1Then the king, completely inflexible, was filled with overpowering anger and wrath, so he summoned Hermon, keeper of the elephants,
2and ordered him on the following day to drug all the elephants—five hundred in number—with large handfuls of frankincense and plenty of unmixed wine and to drive them in, maddened by the lavish abundance of drink, so that the Jews might meet their doom.
3 went out in the evening and bound the hands of the wretched people and arranged for their continued custody through the night, convinced that the whole people would experience its final destruction.
6For to the nations it appeared that the Jews were left without any aid, because in their bonds they were forcibly confined on every side.
7But with tears and a voice hard to silence they all called upon the Almighty Lord and Ruler of all power, their merciful God and Father, praying
8 sent upon the king a portion of sleep, that beneficence that from the beginning, night and day, is bestowed by him who grants it to whomever he wishes.
12And by the action of the Lord he was overcome by so pleasant and deep a sleep that he quite failed in his lawless purpose and was completely frustrated in his inflexible plan.
13Then the Jews, since they had escaped the appointed hour, praised their holy God and again implored him who is easily reconciled to show the might of his all-powerful hand to the arrogant nations.
14But now, since it was nearly the middle of the tenth hour, the person in charge of the invitations, seeing that the guests were assembled, approached the king and nudged him.
15And when he had with difficulty roused him, he pointed out that the hour of the banquet was already slipping by, and he gave him an account of the situation.
16The king, after considering this, returned to his drinking and ordered those present for the banquet to recline opposite him.
17When this was done he urged them to give themselves over to feasting and to make the present portion of the banquet joyful by celebrating all the more.
18After the party had been going on for some time, the king summoned Hermon and with bitter threats demanded to know why the Jews had been allowed to remain alive through the present day.
19But when he, with the corroboration of the king’s Friends, pointed out that while it was still night he had carried out completely the order given him,
20 possessed by a savagery worse than that of Phalaris, said that the Jews were benefited by today’s sleep, “but,” he added, “tomorrow without delay prepare the elephants in the same way for the destruction of the lawless Jews!”
21When the king had spoken, all those present readily and joyfully with one accord gave their approval, and all went to their own homes.
22But they did not so much spend the duration of the night in sleep as in devising all sorts of insults for those they thought to be doomed.
23Then, as soon as the cock had crowed in the early morning, Hermon, having equipped the animals, began to move them along in the great colonnade.
24The crowds of the city had been assembled for this most pitiful spectacle and were eagerly waiting for daybreak.
25 pointed out that the animals and the armed forces were ready, “O king, according to your eager purpose.”
30But at these words he was filled with an overpowering wrath because by the providence of God his whole mind had been deranged concerning these matters, and with a threatening look he said,
31“If your parents or children were present, I would have prepared them to be a rich feast for the savage animals instead of the Jews, who give me no ground for complaint and have exhibited to an extraordinary degree a full and firm loyalty to my ancestors.
32 the elephants now once more for the destruction of the Jews tomorrow!”
39But the Kinsmen who were at table with him, wondering at his instability of mind, remonstrated as follows:
40“O king, how long will you put us to the test, as though we are idiots, ordering now for a third time that they be destroyed and again revoking your decree in the matter?
41 would quickly render it forever empty of those who offered sacrifices there.
44Then the Friends and Kinsmen departed with great joy, and they confidently posted the armed forces at the places in the city most favorable for keeping guard.
45 —parents and children, mothers and daughters, and others with babies at their breasts who were drawing their last milk.
50Nevertheless, when they considered the help that they had received before from heaven, they prostrated themselves with one accord on the ground, removing the babies from their breasts,
51and cried out in a very loud voice, imploring the Ruler over every power to manifest himself and be merciful to them, as they stood now at the gates of Hades.
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