No sooner was Esther made queen, | That very day, at Esther's banquet, than Bigthan and Teresh, two of his the king, a third time, offered to chamberlains, resolved to murder the grant her whatever she would reking; probably from disgust at his quest, to the half of his kingdom. treatment of Vashti. Mordecai in- She then begged he would interpose formed against them; the crime was for the life of herself and her people; proved, and the traitors were hang- as, to the king's hurt, they were sold ed. Just after, Ahasuerus made to be murdered. Informed that HaHAMAN his chief minister of state; man was the manager of this horrid who, enranged that Mordecai denied scene, Ahasuerus flew out in a rage, him the honours he desired, obtain- and went to his garden. Returning ed an edict, to have the whole Jew-in a little time, he found Haman at ish nation cut off in one day, and the feet of queen Esther, begging his their estates confiscated to the king. life, His passion, it seems, made To prevent the execution, Esther, him imagine Haman had intended to advised by Mordecai, risked her life, force the queen on the bed whereon in approaching the royal presence she sat at the banquet: he therefore uncalled. Melted with affection, ordered his face to be covered, as a Ahasuerus held out to her his golden signal of death. One of the pages sceptre, as a token that her life was present informed Ahasuerus, that in no danger, in making her request. Haman had in his house a gallows She only invited him and Haman to prepared to hang Mordecai, the prea splendid feast. At the banquet, server of the king's life. Ahasuerus he again offered her whatever she ordered Haman himself to be hanged asked, to the half of his kingdom. on it; and gave Haman's whole power She only begged they would come and honours to Mordecai; and though, to-morrow to a second entertain- according to the Persian law, he ment. That very night the king could not revoke the decree against could take no sleep: he therefore the Jewish nation, he allowed Morordered the records of the empire to decai and Esther to write to all the be read to him. The reader hap-provinces, that the Jews should stand pened on the passage of Mordecai's up in their own defence; and in such information against the treacherous a manner as tended to discourage the chamberlains. Finding that Morde- Heathen from attempting the massacai had hitherto been neglected, the cre of them, Esth. i. to ix. king resolved now to reward him. Soon after Mordecai became his Haman, who had just entered the chief minister, Ahasuerus laid a tax on palace to ask leave to hang Morde- his inland territories, and on that part cai on the gallows which he had of Lesser Asia, and the islands, which prepared, was called in, and asked belonged to him. About A. M. what was proper to be done to the 3495, he invaded India, and obliged man the king delighted to honour? the inhabitants to pay him yearly Haman, expecting the honour was 365 talents of silver. He had a great intended for himself, advised, that deal of quarrelling with the Greeks in the man should be dressed in the Lesser Asia, and with the Athenians royal robes, crowned with the royal and others in Europe, which genediadem, mounted on the king's horse, rally issued in his loss and disgrace. while one of the chief courtiers A little before his death, the Egypshould lead his horse through the tians revolted from his yoke. streets, proclaiming aloud, Thus died A. M. 3519, after a reign of 'shall it be done to the man whom 36 years; and was succeeded by the king delighteth to honour.'- Xerxes, his son.

He

The king ordered Haman immedi- AHAVA, offence, or generation, ately to serve Mordecai the Jew in some little river of Chaldea, or rathe manner which he had suggested. ther Assyria. Here Ezra, with his

Attendant Jews, observed a solemn troops to dismiss their prisoners; and fast, for direction and success in they returned them back with no their return to Judea, Ezra viii. small tokens of humanity.-Mean15--21. while the Edomites, from the south, AHAZ, one that takes and possesses, ravaged the country, and carried off the son of Jotham, king of Judah.- a number of the people for slaves. About the tenth year of his age, he The Philistines, from the west, inespoused Abijah, the daughter of vaded the low country adjacent to Zechariah, by whom, about a year their territories, and the south; and after, he had his son Hezekiah. At took Beth-shemesh, Ajalon, Gedetwenty years of age, Ahaz fell heir roth, Shocho, Timnah, and Gimzo, to the crown, A. M. 3265, and and peopled them with a colony of reigned 16 years. In imitation of their nation.

the kings of Israel, he abandoned In his distress Ahaz grew more and himself to the most abominable ido-more wicked; he sought not to the latries, One of his sons he sacri- Lord; but, stripping the temple and ficed to the idol Moloch; and, it is city of all the gold he could find, he said, caused the rest to pass through sent it for a present to Tiglath-pileser, the fire, He did not merely con- king of Assyria; he surrendered himnive at the people's offering sacri- self his vassal; and begged his assistfices in high places, as sundry of his ance against his enemies. By cutpredecessors had done; but he him- ting off the Syrians that were a barself ordered sacrifices and incense rier against the eastern powers, and to be offered in high places, hills, by imposing on his kingdom a tribute, groves, and under green trees. To-Tiglath-pileser rather hurt than helpwards the end of his father's reign, ed him. Ahaz went to Damascus, the Syrians under Rezin, and the Is-to congratulate the Assyrian monarch raelites under Pekah, had begun to on his victory over Syria; he there harrass Judah. Observing Ahaz to observed an idolatrous altar, which be a weak prince, they agreed to mightily suited his taste; he sent off dethrone him, and make a son of a plan of it to Urijah the high priest, Tabeal, their deputy, king in his to form one similar. Urijah had it stead. Their armies invaded his finished before Ahaz returned to Jekingdom all at once, He and his rusalem. Ahaz ordered it to be plapeople were seized with the utmost ced in the room of the brazen altar consternation. The prophet Isaiah erected by Solomon; and to offer all assured him, that none of their pro- the sacrifices thereon. To gratify jects should prosper; and that since the king of Assyria, who, it seems, the Messiah was not yet come, there returned him his visit, he turned was no reason to fear the departure about the royal entrance to the court of the sceptre from Judah, Isa. vii. of the temple; he took away the coThis stroke was diverted: but Ahaz vert of the Sabbath, where it seems the proceeding from one evil to another, priest stood to read the law, or the the two kings made a fresh attack royal family to hear it; he disgraced upon him. Rezin marched to Elath, the brazen lavers and sea, by remov. a noted sea-port on the Red Sea, and ing their pedestals, and setting them peopled it with Syrians, Pekah at- on the earth, or upon a pavement of tacked Ahaz's army, and killed stone. Proceeding in his wicked120,000 of them in one day, besides ness, he sacrificed to the idols of SyMaaseiah his son; and carried off ria, who, he imagined, had been the 200,000 prisoners, men, women, and authors of his calamities, in order to children. Moved with the remon: render them more favourable; he strance of Obed the prophet, the brake in pieces the sacred vessels ; princes of Israel, Azariah, Berechiah, he shut up the gates of the temple, Jebizkiah, and Amasa, persuaded the and erected altars in every corner of

Jerusalem, and city of Judah, for of his brethren, this captain addressed burning incense. He died in the the prophet with reverence and awe, 16th year of his reign, and was bu- and begged him to spare his, and his ried in Jerusalem; but had not the soldiers' lives. It was done; and honour of interment in the royal Elijah went with them. Entering tombs, 2 Kings xv. 37. and xvi. the chamber of Ahaziah, he boldly 2 Chron. xxviii. Isa. vii.

assured him, that for his orders to consult Baalzebub, the idol of Ekron, he should certainly die of his distemper; nor was it long before he expired, and his brother Jehoram reigned in his stead, 1 Kings xxii. 49. 2 Chron. xx. 36, 37. 2 Kings i.

AHAZIAH, the son of Ahab. He was made his father's associate in power, when he went to the war at Ramoth-Gilead; and reigned about a year after his death. He imitated his parents in the worship of Baal and Ashtaroth, and every other crime. AHAZIAH, seizure, possession, or He and Jehoshaphat fitted out a fleet vision of the Lord, the grandson of at Ezion-geber, to trade to Ophir for Jehoshaphat, and son of Jehoram and gold; a storm dashed their ships to Athaliah the daughter of Ahab. In pieces, almost in their going out from the 22d year of his age, and the 42d the harbour. Ahaziah intended to of the royalty of his mother's family, fit out a second fleet; but JEHOSHA- he succeeded his father on the throne PHAT refused to have any concern of Judah. By the advice of his moin it. The Moabites, who, till now, ther Athaliab, he walked after the exhad continued tributary to the ten ample of Ahab his grandfather, wortribes, revolted, and refused their shipping Baalim and Ashtaroth; and yearly tribute of sheep. Ahaziah required the same of his subjects. was rendered incapable to reduce He had scarcely reigned one year, them. Falling from one of his win- when he repaired to Jezreel to visit dows, or from the balcony of his Jehoram, king of Israel, his uncle, house, he was mortally hurt, and sick-who had returned thither from Raened; he sent messengers to Baalze-moth-Gilead to be healed of his bub, the idol-god of Ekron, to inquire wounds. At that very time JEHU, if he should recover. Elijah met the the destroyer of the house of Ahab, messengers, and asked them, If it was came to cut off Jehoram. Knowing for want of a God in Israel, that their nothing of his intentions, Jehoram master had sent them to inquire of and Ahaziah went out to meet him : Baalzebub? He moreover assured Jehoram was immediately struck them, that for this reason he should dead by an arrow; and Ahaziah fled certainly die of his disease. They to Samaria, and hid himself. On returned, and reported to the king search being made, he was found by what they had heard. By the tokens a party which Jehu detached after they gave, he quickly perceived it him. It seems they brought him had been Elijah who had met them. back part of the way to Jezreel; He ordered a troop of his forces to but at Gur, near Ibleam, a city of the fetch him immediately; the captain Manassites, they, by Jehu's orders, of the band addressed Elijah too gave him his death wounds. His rudely; at his desire fire from hea- own servants posting away with him ven consumed the captain and his in his chariot, till they came to Metroop. A second troop was sent on giddo, he died there, and his corpse the same errand; their captain be- was thence carried and interred in having with the haughty airs of the the royal sepulchres of Jerusalem. former, he and his company of fifty About the same time 42 of his brewere in a like manner consumed; as thren, or rather nephews, (his breboth companies were idolaters, they thren being all before slain by the deserved this treatment. A third Arabians,) had gone to visit Jehotroop was sent; warned by the fate ram: these Jehu involved in the com

mon ruin of the house of Ahab. and ignominious end, 1 Kings xi. What children or friends remained and xiv. Ahijah wrote part of the to Ahaziah, were all, except JOASH, history of Solomon's reign, 2 Chron. murdered by his mother about the ix. 20.

same time. Ahaziah, his son Joash, AHIKAM, a brother that raises up, and his grandson Amaziah, are ex- the son of Shaphan, and father of Gecluded from Matthew's genealogy of daliah. He was sent by Josiah, king Christ. Such ruin and shame was of Judah, to consult Huldah concernthe consequence of Jehoshaphat's ing the threatenings of God against marrying his son into the wicked fa- the nation for their wickedness, 2 mily of Ahab. Let parents and guar- Kings xxii. 12. He evidenced a dians read with due attention the fol- friendly disposition to that eminent lowing passages, and they will see a servant of God, Jeremiah, and mighlittle of the dreadful fruit which has tily exerted himself to preserve the been produced by improper mar-prophet's life, Jer. xvi. 24. riages, 2 Kings viii. 24-29. and ix. AHIMAAZ, brother of the council, 27-29. and x. 12-14. and xi. 1. or my brother is counsellor, the son 2 Chron. xxii. and successor of Zadok the high AHIAH, brother of the Lord, son priest. He and Jonathan the son of of Shishah, and secretary to Solomon, Abiathar, performed a very important I Kings iv. 3.-2. AHIAH, Son of Ahi-service for David, during the protub the high priest, and successor in gress of Absalom's rebellion. Their the Pontificate, 1 Sam. xiv. 3.

parents and Hushai, all fast friends AHIHUD, brother of vanity, son of of David, continuing in Jerusalem, Naaman, and brother of Ahoah, one unsuspected by Absalom, the two of the tribe of Benjamin, 1 Chron. young men waited near Enrogel, without the city, to convey proper

viii. 7.

AHIJAH, brother of the Lord, the information to the king. Informed same with AHIAH: a prophet of the by Hushai, through means of a maid, Lord who dwelt at Shiloh. Perhaps what had passed in Absalom's privy it was he who encouraged Solomon council, they posted off to inform while building the temple; and who, David. Informed of this by a young after his shameful fall, threatened him man who had seen them, Absalom with the rending of his kingdom, 1 detached a party to pursue and appreKings vi. 11. and xi. 6. Meeting hend them. To avoid these pursuers, with Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, in Ahimaaz and Jonathan retired to a a field, he rent his garments into friend's house in Bahurim. The man twelve pieces, and gave him ten of had a deep well in his court; thither them, as a token that he should be they went down; while the mistress king over ten tribes of Israel. About spread a cover on the well's mouth, twenty years after, Jeroboam's only and laid ground corn on it. Her pious son fell sick. Fearing to go work was scarcely finished when the himself, Jeroboam sent his wife in pursuers came in quest of them. The disguise to consult Ahijah, whether mistress affirmed they were gone, he should recover. She, according and they not finding them, returned to the manner of the times, carried to Jerusalem. The young priests to the prophet a present of ten loaves, then finished their course to king some cracknels, and a cruise of ho- David, and informed him of the ney. Though blind by reason of counsel of the rebels; and that Huage, Ahijah, instructed of God, told shai advised him to pass over Jordan the queen at her entrance, that he with the utmost expedition, that he knew who she was. He assured her might be out of their reach. that her distressed son should die Not long after, Absalom's troops on her return; and that the rest of were entirely routed. Ahimaaz's her family should have a miserable importunity prevailed with Joab, to

1

allow him to run with the tidings to only allowed to the priests; but David. Running by the way of the which he believed David and his serplain, he came up before Cushi, vants might eat, if for any due space whom Joab had sent off before him. they had abstained from women.When the sentinel of Mahanaim David assured him they had touched warned David of the approach of a none for at least three days. Ahimesingle runner, the king immediately lech gave them some loaves. David concluded that he brought tidings: further asked of him a sword or spear. for if the army had been broke, the Ahimelech gave him the sword of people would have come flying in Goliath, which had been hung up in crowds. When Cushi had come the tabernacle for a trophy. within sight, and Ahimaaz was dis- Doeg, the Edomite, the chief of Saul's cerned who he was, David suggest- herdsmen, happened to be waiting at ed, that as he was a good man, he the tabernacle upon some purificahoped he brought agreeable tidings. tion, and witnessed the whole. When Ahimaaz came up, and informed the Saul was afterwards complaining to king that all was well; and, falling his servants, that none of them were down at his feet, blessed the Lord affected with his misfortunes, nor who had cut off his enemies. David disposed to inform him of David's asked if Absalom was safe? Ahimaaz treasonable plots, Doeg related what prudently, if truly, replied, that just he had witnessed at Nob. Ahimebefore he and Cushi were sent off, lech, and 84 other priests, were imhe saw a great tumult, but knew not mediately ordered to appear before what it meant. He stood by till Saul. He rudely demanded of them, Cushi came up, who plainly informed why they had conspired with David the king of Absalom's death. Some against him, and had given him proyears after, Ahimaaz succeeded his vision and arms, and had inquired of father in the high priesthood; and the Lord in his favour? Ahimelech was succeeded by his son Azariah, meekly replied, that he always took 2 Sam. xv. 27, 36. and xvii. 15-22. David, the king's son-in-law, to be and xviii. 19-32. 1 Chron. vi. 8, 9. one of his best friends; that he had AHIMAN, a brother prepared, a all along prayed for him; and knew giant of the race of Anak, who nothing of any rupture between them. dwelt at Hebron, at the time when Regardless of this sufficient vindicathe spies were sent by Moses, Num. tion, Sau! sentenced Ahimelech and xiii. 22. whence he and his bre- all his relations to death. He orderthren, Sheshai and Talmai, were ex-ed his guards immediately to butcher pelled by Joshua, Josh. xv. 14. A. M. the 85 priests that were present, 2560. They declined the horrid and murAHIMELECH, I, my brother is king, derous task: but Doeg being called, or the brother of my king, the son of slew them to a man. A party was Ahitub, great grandson of Eli, and immediately sent, probably under the brother of Ahiah, whom he succeed- direction of Doeg, to murder every ed in the office of high priest. Dur- man, woman, and child, and the very ing the government of Saul, he, with cattle, of Nob, the city of the priests. a number of other priests, attending These orders were so punctually exthe tabernacle at Nob, resided there. ecuted, that none but Abiathar, AhiTo him David repaired in his flight melech's son, who fled to David, from Saul's court, and, representing escaped. This happened about A. M. that Saul had sent him and his attend- 2944, and was part of the terrible ants on a most pressing errand, which vengeance that pursued the family of required the utmost despatch, begged Eli, for his indulging his sons in their he would grant them some food. profaneness, 1 Sam. xxi. and xxii. Ahimelech assured him, that he had and ii. 27-36.

none but show-bread, which was AHIMELECH, or ABIMELECH, the