therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman, the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, "Why transgresseth thou the king's commandment?"

Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman. And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone, because he was a Jew. Wherefore, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the king's treasuries." And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman, and said unto him, "Do with them as it seemeth good unto thee." Then were the king's scribes called, and there was written according

unto all that Haman commanded; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written and sealed with the king's ring. And the letters were sent by post unto all the king's provinces, commanding his governors, that were set over them, that they should kill all the Jews, both old and young, little children, and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month. And a copy of the decree was published unto all people, that they should be ready against the day. The decree was given in Shushan the palace, and the post went out, being hastened by the king's commandment. And the king and Haman sat down to drink.

When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry.

And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to wait upon her, to Mordecai, to know why it was. Then Mordecai told the chamberlain all that had happened; and he gave him a copy of the writing of the decree to show it unto Esther, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king to make supplication unto him for her people. And he came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. And Esther said, "There is a law, as all the king's servants do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, who shall come unto

the king, into the inner court, who is not called, shall be put to death, except such unto whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre that he may live. And I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. Go, say unto Mordecai, ‘Go gather together all the Jews, and fast ye for me; I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so I will go in unto the king. And if I perish, I perish.'

And Mordecai did as Esther commanded; and on the third day Esther put on her royal apparel and stood in the inner court of the king's house. And the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house facing the door of the house. And when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. Then said the king unto her, "What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom." And Esther answered, "If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him. Then the king said, "Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said." So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared. And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, "What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed." Then answered Esther, and said, "My petition and my request is: If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king

to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to-morrow as the king hath said."

Then went Haman forth that day joyful, and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. Nevertheless Haman refrained himself and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife. And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. Haman said moreover, "Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to-morrow am I invited unto her also with the king. Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate." Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, "Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to-morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet." And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

On that night the king could not sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles: and they were read before the king. And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king

Ahasuerus. And the king said, "What honor and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, "There is nothing done for him." And the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. And the king's servants said unto him, "Behold, Haman standeth in the court." And the king said, "Let him come in." So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, "What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor?" Now Haman thought in his heart, "To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?" And Haman answered the king, "Let the royal apparel be brought, which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: and let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honor, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, 'Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honor."" Then the king said to Haman, "Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken." Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, "Thus shall it be