Esther 2:4

And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong. So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom. oracle: Heb. word

But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. before...: Gr. in the midst

And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister. lean: Heb. thin from day...: Heb. morning by morning And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand. So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel. pleased...: Heb. was right in the eyes of, etc

If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries. that they...: Heb. to destroy them pay: Heb. weigh And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. enemy: or, oppressor

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan: pleased...: Heb. was good in the eyes of the king