Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/392



S the  government  of  the  kings  of  Persia  was  exceedingly mild, many  of  the  Jews  remained  in  the  kingdom  of  Babylon. God permitted  this  for  the  spiritual  good  of  the  Gentiles,  so  that the latter,  being  brought  into  daily  contact  with  the  Jews,  might more easily  arrive  at  the  knowledge  of  the  true  God,  and  be  instructed in  the  promises  made  concerning  a Saviour  to  come.

It happened,  by  a special  dispensation  of  God,  that  many of the  Jews,  like  Daniel  and  his  companions  in  former  years,  were in high  favour  with  the  kings  of  Persia,  and  made  use  of  their influence to  protect  their  countrymen  and  to  propagate  the  true faith. At a certain  time  it  pleased  Divine  Providence  to  employ in this  way  a pious  Jewess,  named  Esther.

She lived  in  the  reign  of  Assuerus,  in  the  house  of  Mardochai,  her  uncle,  who  had  brought  her  up  from  her  infancy. Assuerus, having  seen  her,  was  pleased  with  her  beauty  and  virtue, placed the  crown  upon  her  head,  and  made  her  his  queen. But she, by  Mardochai’s  advice,  left  the  king  in  ignorance  concerning her nation. And Mardochai  who  loved  Esther  as  his  own  child, came every  day  and  sat  at  the  gate  of  the  palace  (Fig.  58,  p.  352).

Now it  came  to  pass  that  two  officials  of  the  palace  had conspired together  to  kill  the  king. Mardochai, having  discovered the plot,  revealed  it  to  Esther,  who  immediately  told  the  king. The affair  being  examined,  Mardochai’s  statement  was  found  to be  true. The two  conspirators  were  hanged,  and  the  facts  recorded in the  annals  of  the  kingdom.

Some time  after,  Assuerus  raised  a certain  Aman  to  the highest dignity  in  the  empire. All the  king’s  servants  bent  the