354 (§95B). How was Mordecai promoted? We must remember that although Haman was dead, the king's decree for the slaughter of the Jews could not be changed. But permission could be given to the Jews to defend themselves on the day of the massacre. How was this arranged? 355 (§95C). Of course this is an old story of times when people took fierce revenge, so we learn that the Jews slaughtered their enemies. But it was a great deliverance, and Mordecai and Esther planned that a great feast should be kept to celebrate it. What kind of feast was it? 356 (§95C). The Jews still keep the Feast of Purim. It is one of the merriest times they have. They have all kinds of fun and give presents, as we do at Christmas. And they still honor the beautiful queen, who stood with her own people in their peril, and saved them by her wit and courage. WRITTEN REVIEW Recall Mordecai's suggestion to Esther (p. 356). In the days of chivalry knights had a motto: _Noblesse oblige_ meaning that those of noble rank had an obligation to serve those in need. Any strength or good we have is not for our own use, but to help others with. Take this as your motto. Draw a banner and inscribe in colors: _Noblesse oblige_. XXXIII. JUDAS, THE HAMMERER THE STORY =§96. The Tyrant and the Heroes= (I Macc. 1:41-50, 54-57; 2:1-7, 14, 15, 17-25, 27, 28, 44, 45, 48-50, 64-66, 70) A. THE TYRANNY OF ANTIOCHUS Antiochus, king of Syria, who had rule over many peoples and over the Jews, wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people, and that each should forsake his own laws. And all the nations agreed according to the word of the king, and many of Israel consented to his worship, and sacrificed to the idols, and profaned the sabbath. And the king sent letters by the hand of messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, that they should follow laws strange to the land, and should profane the sabbaths and feasts, and pollute the sanctuary; that they should build altars, and temples for idols, and should sacrifice swine's flesh and unclean beasts. And whosoever shall not do according to the word of the king, he shall die. And they built an abomination of desolation upon the altar, and in the cities of Judah they built idol altars. And they rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, and set them on fire. And wheresoever was found with any a book of the covenant, and if any consented to the law, the king's sentence delivered him to death. B. THE OLD HERO AND HIS FIVE SONS In those days rose up Mattathias the priest, who dwelt at Modin. And he had five sons, John, Simon, Judas who was called Maccabæus (the Hammerer), Eleazar, Jonathan. And he saw the blasphemies that were committed in Judah and in Jerusalem, and he said. "Woe is me! wherefore was I born to see the destruction of my people and of the holy city? Wherefore should we live any longer?" And Mattathias and his sons rent their clothes, and put on sackcloth, and mourned exceedingly.