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light and truth.
records are confirmed by traditions current among the hea¬
then. Thus we find the memorial of Gideon's transactions
preserved by Sanchoniatho.
The Book- of Ruth is thought to have been written by
Samuel, and forms a sort of appendix to the book of Judges.
The principal scope ofthe book is to record the genealogy
of Christ in David's line. Compare Ruth iv IS—22, with
Matt. i. 5,6. The adoption of Ruth, a heathen, converted
to Judaism.
Samuel.—The prophet Samuel, the son of Elkanah, an
Ephrathite, the descendant of Egypt. He was dedicated
lo the Lord from his birth, and brought up in the temple,
under the care of Eli, the high priest. Samuel was com¬
manded by the Lord to take a vial of oil and pour it upon
the head of Saul, and anoint him king over Israel ; and he
did so. But Saul was rejected from reigning over Israel
for his wickedness ; and the Lord said unto Samuel, fill
thine horns with oil, and anoint David, the son of that
Ephrathite of Bethlehem-judah, whose name was Jesse,
king of Israel; and he did so. (1st and 2d Samuel.) Sam¬
uel anointed Saul, 1117 B. C.
Esther the Queen.— Hadassah, or Esther, the daugh¬
ter of Abihail, and cousin of Mordecai, the Jew. Ahasu¬
erus, the king, who reigned from India (or Abyssinia) into
Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces
in Africa. lie loved Esther above all the women in his
kingdom, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight
more than all the virgins; so he married her, set the royal
crown upon her head, and made her Queen about 467
years B. C.
Haman.—Haman, an Agagite, ofthe race ofthe Amale¬
kites, the descendants of Ham, a great favorite of kino-
Ahasuerus, offended at Mordecai because he falls not down
and adores him, as others do, resolves to be revenged ofthe
whole nation of the Jews. Hainan obtains an edict from
the king that all Jews, without respect to sex or age, upon
the 13th day of the month Adar, be put to death in all the
provinces of the king's domains. Hereupon, Mordecai
Esther, and all the Jews, humble themselves before the
Lord, by fasting and prayer ; three days and nights did
they neither eat nor drink. Esther entertaining the kino- and
Hainan at a banquet, maketh suit for her own life and her
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