant, who Inad eapcnaed hie cwim t ni doM readerad faiuKlf the uodifputad poweawv oC the Pernaa ematM. About bn IMrd jrar, which -waa 462 befcre ChriM, da faiaUHv of After beftin^ vhiob, in iti eonaaxion wiu ihePmiea faiatfOT. b [faoa ab^ iMndaead br Dr. JPrtdtnr.
"Afler Artazerzeanad obtained iheae MoeeMea, and tli<?rfl!7 ^rmly?'-tiMl himself in die peaceable poaaeMon «f ifaa whole Persian empire, (Ettker L) he (^pointed a sol^ iiLh irj^jrliJi; i>ii Unt j^rconrMt and caoaed it to be calebrated ia tfaecit^ of Sburitan, or Suea, in UMdaga and ahows, fi^r lIic term of ^hLndnd and *ighif doyt; on the eooclnwa id which he gave a great fiMat for all the nrincea and people d»t were then in Shuehan, nrMMn dajwi and Taihl^ the queen, at tbe aame time, made a like teaat in her apartment tor tbe women. On dw aevenft day, the fcbg'a heart bring neny widi wine, he commanded the anm cbaotberlaini to bringQiieen Vashli before faiin, with tbe crmnroinl on her head, that be nu^ ahow to tbe princes and people her beauty. But for her duia to ahow heiaelf ia ancb an WKmbly belnf oontraiy to the unge of the Persiana, and upearing to her, as indeed it was, very indecenL aid tmtta onbecoming the modesty ot a lady, as well as the dinii^ oi her station, she refused to comply, and would not oone} whereon tM Icing, being very much incensed, called his seren counsellors to take advice wim them about it, wbo^ ftaring this might be a had example throu^ the whole empire, in encouraging women to contemn and diaobey tfaeir ImilMDda, advind that the kii^ should put Voshti away for ever from him, and give her royal stale to aaodx^ thai ahould be better than her; and W his royal edict, give eomuand throughout the whole empire, that all wivea maid ay hcmour and obedience to their huibmds, and mat every man should rule absohilely in bis own house. WhsA vice jtleaaing the king, he commanded it accordingly to be put in exeeutira i and Tadm never mere sAer that caane r'ln mto tbe nog's presence; for the decree whei3>y she was removed from him was registered among the laws «( Hedes and Persiaju, and, therefore, it could never again be altered. After this, orders were given out threap tbe vrtiole empire, fbr the gathering together at the palace at Sbushan all the fiur virgins in every province, Aat om af them one mignt be chMen whom the king should best like to be made queen in her place. At the time when dns ealleetion of virnns was made, (Esther ii.) there lived in Shushan a certun Jew named Hordecai, who was oif Aa dbsemdanta m Utom who had been earned captive to Babylon with Jeconiah kiiw of Judah; and, by his atteadaaceai the king's gate, seems to have been one of the porters fS tbe royal palace. He having no children did bring 19 Hadassah, nis uncle's daughter, utd adopted her for his own. This ^oung woman, being very beautiful and fiiv, via made choice of among otMr virgins on this occasion i and was carried to the king's palace, and there oonuniosd w the care of Hege, the IdDg's chamberlain, who was appcnnted to have the custo^ M ibeoe vi^ns; whom Ae ptmati ■0 well br her good carriage, that he showed her bvour before all tbe other virgins under his care; and Actnsn ha usi^ned twr tbe best apartment (tf the house, and provided her first with those mings that were rtquisile for her poifleation: for the custom was, that every virgin thus token into the palace for the kii^stuewas to gothrough acoorss •r purificatiMi, by sweet oils and perfume^ for a whole year; and therefore Hadassah having faeoi, hf the favow tt Ae chunberta^ of the earliest provided with these things, was one of the first that was prepared and eshde ready for the king's bed, and dierefore was one of the soonest ttua was called to it. lite term, therefore, of her pnrificatiaa being aecomplutied, her turn came to go in unto the kinp, who was so much pleased with her that he oAen called bet by Dame, which he used not to do but to those only of his women whom be was much delimited with. Esther, $tvwing still forther in the king's fiivoor, and gaining his affections beytmd all the rest of the women, (Esdier u.) ba SOTanced her to higher honour t and on the tmih day of the tenth month, which folia abgut the end of oar year, did pat the royal diadem upon her head, aikl declared her queen in the place of Vadui i aad, in oonaeqacnee lherM,maflt a aolemn wast fbr his princes and servants, which was called Esther's foaat; and, in honour of bier, atdte smb tass made a release of taxes to the provinces, and gave donatives and presents to all that attended hin^ aecordiiuc to tba praitdeur and digni^ of his royal estate. Haman, an AmaUJeiU, of the posterity of Agog, who was king of AmIs^ m the time of iSou^ growing to be tbe chief fovourite of king Artarerxes, all the kin^s servants ware eonunaaded » pay reverence unto bun, and bow before him; and all of them obejrod the king's oider but JMbnfeeoi tbe wha, silting in the king's gate, according to his office, paid not ai^ reverence to Baman at such times as he paased by ia* dte palace, neidiu' bowed be at all to him; at irtiidi, being told, be waa exeeedin^ djapleaaed t but seoniiag to 1^ fauMs on one mas only, and being ixUbrmed that he waa a Jew, at resolved, in revenge « d>ia affiran^ 10 dgmnf aol only bim, but alao his whole nation widi him: and to this aet be waa not a little azeited by the aneient enoiitf wUch was between them and the people of whom he was descended; and therefore^ for the accoropUshiog of this dnigo, ea tbe jlrsf day ot the ifrsf monn, that is, in the month Mson, he called tonther his diviners, to find out what ^ would be the most fortunate for the putting hia plan into execution; and uiey having, aeooiding to the mrrr-T at divination then in use among those Eastern people, east lots first upon each month, did thereby dMsnaine for dM thirteenth day of the twelfth month following; railed Adar, as the day which they jialged would be dm laoal lai^ for tbe accomplishing of what he purposed: wnereoo he forthwith went in unto the kiwi an^ having inmaiBiedM bim that there waa a oertain people dispersed all over his em|nre who did not keep die kin's hnra, butJoUowed k«a of thrir own, diverse from thiB laws of all other people, to the disturbance of the good or£r of hia kirwdom, aad Aa breach of that unifonnitv whereby it ought to be governed: and that, therefore, it was not for the king's proAt that they should any longer be suffered; he proposed, and gave counsel that they should be all destroyed and lujirrlwl out of the whole empire of Pertia i aod urged il as that which was necessary for the establidiing of the peace sad good order of his government: to which, having gained (he king's consent, and an order that on the AtrtemA dav of Ador fidlowinft aoeording as was determined by the divination of the lots, it jbouM be out in execuikm t he calM da king's scribes together to write the decree; an^ it being drawn as he proposed, on the tkiHeemtk dvr ot As ohm month of Mean, coiaea thereof were written out, and sent into all the provinces of tbe empire, Bommawfiag ifae king'a lieutenants, governors, and all other his ofGcers in every one of them, to destroy, kill, and couoe to periiii, all Awa, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even on the thirteenth day ot Adar followuw: aad to laka die spoil of them for a prey: which d» was full eleven months after the date of the decree. Hw lot wbi<^ sesma to have pointed out diat day, appem to Ave been directed by the qiecial provideooe of Chid, that, lo loi« a apaea iBMr> yy>hy, ihrm might he tima anon^ to take ■ach nmwarm tm JwuM be prqper M pmem ibft mfaddef.faMwhilwl Itta iMid to fiud a raaaon for MordteaVa reftuing to pay hii respect to Maman, which xaay be nfficiant to esouM him ior Ihua expoeing hinuelt and all hie rntioii, to that deetruodon whioh it had like to have drawn upon tbsm. 1^ wfaklt taooRunonly aaidia, tnatitwaa the same adoration which waa made to the kii^ of Ptrwiat and that cooaiatiBg in tba bmnnvor uw kneo) and the proatraiion of tba whole body to the ground, it waa avoided by iMbrdwai, upon a notkn iiUdiMbad of in being iduatniw: but this being the common eomplimem paid to the kuwa of Ptrtidt, by all that wen idmilled into dieir preaenoe, it waa no doubt paid to this veiyking hfBxra uid Ntk»miah.vbm they had neeeas to him, koA after also by Mordeeai himself; ior otherwise he could not have obtained that aomisBioa into hia presence, aod diat advancement in his palace which was afterward there granted unu> him; and if it were not idolatrooa to pay (his adwation to the king, neither waa it idolatrous to pay it to Ainian. Tlie Oraeks wouM not pay thie raspeet to the king* of Perwia out of pride; and, excepting Tliamwecfes, and two or three others, none of Ihetn oouU aver be brought to it. I will not say that this was the case with JMbrdtcoi in reapect to Hamm i it seems most pro> baUe dmt it wsa from a cause that was personal in Baiman only. Periuma it waa because flbmoit being of the taee of die AwuUMtf, he looked upon him as mnder the euraa whfan Ood haJdeoonneed againat that nwioni an^ iheraffoia. diougfat himself oblued not to give that honour to him. And if all the rest of dw Jawa thouriit the nmc^ thia might seem reason enough to him to extend bis wrmih against the whole nation, and to meditate the destruction of them all in revenge. But whatevn was the cause that induced JUardteai to refuse the payment of this nmpeet to the king's bvourite, uUs provoked that favourite to prooure the decree above-roentioaed, for the utter extirpation of ^ w4io!e JewMh nation m revenge for it Wboi Mmiteoi heard of this decree, he made great hunenlaiioa, as did tiao all the Jau of Slauium, with him t aod tberefiDre, putting oa auskclotfa, be sat in this moumftil earb^ without the king's gatc^ (for he woum not be allowed to rater wittun it in that dress,) which being told EMur, she sent to him to know what nw matter waa? Whereon AfMeosi acooainted her widi the whole state of the case t and sent her a oopy of the decree, that she mi^tfiilly aee die miaohier that whs intended her people i to absolutely desovy them, and root ihem out from the face of the earth t and, therefore, commanded her forthwith to go in unto the king, and make Btmihcation for diem. At first she excused herself because of tlie law whereby it was ordained, diat whosoever, imther man or woman, who should come in unto the king in the inner court who was not eaUed for, should be put to dead), excepting sodi oidy to whom die Idi^ dwuld hcdaout the goklen sceptre in his hand that he might live i and aba waa a&aid of haaafdinr her life in this cauae. WbereMi JUordteai aending to her, again told her, that the oeerM extended univemlly to ail of ber nation, without any exeeption) and diat, if it came to exeention, she must not expect to escape more diaa ai^odierof nor peo|^i that provideaea aeemed to ham advuwad her on purpoae Cor this woi^; but if she refused to act bar part in it, dten deliverance should eome some oiber mj, and ehe and her fhiher's house dwuld perish; for be was folly persuaded that Clod would not sufiu his pec^le to b^
"Whereon Esther reaolv^ to put her lin on the hazard for the safety of btr people, desired MmUeai thai be and bim to prosper ber in the undertdcing: which being according done, on the third day £«Aer put oa ber royal ■{marel, and went in unto the king, v^cre be was sitting upon fios throne in the inna Aadnssoon as ne saw her standing in the court, he showed bvour unto ber, and held out his golden soeptre t and Esther going near, and touching die top of it, had thereby her life secured unto her: and when the king asked her what her peutMn was, at first she only desired that he and Haman would come to a banquet which A» had prepared for bin.
"And when Haman was called, and the king and he were at the banquet, he asked ber again of her petition, promising it should be granted her to the half u his kingdom: but then she desired only that toe king and Bavum sboold come again to the like banquet on the next da]^ inumating that she would then make known her request unto him. Her intMtkn in claiming mus to entertain the long twioe at ber banquet befbro ahe made known ber petitioa mto him waa, diat tberet^^ might die nwre endear beiaelf unto bim, and dupose him the better to grant die request which riie hal to make unto him.
" ffiuNott being proud of the honour of being thus mimitt^ alone with tbe king to the queen's banquet, went home to his house muc£ pufled up j but on his return (hither, seeing Mordteai, sitting at the gate of the palaoe, and still ■efosing to bow unto him, mis moved his indignation to such a degree^ that on hia eomiw to his house, and calling hia friends about bim to relate to them the great honour that was done to lum \j tbe koig ana queen, and the high advanee* Meat whtdiba bad obtained in the kingdom, he coaM not forbear oonplaining of uu disreqMct and afimit that waa vStnA him by Jferdeooi. Whereon niey adviaad him to cauM a gallowa to be built otJUty cublti in height, and nazi nwrning to aw the king to have JUbntoot hanged thereon; and acecwdingly be ndereduie gallowa inunediately to be made; and went early uie next monung to the palace, for the obtaining St the grant from the king to have Mard4eai hanged on it. But that morning the king awakening sooner than ordinary, and not being able to oompoae bimaalf again to ueept he called fbr the book of the records and 3ironicles of the kingdom, and caused them to oe read unto hun } vfasnufiodiag an account of die consfriracy of PfgfAon and TVcsA, and that it was discovered by JUmlaeai die Jinc^ the king inquired wfaatbcmour had been done to him for the same. And being told that nothing had been dtme Cor him, he inquired who was in the court; and being told diat Haman was standing then, he ordered bim to be called in, and nAod of him what ahould be done to the man whom the king deliriiied to bonouri wharaon Mammi, thiwfciiy^ diia ' honour waa intended for bimseH gave advice that die royal ^iparei ihoald be linu{^ wbidi the king used to wear, and die horse which he kept for his own riding, and the crown which useth to be set upon his beaa; and that this ajiparal and horse should be delivered into the bands of one of the king's most noUe princes, that be might array therewith the man whom the king delighted to honour, and bring him on boraebaok ihrou^ the vrtwle eitjr, and prodaim before him, "Hub diall it be done to tbe man whom tbe king deligfateth to honour.' Whereon the king commanded him forthwith to take the apparel and horse, and do this to Mardeeai the Je^t iriio sat in the king's gate^ m reward for his discovery <tf die treason of die two eunuchs: aUwhichfibmon having been forced todo in Madwaoe to tbe kit^'a command^ he returned with great sorrow to his hous^ f«f*ptkig dia dtsappointmont and great mortifiealion be had met with m being thus tonta to pay such a signal honour to bis eaeo^, whom ha bad intended to have hanged on die gallows which be had provided for bim. And on his reluing this to hb friuids, (bey all told him, that if this JUbrcfoeal were of tbe seed of the Jincs, this bad omen foreboded that he ihouM not prenul against them, but should surely fell before him. While they were thus talkin^^ one of the queen's c^ambwlains came to HamatCt nouse to hasten bun to ^ bauiuet; and, Kcing the gallowa which had been set up tlie ni|^t before, fiilly informed himself of dw intant fbr «4iieb it was prepared. On the king's and Haman'a sitting down to the banquet me king adted again of.SiAer what was her petition, with like promise that it ehouU be granted to ber to the half of bis kingdom: whereon she htunUy Mved the king dnt ber life nifl^ be given ber on bar petition, nd her people at ber request: ft»r that a deaign waa Jaiaforthadesiiuettoaof ber and all bo- kindred and nation. At which the king asking, with much anger, who it was that durst do this thing, she told him that Baman^ then present, was the author of the wicked plot; and laid the whole of it open to.the king. Whereon the king rooe up with much wrath from the banquet, and walked out into the garden adjoining; which Baman perceiving, Ml down before the queen npcn the bed on which she was sitting, to auptdicale for his lib; in which posture the xiiv having found bim i^wnhis return, spc^ out in great pasiion. What, wul he force die queen before me in die houael At which words the servants present unmediatdy covered his fawe, as waa then the usage to oondemncd petaona; aod tbe chamberlain, who had that day called Baman to tbe banqiwl^ aequaiating dw kmg with dw gallowa he saw in his house there prepared for AStnteeaL who bad saved tbe king's lifo in detecting the treaam of the two eunuchs, dw king ordered that be should be forthwith hanged thereon t v^iioi wai accordingly done; and all his house, goods, and riches, ware given to QuMnBHhti and she appointed Mordseai to ha hersteward to manage the same. On the same day the queen ni«Ie tbe kiiw acquainted of the relatimi which Jl*>rdse^ bad unto her; whereon the king took bim into hia fevour; and advanced nim to great power, riches, and dignilr, in dw empire; and made him tbe keeper of his signet, in dw same manner as Haman hu been before. But, still tba deeree fbr the destruction of the J<nu remaining in its full force, the queen petitioned tbe king a seoond time to put anrwdiia miaebief fromdiemi bul^ aeoerding to the lawa of dw Jifafoe and Ptnimta^ nothing being lo b» nmmA
nmOOQCfRDN TO TW WOfXK Cgf MfHHL-
vbich Itad bam decfsad, utd writtao ta Itu lcing*a iMMa, and sMtlad viih th« fcbg*! moI I uod ibe deene nrwMd Ammm ^pdnat dia Jinot hnlng beM ihvs wriueo ud Maled; it oould not b«NC*ll«d. AU, tbwdbn, tet Ac kay mM do in cowpliUBB with her reqtiect wu, to fr>v« the Jem by a new deorw such a power to debod tbaaabw aaaiiut miA — ihould aMwnU them, aa might reMer the fonoer decree iaeffeccual i and for that end he bid fMSbriad Andfoai dAW auiAi a deem ia word* aa atranc aa flouU be daviMd, that ao tfas
MaeulBd, fteoig^ k oould not ba anmiUed. And, ibenSan, Aa ka^a aeribea beiag agftin called on the tmmtjf W>8 day of ihe Aim month, a new deetee vaa dmwn juat liw maslha and Un ^kj* aAar ibo former} wharan ma Uag granted to the Jinca, whioh were in erery oity of the Peraion empire fiitl lioenn to gatbar tbsmaelTCa toaathw, aad abud for their Uraa t and to deatroy, alar, and eauae to pehA, ail the powar of the paopla and prorince that ihoald Maault thaeo, with their little oom ud women; and to take the apoil of them Cor a prey. And this deoea being vnUaa in'thaking'ahand, andaealed widibiBaeal,eoiNeB hanof wan drawaoiit,and eapaeial maawngera were daipaahrf with them into all the provisoea of the empire.
"IWfjUrteiiAdqrof Adordmwiag near, wben the daona aUainad br Ammw for lha daalnwtion of AaJEnw waa la he put into aaaeutiaiL their advaiaarieaeww nlwiapwcaiad to net agaiaat Ihaa^ Mcndiag la tha a—uafc af itt and Ae Jbia^ an the adtet hand, by virliiB «f tha aaeooa dacna whioh waa abtidned ta ibair fcraor bjr AOar and Shrdteai, galiteied diemaalvea together in erwj eitf where dwelt, thnugbout aU tha provineM tt Ung ArteMTfe^ to provide for ifaairaafi^: ao that on the aaid MrtanA ot JOar, through Ihe meana of ibeae two iliiBrenl and diaoordant deeraai, a war waa oontmenoed between the Jaiat and their eneaoiea lhro»;boni ika wbaia I*tnitm. empire. But tha lulen of the provincva, ud the lieutenaoU, (he deputie*, and tha odwr omcen of tha kqg^ lOMwiKwiUk what power and Abrdaenf w«i« then iaveated, through fou fnvailad avary where againat thoaa that roaa im> againat then: and on that day, thra«gfaoul the whole oapire, ^ew «f their anemiaa eaaen Oummmdjlw ktmind peiaMia; and in the ei^ of iSShtHwrn, on Aatday and ihanaA,rigU itaoidperi BHiret ameeg i4win were the ten aooa of Aiinati, whom, b* a apeeial order kom the Bin^ ihayeMMHl laba hanged) pariMvau|Km the nme gaUowa on which ttmn, ibavfotneri had baen haagad befam. lliaaalfaBfr natioiia took place in the fftirtowtft year of Arumnee, abeittjjiiir JtoiJrirf onrf jy>3^<MB yaara tif ara Chri*." T%t rtader it rtfuaUd to r^m- la lAe nofai on all Out poMMet.
''Hie JewB beii^c dabnmd daia from thia dnnKairoua OMgn, whidt thwtined tbemiriA aadiiac lea than ImI axiirpatioa, made great rajoictoga for it on the two dan following, that it, on tha/cwrlawOfc and J(/bana dtmm lhaaaidmondiAdap/ and Iqr tha order of £MW and Jl6rdaaa4,theae two daya, with the Ihii^ofiiftAatpra^^ vara aatanait, and cooaaeraiad tobeaoaHallyabaarvadforeTer after in ommemontionthetfperi A» IMrtiift aaa fa*, beeanaaorthedeatnietioB on that day iaiendad to have been broi^t upon them, and the other Imo aa a fiM beeaMo 1/ aairdeUTeianeaCiomiti and both ute hat and faaet th^ aonatamly obaerve averyyear on tboae dii^^ am to ifaii time.
bat they call the (aat of £>A4r/ and thefeaatlhafMMof i^tr<m,fimthePeraianwardi>iiHi^ lotai beoauM it waa by the aaatiog of kiU that Aiman did set out utta time for their daatrwrtkm. 'llua faaai it tba Jaedlanaliaf the Jfaofcwhieh they eelahrala with aU manner of rijoifling, mirth, and j<dli^: and therein indulge tbam*
Sna btaUiaaaiw of Viuriouaexeemea.eapaeiBllx in drinking wine, even to drunlu^^ whiofa ibcr dunk parttf duty of die aoleani^, bacauM it waa by meana ot tha wine banquet, th^ aay, that fWaer made tfaa kto|f a biait aMBI}^ and brou|^i him wio that good humour, which inclined him to grant the requeatwhi^ wb» iDada unto him far nwir oelivoraBoe: and, therefore, ttuy think th^ ought to make their hearta atarrr aUo, ^riten liimy oelebmie tha eoaamemoration of tL During thia mival, the Boolcitf A«tiUr ieaolemnlyread in aUtoeir synagoguea,£n)in the ImgiiaaiM to tha aad t at whidi they are aU to ba preasu, men, woman, children, and aervaniB, bacauee alTtfie^ deUveranoe which EUlKer obtAined for chem. And ai often aa the name of Bawtan ocain in the re*diag of ib» book, the Mm ia for them all to dap with thairhanda, and atamp with fhelr wet, ao^ sumary neriak.
.''Tbia ■ the laatfoaat of theyear among ibemi for tba IM dtt fidlowa u lU jwaamr, vhioh u«m faUa is niddkof tbamoodkwhii^beguiaiheJaHMnar.*' lot &- Aim Ml^ilan Witf.'aHI— VfU ■llirt iS
Ckronehgieal N«l*m rOatbu to Ait Book.
: In Can, ud cU ^.'mriiUrtii, Tw ban ito
^^cm ■ AhasueruB, (this is Ahasaeraa jTtwZrii which reigned ^ from India evea onto Ethiopia, * over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces;)
2 That in those days, when the king Ahaaueru« aat on the throne of his kingdom, which wu in * Shusltan the palace.
3 In the third ytax of his reign, he V& ml ' made a feast unto edt hisprineesand his servants; the power of Persia and swh^ Media, the nobles and princes of the *:SS!5!C
TlM wbol* bwutfy of thh book tn ita c«ftii«ef«l otimr, with the occttireaiias ia the Ptntaii empin st dtat time, wiU be tend in the MrodMfmf to vAieh the nsder is
Coiweiiiing the ouAsp o( this book then we aerenl OTMnioiM: aoMe utriboie the work to Enra; mow to odb.Aodk iii^ a, high prieat t ocbers to Ibe m«n M« ^TMf «ynasod olh«a toMbrdaeaf. Tliislatieria die moat likely opinion t nor ia thnt to be diar^srded which gives JMbnbesi for eopaitaer Bxra hiwaelfi though it ia likely dwt the emehinon from ehs|i. iz. 23. to Oia omI of the book, WM inaeiMd by eaoiber IuhmI, and at a ktsr time, ■niaugh aome ChriatisiM have haaiiatsd to receive the book of Bather into the Sacnd Canon t yet it has Klvaya been noeifed by the Jows, not odIt m peiisetly mUAtitiie, lut ■Ipq m one of dte moat exoeUent of their Sacred Books. Tksr eall it nV^m mogUlak, ram TOtOMS, by way of ami- Mseo] and hoUitinthebigheateatimatton. TWitrs* eofda the hiilory of a real fact, the obaervstioa of disfasst of Ptuim, lothapreaentday, iaaaoSeieattvidenee. lo- ~ dkk ia one of die atraogeat evideneee that siqr bet ftve, fflz. that to eommemorWa it a certain rite, pro- D, fiiaat, or die like, ahould have been inatiluted at du time, which, without intermiaaion, baa been continued aDOUKlly through every generation of Aat ptopU, and in whataoevar plaea diey, or partiea o( diein. mi^ have ao- Joumed, to the pneent day. Thia ia the bet eanceming Ao feaat of i*KHtii here nenilonedt whieh tb» Jewa, in all places of their diiperaiea, have uninterruptedly eelebntad, and do aiitl eontinue to celebrate, from the una of tmr dsliverance from doe raauaore inleoded by Haman to dw present time. Cmhm of this book, widely differiw horn each other, exiat lo Hibrno, C%alde^ Synac, OtmIc, and Latin. All theae diUfer much from the flafrme text, particularly tha Oruk and Ihs Oaldtei tbs fiimer has manyadditioaal paraiiprapksi and the latter, aa it exiati in the London PwygUkt, containa five tinses more than ihe fiafrreie text. To notice all the voriooi readings additiooa, and parsphraeea, in the above copies, would require a volnoM of DO ineonaiderabla magnitude. Hie reaoer who ia flUrwus stay ooosutt the above PolygUtt. Thia book doea not appear to be extant in ^rofrte, or in any other of the sriental languagcf, beaidei the Hebrew and Si/Hac.
'Hte <]ue8tion may naturally ariae. What was the origiml '4t this bookl or, In what langua^ waa it written 1 lliough learned men, in genera^ decide in favour of a ftfrrw orinnal; yet there are many reasons which might —ijgBd in mvour of the Ptraian. Several of the proper •ntluiMfi>IV>d(»>tly of a Pcraioa origin I and, nodotnt, £^«lh^k»«t«ttheyarssoti^Ha;^ provinces being before him?
4 When he showed the riches of hts glorimu kmgdom, and the bonoor of his excellent ma> jesty, many days, even a hundred and fourscore
6 And when these days were expired, the king made a fhast unto ail the people that
llie Htbrom has even retained some of the Poniim wordsh having dons litds slse than altar the dtaraeter, e.
will be noted m tfieir proper placea. T)» Targum in tbs Landm Palwlott is widely different from that in das Comipiutum, ATUwrp, and Paria editions. Hm prineinal additions in the Orotk are canftiUy marked in the LoiMom PolygloU, but an too long and too numeroua to be inaorted hsrob It ta a aingujar sircumataoos dist the WMH ^ God does not oBoe oeeur in lbs whole of ibia book I