a, and she was most renowned in all the land of
Israel.

16:26. And chastity was joined to her virtue, so that she knew no man
all the days of her life, after the death of Manasses her husband.

16:27. And on festival days she came forth with great glory.

16:28. And she abode in her husband's house a hundred and five years,
and made her handmaid free, and she died, and was buried with her
husband in Bethulia.

16:29. And all the people mourned for seven days.

16:30. And all the time of her life there was none that troubled Israel,
nor many years after her death.

16:31. But the day of the festivity of this victory is received by the
Hebrews in the number of holy days, and is religiously observed by the
Jews from that time until this day.

THE BOOK OF ESTHER

This Book takes its name from queen Esther, whose history is here
recorded. The general opinion of almost all commentators on the Holy
Scriptures makes Mardochai the writer of it: which also may be collected
below from chap. 9 ver. 20.

Esther Chapter 1

King Assuerus maketh a great feast. Queen Vasthi being sent for refuseth
to come: for which disobedience she is deposed.

1:1. In the days of Assuerus, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over a
hundred and twenty seven provinces:

1:2. When he sat on the throne of his kingdom, the city Susan was the
capital of his kingdom.

1:3. Now in the third year of his reign he made a great feast for all
the 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 his
sight,

1:4. That he might shew the riches of the glory of his kingdom, and the
greatness, and boasting of his power, for a long time, to wit, for a
hundred and fourscore days.

1:5. And when the days of the feast were expired, he invited all the
people that were found in Susan, from the greatest to the least: and
commanded a feast to be made seven days in the court of the garden, and
of 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, and
violet hangings, fastened with cords of silk, and of purple, which were
put into rings of ivory, and were held up with marble pillars. The beds
also were of gold and silver, placed in order upon a floor paved with
porphyry and white marble: which was embellished with painting of
wonderful variety.

1:7. And they that were invited, d