Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/393

 knee before  Aman  and  worshipped  him. Mardochai alone  did  not bend the  knee  before  Aman,  as  he  would  not  give  to  man  the honour due  to  God  alone. Aman, perceiving  this,  and  learning that Mardochai  was  a Jew,  became  very  angry. To be  revenged  on  Mardochai, he  told  Assuerus that the  Jews  were  planning a revolt,  and  prevailed upon  the  king  to publish  an  edict  commanding all  the  Jews  in •his  empire  to  be  put  to death,  and  their  property to be  taken  away.

The Jews  were terrified and  began  to weep  and  lament. But Mardochai told  Esther of the  edict, so  that she might  intercede  with the king  for  her  own people.



Then Esther  said: “All the  provinces  know whosoever cometh into the  king’s  inner  court,  who  is  not  called  for,  is  immediately put to  death. How then  can  I go  in  to  the  king,  not  being called?” To  these  words  Mardochai  replied:  “Who  knoweth whether thou  art  not  therefore  come  to  the  kingdom  that  thou