Esther 3

Esther 3:1

the Agagite] Ver. 10. Likely of the royal stock of Agag: but sure an Amalakite. Of whom see Exod. XVII. 14, 16. Num. XXIV. 7, 20. Deut. XXV. 17, 19. 1 Sam. XV. 2, 3, 8. Ever bitter enemies to the Jewes, ver. 10. See the Annotations on this text.

Esther 3:2

King had so commanded] Commanded more then ordinary bowing and reverence; for to other no command had been needful: This sure was extraordinary, such or such like as was used to the Kings of Persia themselves, more then was fit for any mortal man to have, a kinde of Divine reverence and worship, which made some Heathen men themselves, as Conon the Athenian, not to yeeld unto it.

bowed not] In that sort. His pious spirit would not stoop to it, could not brook it: And the rather because Haman was of that cursed stock, which God would have rooted out for their bitter emnity against the Jews. Yet Mordecai’s humility appears in returning to the Kings gate, his ordinary standing and calling, presently after his so high advancement in chap. VI. 6,—12.

Esther 3:4

had told them that he was a Jew] This he did to satisfie them, and justifie himself; which shewed the true cause of his refusal; and moved Haman to such wrath.

Esther 3:6

all the Jewes] Wrath raging, and unmeasurable: the rather out of his inveterate hatred against all Jewes.

Esther 3:7

Nisan] Nisan is the Chaldee name, And Abib the Hebrew name, of the first moneth; whereunto our March doth mostwhat answer. In which moneth the Lots were cast that shewed Adar the twelfth moneth, to be the luckie moneth for executing that bloody Decree. The Commandment for which bloody butchery, was issued forth on the thirteenth day of the foresaid Nisan, chap. III. 12.

from moneth to moneth] All this was or might be done in one day.

Adar] Whereunto our February mostwhat answereth; as beginning on the eleventh day of our moneth.

Esther 3:8

scattered abroad] Not into Babylon only, but also into Persia, and all the many Provinces of it: And there remained behinde after the Proclamation of Cyrus, and the Returne made with Zerubbabel, Ezra II. Amighty scattering, though this comprehend the ten Tribes also; And a shameful neglect of the Jewes, in not Returning.

to suffer them] Lest they infect and infest the Kings good subjects.

Esther 3:9

I will pay] The Jewes paid great tributes to the King. In recompence of that losse, if they were destroyed, Haman would pay this great summe

Ten thousand Talents] The ten thousand Talents, at three hundred seventy five pound the Talent, comes to 3750000. See Observations on Eoxd XXXVIII. 24.

to the hands] Of the Kings treasurers.

Esther 3:10

his Ring] See chap. VIII. 2, 8. Gen. XLI. 42. Luke XV. 22. 1 King. XXI. 8. Dan. VI. 17.

Esther 3:11

given unto thee] The grace of Favourites.

Esther 3:12

first moneth] All haste used. Malice expedites mischief.

Esther 3:13

young and old] Monstrous cruelty.

twelfth moneth] Delayed so long, because of the lot, ver. 7. else folly in Haman to have made so long a delay. Gods Providence seene in ordering the lot so as there might be so long a time between the decree and the execution, for the using of means to prevent it.

for a prey] To encourage the enemies and murderers. Which prey the Jewes, in their case, punctualy abstained from, chap. 8. 11. and ch. IX. 10, 15, 16.