And how Mardochai of the race of the Jews, was next after king Assuerus: and great among the Jews, and acceptable to the people of his brethren, seeking the good of his people, and speaking those things which were for the welfare of his seed.

next unto king.

Genesis 41:44 And the king said to Joseph: I am Pharao: without thy commandment no man shall move hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.

1 Samuel 23:17 Fear not: for the hand of my father, Saul, shall not find thee, and thou shalt reign over Israel, and I shall be next to thee; yea and my father knoweth this.

2 Chronicles 28:7 At the same time Zechri a powerful man of Ephraim, slew Maasias the king's son, and Ezricam the governor of his house, and Elcana who was next to the king.

Daniel 5:16,29 But I have heard of thee, that thou canst interpret obscure things, and resolve difficult things: now if thou art able to read the writing, and to shew me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and shalt have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third prince in my kingdom. . . .

accepted.

Esther 3:2 And all the king's servants, that were at the doors of the palace, bent their knees, and worshipped Aman: for so the emperor had commanded them, only Mardochai did not bend his knee, nor worship him.

Romans 14:18 For he that in this serveth Christ pleaseth God and is approved of men.

seeking.

Nehemiah 2:10 And Sanaballat the Horonite, and Tobias the servant, the Ammonite, heard it, and it grieved them exceedingly, that a man was come, who sought the prosperity of the children of Israel.

Psalm 122:6-9 Pray ye for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem: and abundance for them that love thee. . . .

Romans 9:2,3 That I have great sadness and continual sorrow in my heart. . . .

Romans 10:1 Brethren, the will of my heart, indeed and my prayer to God is for them unto salvation.

REMARKS ON THE BOOK OF ESTHER.

Esther 10:1 And king Assuerus made all the land, and all the islands of the sea tributary.

xi. c.6,) the Septuagint version, and the apocryphal additions to this book. The history, therefore, comes in between the sixth and seventh chapters of Ezra, commencing about A.M.

3540, and continuing through a period of twelve years: it relates the royal feast of Ahasuerus; the disgrace of Vashti, (ch. i.;) the elevation of Esther to the Persian throne; the essential service rendered to the king by Mordecai, in detecting a plot against his life, (ch. ii.;) the promotion of Haman, and his purposed destruction of the Jews, (ch. iii.;) the consequent affliction of the Jews, and the measures pursued by them, (ch. iv.;) the defeat of Haman's plot, through the instrumentality of Esther, against Mordecai, (ch. v.-vii.;) and also the defeat of his general plot against the Jews, (ch. viii.; ix.

1-15;) the institution of the feast of Purim to commemorate this deliverance, (ch. ix.

16-32;) and the advancement of Mordecai, (ch. x.;) and though some Christians have hesitated to receive this book into the sacred canon, yet it has always been received by the Jews, not only as perfectly authentic, but also as one of the most excellent of their sacred books. That it is a genuine and faithful description of a real fact, the observation of the feast of Purim, to the present day, is a sufficient evidence; since it is impossible, and in fact inconceivable, that a nation should institute, and afterwards continue to celebrate without interruption, through every generation of that people, in a long succession of ages, in whatever places they may have sojourned, this solemn annual festival, merely because one of their nation had written an agreeable fable or romance. It has been remarked, as an objection to this book, that the name of God no where occurs in it: His superintending providence, however, is frequently illustrated. It is shewn, indeed, in every part of the work; disconcerting evil designs, and producing great events, by means seemingly inadequate. It also presents an interesting description of mortified pride, and of malice baffled to the destruction of its possessors; and exhibits a very lively representation of the vexations and troubles, the anxieties, treachery, and dissimulation of a corrupt court.