The Bible and Holy Scriptures conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament. Translated according to the Ebrue and Greke, and conferred with the best translations in diuers languges. VVith moste profitable annotations vpon all the hard places, and other things of great importance as may appeare in the epistle to the reader

CHAP. II.

2 After the Quene is put away, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yong maides are broght to the Kyng. 14 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pleaseth the King and is made Quene 22 Mordecái discloseth vnto the King those that wolde betray him.

1 AFter these things, when the wrath of King Ahashuerosh was appeased, hea 1.1 remembred Vashti, and what she had do∣ne, and what was decreedb 1.2 against her.

2 And the Kings seruants that ministred vn to him, said, Let them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for the King beautiful yong virgins,

3 And let the King appoint officers through all the prouinces of his kingdome, and let thē gather all the beautiful yong virgins vnto the palace of Shushán, into the hou∣se of the women, vnder the hand of Hegé the Kings eunuche,c 1.3 keper of the women, to giue them their thingsd 1.4 for purifica∣tion.

4 And the maid that shal please the King, let her reigne in the stead of Vashti, And this pleased the King, and he did so.

5 ¶ In the citie of Shushán, there was a cer∣teine Iewe, whose name (was) Mordecái the sonne of Iair, the sonne of Shimei, the sonne of Kish a man of Iemini.

6 Which had bene caryed away from Ieru∣salém * with the captiuitie that was ca∣ryed* 1.5 away with Iekoniáh King of Iudáh [whome Nebuchadnezzár King of Babél had caryed away]

7 And he nourished Hadassáh, that is Estér, his vncles daughter for she had nether fa ther nor mother, and the maid was faire, & beautiful to loke on: and after the death of her father: and her mother, Mordecái to∣ke her for his owne daughter.

8 And when the Kings commandement, & his decree was published, and manie mai∣des were broght together to the palace of Shushán, vnder the hand of Hegé, Estér was broght also vnto the Kings house vn der the hand of Hegé the keper of the wo men.

9 And the maid pleased him, and she founde fauour in his sight therefore he caused her things for purification to begiuen her spe dely, and her” 1.6 state, and seuen comely mai∣des to be giuen her out of the Kings house and he gaue change to her and to her mai∣des of the best in the house of the women.

10 (But) Estérshewed nother people and her 〈◊〉〈◊〉: for Mordécái had charged her that she shulde not telit.

11 And Mordecái walkedo 1.7 euerie day before the courte of the womēs house, to knowe if Estér did wel, and what shulde be done with her.

12 And when the course of euerie maid came, to go in to King Ahashuerosh, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that she had bene twelue moneths according to the maner of the women [for so were the dayes of their purifications accomplished, six moneths with oyle of myrrhe, and six moneth with swete odours and in the puri∣fying of the women.

13 And thus went the maids vnto the King] what soeuer she required, wasf 1.8 giuenher to go with her out of the womens house vn∣to the Kings house,

14 In the euening she went, and on the mo∣row she returned into the seconde house of the women vnder the hand of Shaash∣gaz the Kings eunuche, which kept the cō cubines she came into the King nomore, except she pleased the King, and that she were called by name.

15 Now when the course of Estér the daugh∣ter of Abihail the vncle of Morde cái [which had taked her as his owne daughter] came that she shulde go in to the King, she desi∣red nothing, but what“ 1.9 Hegé the Kings eunuche the keper of the womeng 1.10 said & Estér founde fauour in the sight of all them that loked vpon her.

16 ¶ So Estér was taken vnto King Ahashue rosh into his house royal in the tenth mo∣neth, which is theh 1.11 moneth Tebéth, in the seuent yere of his reigne.

17 And the King loued Estér aboue all the women, and she fonnde grace and fauour in his sight more then all the virgins: so that he set the crowne of the kingdome vpon her head, and made her Quene in stea de of Vashti.

18 Thē the King made a great feast vnto all his princes and his seruants (which was)i 1.12 the feast of Ester and gaue restk 1.13 vnto the prouinces, and gaue giftes, according to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 power of a King.* 1.14

19 And when the virgins were gathered them 1.15 seconde time, then Mordecái sate in the Kings gate.

20 Estér had not yet shewed her kinred nor her people, as Mordecai had charged her: for Estér did after the worde of Mordecái as when she was nourished with him.

21 ¶ Those daies when Mordecái sate in the Kings gate, two of the Kings eunuches, Bigthán, and Téresh, which kept the dore were wroth, and soght to layn 1.16 hād on the King Ahashuerósh.

22 And the thing was knowen to Mordecái, and he tolde it vntō Quene Estér, and E∣stér certified the King thereof in Morde∣cais name and when in quisicion was made it was foūde so: therefore thei were bothe hanged on a tre? and it was writen in the boke of theo 1.17 Chronicles before the King

Notes

• a 1.1

  That is, he called the matter againe into communica∣tion.
• b 1.2

  By the seuen wise men of his counsel.
• c 1.3

  The abuse of the se countreis was so great that they in uented manie meanes to serue the lustes of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as they ordeined wicked Iawes that the King might haue who∣se daughters he wold, so they had diuers houses ap pointed, as one for them, whiles they were virgi∣nes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 when they were 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and for the Quenes another.
• d 1.4

  Read what this purification was, vers. 13.
• * 1.5

  2. Kin. 24. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• ” 1.6

  Ebr. portions.
• o 1.7

  For thogh she was taken 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by a cruellaw, yet he ceased not to haue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ca re ouer her, and therefore did re∣sort oft times to heare of her.
• f 1.8

  VVhat 〈◊〉〈◊〉 she asked of the eunuch, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was he bounde: ogiue her.
• “ 1.9

  Or, Hegai.
• g 1.10

  VVherein het modestie appea∣red because she soght 〈◊〉〈◊〉 appa∣rel to commend her beautie, but ftode tothe eu nuches appoint ment.
• h 1.11

  VVhich contei∣ned parte of Decē ber and part of 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• i 1.12

  That is made for her sake.
• k 1.13

  He released their tribute. their tribute.
• * 1.14

  I That is, great & magnifical.
• m 1.15

  That is, at the mariage of Ester, which was these conde mariage of the King.
• n 1.16

  Meaning to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him.
• o 1.17

  In the Chroni∣cles of the Medes and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as Chap, 10. 2.