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CHAPTER ESTHER 12
And Mardocheus took his rest in the court with Gabatha and Tharra, the two eunuchs of the king,
and keepers of the palace.
2
And he heard their devices, and searched out their purposes, and learned that they were about
to lay hands upon Artexerxes the king; and so he certified the king of them.
3
Then the king examined the two eunuchs, and after that they had confessed it, they were
strangled.
4
And the king made a record of these things, and Mardocheus also wrote thereof.
5
So the king commanded, Mardocheus to serve in the court, and for this he rewarded him.
6
Howbeit Aman the son of Amadathus the Agagite, who was in great honour with the king,
sought to molest Mardocheus and his people because of the two eunuchs of the king.
CHAPTER ESTHER 13
The copy of the letters was this: The great king Artexerxes writeth these things to the princes and
governours that are under him from India unto Ethiopia in an hundred and seven and twenty
provinces.
2
After that I became lord over many nations and had dominion over the whole world, not lifted
up with presumption of my authority, but carrying myself always with equity and mildness, I
purposed to settle my subjects continually in a quiet life, and making my kingdom peaceable, and
open for passage to the utmost coasts, to renew peace, which is desired of all men.
3
Now when I asked my counsellors how this might be brought to pass, Aman, that excelled in
wisdom among us, and was approved for his constant good will and steadfast fidelity, and had the
honour of the second place in the kingdom,
4
Declared unto us, that in all nations throughout the world there was scattered a certain malicious
people, that had laws contrary to ail nations, and continually despised the commandments of kings,
so as the uniting of our kingdoms, honourably intended by us cannot go forward.
5
Seeing then we understand that this people alone is continually in opposition unto all men,
differing in the strange manner of their laws, and evil affected to our state, working all the mischief
they can that our kingdom may not be firmly established:
6
Therefore have we commanded, that all they that are signified in writing unto you by Aman,
who is ordained over the affairs, and is next unto us, shall all, with their wives and children, be
utterly destroyed by the sword of their enemies, without all mercy and pity, the fourteenth day of
the twelfth month Adar of this present year:
7
That they, who of old and now also are malicious, may in one day with violence go into the
grave, and so ever hereafter cause our affairs to be well settled, and without trouble.
8
Then Mardocheus thought upon all the works of the Lord, and made his prayer unto him,
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