Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-04-14
geli9iosas Department.
SUNDAY-sCHOOL LESSON.

In taking up this lesson, 1t IS hard to
realize that it treats of scenes that oc.
Cured more than thousand years later
than the time of Job. By most modern
chronologers the events recorded i'll this
lesson are supposed to have occurred
about 4SO years B. G. Ahasuerus, king
of Persia, Supposed now to have been
the Xerxes of history lourished at Susa,
or Shushan. Unfortunate in his attempt
to conquer the Greeks. he had returned,
and undertook to find consolation in the
pleasures of his harem. His wife Vashti
the queen, had refused to comply with
his orders, and had been deposed and
driven from his court. He had sent into
the provinces of his vast realm for the
most beautiful and attractive virgins,
from whom he might select one to become
the queen. Living in his provinces were
remnants of the Jews. and in his own
city was Mordecai, a Jew, who had
adopted, as his daughter, Esther the
child of his uncle. Among the virgins
who were to 60 before the king, was
Esther. Fortunate for the Jewish peo-
pie, she was adjudged most beautiful.
and became queen. Haman, great fa-
vorite of the king, had become angered,
because Mordecai refused to do him
homage, and he contrived a plot, that
was to cause the destruction of all the
Jews in the realm. On a certain day
all the Jews were to be murdered. This
sad news came to Mordecai, and he
hoped through the intervention of the
queen to cause the order to be revoked.
In those days, to be king was to be
so exalted that the person, the throne
and the court were very sacred. and only
through the kings request and permits
sion could the queen approach him.
Esther had great regard for her KIN
dred and her people, and she hoped in
some way to gain the kings presence
and his favor. She made the attempt
and succeeded in obtaining from the
king a revocation of the order to destroy
the Jews, and without any plotting or
her part, the king became aware of the
true character of Haman, and caused
him to be executed on the lofty gallows
he (Haman) had erected for Merdecai
who soon became the kings prime minis
ter. The lesson is taken from that par
Of the narrative where the queen is max
ing preparation to approach the king tt
ask for great favors. Not having beer
called into the kings presence for man!
days, she fears that an attempt on he
own part to visit him, will result in hi
displeasure and her death but she i
willing to make the attempt for tn
good of the Jews. She sends Hatael
to Mordecai who is urging her to hav
an interview with the king, to remin'
him of her great danger, and he tell
her of her own danger, she, also beini
Jew, should the decree be carried GU
against the Jews, she too would be slain
Mordecai encourages her by asking he
the question, "who knoweth whethe
thou art come to the kingdom for such
time as this ?" Meaning, probably, tina
providentially she had become the quee
that she might save her people from tn
destruction that threatened them. Sh
sent word back to have all her friend
and people engage in fasting, probabl
in prayer, while she should make tn
attempt, saying, $50 will l 60 in unto tn
king and if | perish. | perish" TIL
was brave and heroic action on he
part, prompted by love of kindred. He
request that her friends fast. shows he
faith in the ordinances of the bible. He
attempt was successful, and she rejoice
in being able to save the Jews. Fro
this event arose the custom among tt
Jews of keeping the feast of Purin
which has ever since been celebrated b
that people