[Illustration:  Daniel and the lions.]

ESTHER BEFORE THE KING.

Ahasuerus reigned over the vast empire of Persia, and Esther, the adopted daughter of a Jew named Mordecai, was Queen.  None in the palace knew she was a Jewess, for Mordecai had charged her not to make it known.  He abode in the king’s palace, and was one of the king’s servants.

Ahasuerus promoted Haman, one of his courtiers, a cruel and wicked man, to be over all his princes and officers; and all bowed down to Haman and did him reverence except Mordecai, the Jew.  Then was Haman filled with wrath against Mordecai and his people, and obtained from the king a decree ordering that all the Jews throughout his dominions should be slain.  Mordecai informed Queen Esther of this decree, and bade her go to the king and plead for her people.  Now it was one of the laws of the palace that no one should approach the king in the inner court unless he had been previously called; the penalty for not obeying this law being death, unless the king should hold out the golden sceptre to the offender so that he might live.  Esther knew the danger of approaching the king uncalled for, but she bade Mordecai to gather the Jews so that they might spend three days in fasting and prayer, while she and her maidens did the same, and, said she, “So will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law, and if I perish, I perish.”

Esther went in.  The king graciously held out the golden sceptre to her, accepted her invitation to a banquet, and finally ordered the wicked Haman to be hanged, and measures to be taken to preserve the lives of the Jews.

[Illustration:  Esther before the king.]

DAVID AND JONATHAN.

Jonathan was the son of Saul, the king.  He loved David greatly, and regretted that his father, through jealousy, sought David’s life.  David, after the last attempt of Saul to smite him to the wall by a javelin, fled away, and meeting with Jonathan said:  “What have I done?  What is mine iniquity, and what is my sin before thy father that he seeketh my life?”

Jonathan sympathised deeply with his friend, and tried to save him.  He promised to ascertain whether Saul fully intended to kill David, and, if so, to inform him, that he might escape.  Meantime David was to remain in hiding, but on the third day Jonathan was to return with the required information.  Before they parted they entered into a solemn covenant, one with the other, to remain firm friends during life; and David promised to show kindness to Jonathan and his children, after God should make him king.

At the time appointed, after ascertaining that Saul still sought David’s life, Jonathan went to the field where David lay concealed.  Jonathan took with him his bow and arrows and a little lad.  Shooting an arrow beyond the lad, he cried, “Make speed, haste, stay not!” These words were intended as a warning to David to flee quickly.  When the lad had gone, David arose from his hiding place and came to Jonathan, bowing three times before him.  Then they kissed each other, wept, and again pledged themselves to be faithful; after which David fled, and Jonathan returned to the city.