The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1899-10-04
HAMAN's PLOT AGAINST JEWS
International Sunday school Lesson
for October 2, iseo-Test, Esther
au-Ii-Memery Verses, q, a

READ Chapters la
TIME.-The time Of the story was some
where about the middle Of xerxes' reign,
tss-tss. 90 years after the nrst return, ~
after the completion OF the temple, and 10
before Ezra went up to Jerusalem. l. Xerxss
Third Ysar.-The great feast q y. u. c. ass.
| His Seventh Year.-Eather made queen
CalO, n. G. 40 q His Thirteenth Year
Hamsn's plot and Esther's heroism. II. c.
ga
PLAcE.-shushan Csuss). the winter
| capital OF the Persian empire. about 300
miles south Of east from Babylon, and iN
miles north OF the Persian gulf The site
OF the ancient susa has been explored. and
remains Of the great palace have been dis
EXPLANATORY.
The Book Of Esther.-The author IL
unknown, but must have been some one
"llving In the heart OF Persia, n man
who was intimately acquainted with
the scenery he describes" - Prof.
Adeney. The date Of writing IL also un-
known. Prof sayce places II at u. c.
t25. He says that the minuteness OF de-
tail shows that the author lived before
the overthrow OF the Persian power,
b. G. 33I. Some place the date still later.
Historical Accuracy.
i. The Great Feast OF Shushan, II. G.
ss3.-Esther 1919. According 20 Hero
dotus, Xerxes held an assembly TO ar
range for the Grecian war in the third
year Of his reign, and II is probably this
feast which 10 described In the first
.hapter OF the book Of Esther, as given
TO the mobiles OF the realm. assembled at
Shushan from all parts OF the empire.
II lasted $50 days, or six months. At
this lonR-continued fete were gathered
the chief officers and mobiles from the
whole empire. Everything was done 10
Impress upon them the greatness and
power Of the king. and the unlimited
resources at his command.
ii. Queen Vashi Deposed.-Esther
i:i0-22. Nashti refuses the indicate
summons OF her drunken husband. II
IL suggested by Prof. Adeney that
Vashti herself may have been under the
influence OF the wine drunk az her own
feast, and so rendered reckless, and in
splred with Fictitious courage. But
while do not see with DIR. GLADDEN. that
"Nashti Ia the character which most de-
maDds our sympathy" yet | do agree
with DR.. Taylor when he says: For
my part, consider her conduct worthy
Of al praise; and hold that she was en-.
tirely right in what she did"
III. Queen Esther.-Chap. 2. An In
terval OF four years occurs before a new
queen Is found In place OF Vashti. II
was during this interval that his great
invasion OF Greece took place. After
the return Of Xerxes from his great de-
feat Esther was chosen queen.
". Humans Plot Against the Jews.
VS.. Ill. Four or Ave years later
(3:7. vi. "Haman:" Nothing further
IL known Of him. THE ARaRits:"
Probably a term Of reproach" (scrib-
ner's BIB. Dic.) or local name Of his
birthplace.
V. 2. Bowed" Frustrated him
self. "for such was the ordinary eastern
practice. "MordecnI:" A Jew, and an
elder cousin OF Esther (2:7), whom he
had adopted AZ his daughter (2:I5)
Bowed not:" Because In so doing he
would have been untrue TO his God and
his religion.
V. 3. THE kings gates" An open
space before the gate OF his palace.
V. 4. whether Mordecai's matters"
Tor, rather, 'words') would stand"
!. e., whether his excuse would be al
lowed. He had told them that he was
a jew" So that they would understand
why he could not worship Haman.
va "He thought scorn 10 lay hands
on Mordecai alone;" "If Hannah had
simply said 90 AhnsueruS: There Is
one Of your menials, who persistenly
disobeys n royal edict, and at the same
time insults me-, Ahasuerus would, as
matter Of course. have told him to put
the mental TO death. but the revenge
full temper Of the man was such that
this seemed TO him insufficient. sought
20 destroy all the Jews that were
throughout the whole kingdom OF
Ahasuerus. Massacres on a large scale.
W. "In the first month" OF the jew
ish religious year. "Nisan:" Core
spending TO our March-April. the mid
die OF which Is our Easter. "They cast
Pur;" The word from which Purim,
the name OF the feast commemorating
this deliverance, was derived. Cast
the lot from month
70 month" to find the favorable day for
asking his favor OF Xerxes, just as the
augurs OF the Romans by sacrifices, or
the fight OF birds sought for day OF
good omen for great undertakings.
V. s. "a certain people scattered
soroad:" Who, by their ceremonies
and by their religion. were kept from
intermingling with the other peoples.
and being absorbed by them. as has
been the remarkable fact ever since.
V.9. "Let Il be written that they may
be destroyed" See under v. G. "Ten
thousand talents OF silver" Nariously
estimated at $40, zoo. 900 TO SEQ. 900, 900.
V. 10. king took his ring;" His sig
net, either a ring or a cylinder. Gave
II unto Haman;" So that he could sign
In the kings name and with the kings
authority any decree he wished 20 is-
sue.
V. II. "The silver IL given TO thee:"
Xerxes refused the offered money, as he
did the 100000 gold darics OF Pythius.
referred 10 above. II may refer 10 the
silver lie might take from the Jews.