Forgetfulness foils the king’s plan
23 By dawn, when the roosters began to crow, Hermon had outfitted the beasts and started them moving along in the great colonnade.
24
Crowds of people from throughout the city gathered for the most sorry spectacle and were eagerly awaiting the early morning.
25
The Jews were at their last gasp, since time was short. With tearful prayer and mournful sounds, they stretched out their hands to heaven and begged the supreme God to help them again quickly.
26
Before the rays of the sun were scattered across the sky, while the king was receiving his friends, Hermon approached him and invited him to come out, indicating that the king's desire was ready to be put into action.
27
When he heard this, the king was surprised at the unusual invitation to come out from the palace. He was completely overcome by confusion, and he asked what it was that they had worked so hard to prepare for him.
28
Now this was God's doing, the God who is Lord over all things, who had placed in the king's mind forgetfulness of the schemes that he had previously devised.
29
Hermon and all the king's friends pointed out, "The beasts and the forces have been prepared, Your Majesty, according to your careful plan."
30
But at these words the king was filled with extreme wrath because the providence of God had scattered every thought of his concerning these matters. He glared threateningly at Hermon and said,
31
"If your parents or children were here, I would have them prepared as a lavish meal for wild animals instead of the Jews. They are blameless as far as I'm concerned, and have demonstrated constant loyalty above all others toward my ancestors.
32
Indeed, if it weren't for the affection of our common upbringing and your service, you would've been deprived of life instead of them."
33
So Hermon endured an unexpected and dangerous threat, and his eyes and face showed his dismay.
34
One by one the king's friends slipped away sullenly, and the guests were dismissed, each to his own business.
35
Now when the Jews heard about what the king had said, they praised God, the Lord, the king of kings, who had made his power apparent in giving them this assistance.
36
Now the king resumed the entire banquet, according to the same rules, and began inviting the guests to return to their celebration.
37
He summoned Hermon and said with a threat, "How often, you sorry creature, must I command you concerning these same matters?
38
Equip the elephants yet again for the destruction of the Jews tomorrow."
39
But the king's officials, who were reclining at the table with him, were taken aback by his unstable mind and began to protest as follows:
40
"Your Majesty, how long will you test us, as though we were fools, giving an order a third time to destroy the Jews and again reversing your decisions?
41
As a result, the city is in an uproar because of its expectation. It is already swarming with mobs and is very much at risk of being plundered."
42
At that point the king, a Phalaris in every way, was filled with madness and gave no thought at all to the change of heart that had come about in him concerning the punishment of the Jews. He firmly swore an irrevocable pledge that he would send these people to the grave without delay, mangled by the knees and feet of the beasts.
43
He swore he would march against Judea and swiftly burn it to the ground with fire and spear. Their temple, which he hadn't been allowed to enter, he would level with fire, ridding it forever of those who performed sacrifices there.
44
Then the friends and officials departed with joy and confidently assigned the armed forces to the places in the city that were best for keeping watch.