This eBook was produced by David Widger
from etext #1581 prepared by Dennis McCarthy, Atlanta, Georgiaand Tad Book, student, Pontifical North American College, Rome.
Translated from the Latin Vulgate
Diligently Compared with the Hebrew, Greek,and Other Editions in Divers Languages
THE OLD TESTAMENT
First Published by the English College at Douay
A.D. 1609 & 1610
and
THE NEW TESTAMENT
First Published by the English College at Rheims
A.D. 1582
With Annotations
The Whole Revised and Diligently Compared withthe Latin Vulgate by Bishop Richard ChallonerA.D. 1749-1752
This Book takes its name from queen Esther, whose history is hererecorded. The general opinion of almost all commentators on the HolyScriptures makes Mardochai the writer of it: which also may be collectedbelow from chap. 9 ver. 20.
Esther Chapter 1
King Assuerus maketh a great feast. Queen Vasthi being sent for refusethto come: for which disobedience she is deposed.
1:1. In the days of Assuerus, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over ahundred and twenty seven provinces:
1:2. When he sat on the throne of his kingdom, the city Susan was thecapital of his kingdom.
1:3. Now in the third year of his reign he made a great feast for allthe princes, and for his servants, for the most mighty of the Persians,and the nobles of the Medes, and the governors of the provinces in hissight,
1:4. That he might shew the riches of the glory of his kingdom, and thegreatness, and boasting of his power, for a long time, to wit, for ahundred and fourscore days.
1:5. And when the days of the feast were expired, he invited all thepeople that were found in Susan, from the greatest to the least: andcommanded a feast to be made seven days in the court of the garden, andof the wood, which was planted by the care and the hand of the king.
1:6. And there were hung up on every side sky coloured, and green, andviolet hangings, fastened with cords of silk, and of purple, which wereput into rings of ivory, and were held up with marble pillars. The bedsalso were of gold and silver, placed in order upon a floor paved withporphyry and white marble: which was embellished with painting ofwonderful variety.
1:7. And they that were invited, drank in golden cups, and the meatswere brought in divers vessels one after another. Wine also in abundanceand of the best was presented, as was worthy of a king's magnificence.
1:8. Neither was there any one to compel them to drink that were notwilling, but as the king had appointed, who set over every table one ofhis nobles, that every man might take what he would.
1:9. Also Vasthi the queen made a feast for the women in the palace,where king Assuerus was used to dwell.
1:10. Now on the seventh day, when the king was merry, and after verymuch drinking was well warmed with wine, he commanded Mauman, andBazatha, and Harbona, and Bagatha, and Abgatha, and Zethar, and Charcas,the seven eunuchs that served in his presence,
1:11. To bring in queen Vasthi before the king, with the crown set uponher head, to shew her beauty to all the people and the princes: for she