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[234]
When Esther had used this supplication for three days, she put off
those garments, and changed her habit, and adorned herself as became a
queen, and took two of her handmaids with her, the one of which supported
her, as she gently leaned upon her, and the other followed after, and lifted
up her large train (which swept along the ground) with the extremities
of her fingers. And thus she came to the king, having a blushing redness
in her countenance, with a pleasant agreeableness in her behavior; yet
did she go in to him with fear; and as soon as she was come over against
him, as he was sitting on his throne, in his royal apparel, which was a
garment interwoven with gold and precious stones, which made him seem to
her more terrible, especially when he looked at her somewhat severely,
and with a countenance on fire with anger, her joints failed her immediately,
out of the dread she was in, and she fell down sideways in a swoon: but
the king changed his mind, which happened, as I suppose, by the will of
God, and was concerned for his wife, lest her fear should bring some very
ill thing upon her, and he leaped from his throne, and took her in his
arms, and recovered her, by embracing her, and speaking comfortably to
her, and exhorting her to be of good cheer, and not to suspect any thing
that was sad on account of her coming to him without being called, because
that law was made for subjects, but that she, who was a queen, as well
as he a king, might be entirely secure; and as he said this, he put the
scepter into her hand, and laid his rod upon her neck, on account of the
law; and so freed her from her fear. And after she had recovered herself
by these encouragements, she said, "My lord, it is not easy for me,
on the sudden, to say what hath happened, for as soon as I saw thee to
be great, and comely, and terrible, my spirit departed from me, and I had
no soul left in me." And while it was with difficulty, and in a low
voice, that she could say thus much, the king was in a great agony and
disorder, and encouraged Esther to be of good cheer, and to expect better
fortune, since he was ready, if occasion should require it, to grant her
the half of his kingdom. Accordingly, Esther desired that he and his friend
Haman would come to her to a banquet, for she said she had prepared a supper
for him. He consented to it; and when they were there, as they were drinking,
he bid Esther to let him know what she desired; for that she should not
be disappointed though she should desire the half of his kingdom. But she
put off the discovery of her petition till the next day, if he would come
again, together with Haman, to her banquet.
Flavius Josephus. The Works of Flavius Josephus. Translated by. William Whiston, A.M. Auburn and Buffalo. John E. Beardsley. 1895.
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References (5 total)
- Cross-references in general dictionaries to this page
(5):
- LSJ, ἀπαιωρ-έομαι
- LSJ, ἀπηνής
- LSJ, διακαίω
- LSJ, ἐπίκειμαι
- LSJ, εὐψυ_χ-έω
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