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scribes to be sent for； and to write to the nations； on the Jews'
behalf； and to his lieutenants and governors； that were over his
hundred twenty and seven provinces； from India to Ethiopia。 Now
the contents of this epistle were these： 〃The great king
Artaxerxes to our rulers； and those that are our faithful
subjects； sendeth greeting。 （19） Many men there are who； on
account of the greatness of the benefits bestowed on them； and
because of the honor which they have obtained from the wonderful
kind treatment of those that bestowed it； are not only injurious
to their inferiors； but do not scruple to do evil to those that
have been their benefactors； as if they would take away gratitude
from among men； and by their insolent abuse of such benefits as
they never expected； they turn the abundance they have against
those that are the authors of it； and suppose they shall lie
concealed from God in that case； and avoid that vengeance which
comes from him。 Some of these men； when they have had the
management of affairs committed to them by their friends； and
bearing private malice of their own against some others； by
deceiving those that have the power； persuade them to be angry at
such as have done them no harm； till they are in danger of
perishing； and this by laying accusations and calumnies： nor is
this state of things to be discovered by ancient examples； or
such as we have learned by report only； but by some examples of
such impudent attempts under our own eyes； so that it is not fit
to attend any longer to calumnies and accusations； nor to the
persuasions of others； but to determine what any one knows of
himself to have been really done； and to punish what justly
deserves it； and to grant favors to such as are innocent。 This
hath been the case of Haman； the son of Ammedatha； by birth an
Amalekite； and alien from the blood of the Persians； who； when he
was hospitably entertained by us； and partook of that kindness
which we bear to all men to so great a degree； as to be called my
father； and to be all along worshipped； and to have honor paid
him by all in the second rank after the royal honor due to
ourselves； he could not bear his good fortune； nor govern the
magnitude of his prosperity with sound reason； nay； he made a
conspiracy against me and my life； who gave him his authority； by
endeavoring to take away Mordecai； my benefactor； and my savior；
and by basely and treacherously requiring to have Esther； the
partner of my life； and of my dominion； brought to destruction；
for he contrived by this means to deprive me of my faithful
friends； and transfer the government to others： （20） but since I
perceived that these Jews； that were by this pernicious fellow
devoted to destruction； were not wicked men； but conducted their
lives after the best manner； and were men dedicated to the
worship of that God who hath preserved the kingdom to me and to
my ancestors； I do not only free them from the punishment which
the former epistle； which was sent by Haman； ordered to be
inflicted on them； to which if you refuse obedience； you shall do
well； but I will that they have all honor paid to them。
Accordingly； I have hanged up the man that contrived such things
against them； with his family； before the gates of Shushan； that
punishment being sent upon him by God； who seeth all things。 And
I give you in charge； that you publicly propose a copy of this
epistle through all my kingdom； that the Jews may be permitted
peaceably to use their own laws； and that you assist them； that
at the same season whereto their miserable estate did belong；
they may defend themselves the very same day from unjust
violence； the thirteenth day of the twelfth month； which is Adar；
for God hath made that day a day of salvation instead of a day of
destruction to them； and may it be a good day to those that wish
us well； and a memorial of the punishment of the conspirators
against us： and I will that you take notice； that every city； and
every nation； that shall disobey any thing that is contained in
this epistle； shall be destroyed by fire and sword。 However； let
this epistle be published through all the country that is under
our obedience； and let all the Jews； by all means； be ready
against the day before mentioned； that they may avenge themselves
upon their enemies。〃
13。 Accordingly； the horsemen who carried the epistles proceeded
on the ways which they were to go with speed： but as for
Mordecai； as soon as he had assumed the royal garment； and the
crown of gold； and had put the chain about his neck； he went
forth in a public procession； and when the Jews who were at
Shushan saw him in so great honor with the king； they thought his
good fortune was common to themselves also； and joy and a beam of
salvation encompassed the Jews； both those that were in the
cities； and those that were in the countries； upon the
publication of the king's letters； insomuch that many even of
other nations circumcised their foreskin for fear of the Jews；
that they might procure safety to themselves thereby； for on the
thirteenth day of the twelfth month； which according to the
Hebrews is called Adar； but according to the Macedonians；
Dystrus； those that carried the king's epistle gave them notice；
that the same day wherein their danger was to have been； on that
very day should they destroy their enemies。 But now the rulers of
the provinces； and the tyrants； and the kings； and the scribes；
had the Jews in esteem； for the fear they were in of Mordecai
forced them to act with discretion。 Now when the royal decree was
come to all the country that was subject to the king； it fell out
that the Jews at Shushan slew five hundred of their enemies； and
when the king had told Esther the number of those that were slain
in that city； but did not well know what had been done in the
provinces； he asked her whether she would have any thing further
done against them； for that it should be done accordingly： upon
which she desired that the Jews might be permitted to treat their
remaining enemies in the same manner the next day； as also that
they might hang the ten sons of Haman upon the gallows。 So the
king permitted the Jews so to do； as desirous not to contradict
Esther。 So they gathered themselves together again on the
fourteenth day of the month Dystrus； and slew about three hundred
of their enemies； but touched nothing of what riches they had。
Now there were slain by the Jews that were in the country； and in
the other cities； seventy…five thousand of their enemies； and
these were slain on the thirteenth day of the month； and the next
day they kept as a festival。 In like manner the Jews that were in
Shushan gathered themselves together； and feasted on the
fourteenth day； and that which followed it； whence it is that
even now all the Jews that are in the habitable earth keep these
days festival； and send portions to one another。 Mordecai also
wrote to the Jews that lived in the kingdom of Artaxerxes to
observe these days； and celebrate them as festivals； and to
deliver them down to posterity； that this festival might continue
for all time to come； and that it might never be buried in
oblivion； for since they were about to be destroyed on these days
by Haman； they would do a right thing； upon escaping the danger
in them； and on them inflicting punishment on their enemies； to
observe those days； and give thanks to God on them； for which
cause the Jews still keep the forementioned days； and call them
days of Phurim ＇or Purim。＇ （21） And Mordecai became a great and
illustrious person with the king； and assisted him in the
government of the people。 He also lived with the queen； so that
the affairs of the Jews were； by their means； better than they
could ever have hoped for。 And this was the state of the Jews
under the reign of Artaxerxes。
CHAPTER 7。
How John Slew His Brother Jesus In The Temple； And How Bagoses
Offered Many Injuries To The Jews； And What Sanballat Did。
1。 When Eliashib the high priest was dead； his son Judas
succeeded in the high priesthood； and when he was dead； his son
John took that dignity； on whose account it was also that
Bagoses； the general of another Artaxerxes's army； （22） polluted
the temple； and imposed tributes on the Jews； that out of the
public stock； before they offered the daily sacrifices； they
should pay for every lamb fifty shekels。 Now Jesus was the
brother of John； and was a friend of Bagoses； who had promised to
procure him the high priesthood。 In confidence of whose support；
Jesus quarreled with John in the temple； and so provoked his
brother； that in his anger his brother slew him。 Now it was a
horrible thing for John； when he was high priest； to perpetrate
so great a crime； and so much the more horrible； that there never
was so cruel and impious a thing done； neither by the Greeks nor
Barbarians。 However； God did not neglect its punishment； but the
people were on that very account enslaved； and the temple was
polluted by the Persians。 Now when Bagoses； the general of
Artaxerxes's army； knew that John； the high priest of the Jews；
had slain his own brother Jesus in the temple； he came upon the
Jews immediately； and began in anger to