Est 8 | EngLXX | STEP | And in that day king Artaxerxes gave to Esther all that belonged to Aman the slanderer:and Mardochaeus was called by the king; for Esther had shewn that he was related to her.

‏ Esther 8

1 And in that day king Artaxerxes gave to Esther all that belonged to Aman the slanderer:and Mardochaeus was called by the king; for Esther had shewn that he was related to her. 2 And the king took the ring which he had taken away from Aman, and gave it to Mardochaeus:and Esther appointed Mardochaeus over all that had been Aman's. 3 And she spoke yet again to the king, and fell at his feet, and imploredhim to do away the mischief of Aman, and all that he had done against the Jews. 4 Then the king stretched out to Esther the golden sceptre: and Esther arose to stand nearthe king. 5 And Esther said, If it seem good to you, and I have found favorin your sight, let an order be sent that the letters sent by Aman may be reversed, that werewritten for the destruction of the Jews, who are in your kingdom. 6 For how shall I be able to look upon the affliction of my people, and how shall I be ableto survive the destruction of my kindred? 7 And the king said to Esther, If I have given and freely granted you all that was Aman's,and hanged him on a gallows, because he laid his hands upon the Jews, what do you yet further seek? 8 Write you⌃ also in my name, as it seems good to you, and sealit with my ring: for whateverorders are written at the command of the king, and sealed with my ring, it is not lawful togainsay them. 9 So the scribes were called in the first month, which is Nisan, on the three and twentiethday of the same year; andorders were written to the Jews, whateverthe king had commanded to the local governors and chiefs of the satraps, from India even toEthiopia, a hundred and twenty-seven satraps, according to the several provinces, according to their dialects. 10 And they were written by order of the king, and sealed with his ring, and they sent theletters by the posts: 11 wherein he charged them to use theirown laws in every city, and to help each other, and to treat their adversaries, and those whoattacked them, as they pleased, 12 on one day in all the kingdom of Artaxerxes, on the thirteenthday of the twelfth month, which is Adar. 13 And let the copies be posted in conspicuous places throughout the kingdom, and let allthe Jews be ready against this day, to fight against their enemies. And the following is the copy of theletter of the orders. The great king Artaxerxes sends greetings to the rulers of provincesin a hundred and twenty-seven satrapies, from India to Ethiopia, even to those who are faithfulto our interests. Many who have been frequently honored by the most abundant kindness of their benefactorshave conceived ambitious designs, and not only endeavor to hurt our subjects, but moreover, not beingable to bear prosperity, they also endeavor to plot against their own benefactors. And they not only wouldutterly abolish gratitude from among men, but also, elated by the boastings of men who are strangers toall that is good, they supposed that they shall escape the sin-hating vengeance of the ever-seeing God.And oftentimesevil exhortation has made partakers of the guilt of shedding innocent blood, and has involvedin irremediable calamities, many of those who had been appointed to offices of authority, who had beenentrusted with the management of their friends' affairs; whilemen, by the false sophistry of an evil disposition, have deceived the simple candour of theruling powers. And it is possible to seethis, not so much from more ancient traditionary accounts, as it is immediately in your powerto see it by examining what things have been wickedly perpetrated by the baseness of men unworthilyholding power. Andit is right to take heed with regard to the future, that we may maintain the government inundistributed peace for all men, adoptingneedful changes, and ever judging those cases which come under our notices, with truly equitabledecision. For whereas Aman, a Macedonian, the son of Amadathes, in reality an alien from the blood ofthe Persians, and differing widely from our mild course of government, having been hospitable entertainedby us, obtained so large a share of our universal kindness, as to be called our father, and to continuethe person next to the royal throne, reverenced of all;he however, overcome by the prideof his station, endeavored to deprive us of our dominion, and our life: having by various andsubtle artifices demanded for destruction both Mardochaeus our deliverer and perpetual benefactor, andEsther the blameless consort ofour kingdom, with their whole nation. For by these methods he thought, having surprised usin a defenceless state, to transfer the dominion of the Persians to the Macedonians. But we find thatthe Jews, who have been consigned to destruction by the most abominable of men, are not malefactors, butliving according to the justest laws, and being the sons of the living God, the most high and mighty,who maintains the kingdom. to us as well as to our forefathers, in the most excellent order. You⌃ willtherefore do well in refusing to obey the letter sent by Aman the son of Amadathes, because he that hasdone these things, has been hanged with his whole family at the gates of Susa, Almighty God having swiftlyreturned to him a worthy recompence,We enjoin you then, having openly published a copy of this letter in every place, to give theJews permission to use their own lawful customs, and to strengthen them, that on the thirteenth of thetwelfth month Adar, on the self-same day, they may defend themselves against those who attack them ina time of affliction. For in the place of the destruction of the chosen race, Almighty God has grantedthem thistime of gladness. Do you⌃ therefore also, among yournotable feasts, keep a distinct day with all festivity, that both now and hereafter it maybe a day of deliverance to us and who are well disposed toward the Persians, but to those that plottedagainst us a memorial of destruction. And every city and province collectively, which shall not do accordingly,shall be consumed with vengeance by spear and fire: it shall be made not only inaccessible to men, butmost hateful to wild beasts and birds for ever. And let the copies be posted in conspicuous places throughoutthe kingdom and let all the Jews be ready against this day, to fight against their enemies. 14 So the horsemen went forth with haste to perform the king's commands; and the ordinancewas also published in Susa. 15 And Mardochaeus went forth robed in the royal apparel, and wearing a golden crown, anda diadem of fine purple linen: and the people in Susa sawit and rejoiced. 16 And the Jews had light and gladness, 17 in every city and province wherever the ordinance was published: wherever the proclamationtook place, the Jews had joy and gladness, feasting and mirth: and many of the Gentiles were circumcised,and became Jews, for fear of the Jews.