THE ARGUMENT
OF the authority of this book only two or three ancient writers doubted, before the Councils of Laodicea and Charthage declared it to be Canonical. [Melito. S. Atha. S. Greg. Nazian. Origen. apud Euseb. l. 6. c. 25. hist.] All the rest did ever esteem it as divine Scripture. For albeit S. Jerome in his time found not certain parts thereof in the Hebrew, and therefore transposed the same to the end of the book, as now we have them: yet in the Greek he found all these sixteen chapters contained in ten. And it is not unprobable, that these parcels were sometimes in the Hebrew, as were divers whole books which are now lost. But whether they were at any time in the Hebrew or no, the Church of Christ accounteth the whole Book of infallible authority, reading as well these parts, as the rest in her public office. And the Council of Trent (sess. 4.) for more express declaration defineth that all the books recited in the same Decree (amongst which is Esther) with all the parts thereof, as they are accustomed to be read in the Catholic Church, and be contained in the old vulgar latin Edition, are sacred and Canonical Scripture.
It containeth a particular great danger of the people of Israel, happening (as is probable) shortly after their general relaxation, and return of some from the captivity of Babylon; and their delivery from it, through the godly zeal and other virtues of Queen Esther, directed herein by Madocheus, who being also in imminent danger was delivered and advanced: and finally writ the history, which may be divided into four parts, not by order of the chapters as they are here transposed, but in order of time. First the author reporteth some things going before the people’s danger, in the 11th 1st 2nd 12th chapters, and part of the 3rd. Secondly, their danger and distress, in the rest of the 3rd and part of 13th chapters. Thirdly, their delivery, from the 4th chapter to the midst of the 9th and rest of the 13th and in the 14th 15th and 16th. Fourthly, the things that ensued hereupon, in the other half of the ninth chapter, the 10th chapter, and first verse of the eleventh.