next unto king.

創世記 41:44
法老對約瑟說：「我是法老，在埃及全地，若沒有你的命令，不許人擅自辦事。」

撒母耳記上 23:17
對他說：「不要懼怕，我父掃羅的手必不加害於你。你必做以色列的王，我也做你的宰相。這事我父掃羅知道了。」

歷代志下 28:7
有一個以法蓮中的勇士，名叫細基利，殺了王的兒子瑪西雅和管理王宮的押斯利甘並宰相以利加拿。

但以理書 5:16,29
我聽說你善於講解，能解疑惑，現在你若能讀這文字，把講解告訴我，就必身穿紫袍，項戴金鏈，在我國中位列第三。」…

accepted.

以斯帖記 3:2
在朝門的一切臣僕都跪拜哈曼，因為王如此吩咐，唯獨末底改不跪不拜。

羅馬書 14:18
在這幾樣上服侍基督的，就為神所喜悅，又為人所稱許。

seeking.

尼希米記 2:10
和倫人參巴拉並為奴的亞捫人多比雅聽見有人來為以色列人求好處，就甚惱怒。

詩篇 122:6-9
你們要為耶路撒冷求平安：「耶路撒冷啊，愛你的人必然興旺。…

羅馬書 9:2,3
我是大有憂愁，心裡時常傷痛。…

羅馬書 10:1
弟兄們，我心裡所願的，向神所求的，是要以色列人得救。

REMARKS ON THE BOOK OF ESTHER.

以斯帖記 10:1
亞哈隨魯王使旱地和海島的人民都進貢。

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.