Esther 3

Upon the new queen’s promotion, Ahasuerus gives another royal feast, which did him more honour, as it was accompanied with a remission of taxes, which was a release to the provinces; and certain benevolences were given to his subjects and servants, ‘according to the king’s state,’ which was far more honoured by this benevolence and generosity, than by the extravagance and folly of his former festival. Chap. III. Ver. 1—15. Haman promoted, who plots the ruin of Mordecai, and the destruction of his nation, because he refuses him obeisance—Haman appears to have been made prime minister, and as such, seems to have had a just demand upon the usual respect and reverence paid to men in this high himself, and claimed divine honours; but of this we have no proof.

It should rather seem that Mordecai acted from national pride; Haman was an Amalekite of the race of Agag, and under a divine anathema. ((Exodus 17:8-16). (1 Samuel 15:2-3).) He refused, therefore, as an Israelite, to reverence any of this accursed race. Haman, doubtless, knew this; and hence we must consider their mutual hatred as the effect of national Haman’s plea against the Jews was, that it was “not for the king’s profit to suffer them.” — “Worldly hearts,” says Bishop Hall, “are not led by good or evil, but by profit or loss; neither have they grace to know, that nothing is profitable but what is honest, nothing so desperately incommodious as a See SS SS things by profit, and measure profit by f imagination.

How easy is it to suggest strange untruths, when there is nobody to give an answer? False Haman, how is it not for the king’s profit to suffer the Jews? if thou construe this profit for honour, the king’s honour is in the multitude of his subjects; and what people more numerous than they? if for gain, the king’s profit is in the largeness of his tributes; and what people are more deep in their payments? if for service, what people are more officious? How can it stand with the king’s profit to bereave himself of subjects, his subjects of their lives, his exchequer of their tributes, his state of their defence? (But) he is a weak politician that knows not to gild over the worst project with a pretence of public utility.

No name under heaven hath made so many fools, so many villains, as this of profit. Lastly, as Ahasuerus reaps nothing but disprofit by the lives of the Jews, so he shall reap no small profit by their deaths. ‘I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s treasury for this execution.’ If revenge were not very sweet to the malicious man, he could not be content to pardon [do] it at so high a rate.” But where, it may be asked, could Haman raise this sum? Perhaps from the property of Mordecai and the Jews whom he sought to destroy, which he, probably, knew would cover more than the sum he offered, or from his own resources. (See note, ver. 9.) One thing in this chapter demands our attention.

Haman cast lots (or purim) according to the heathen custom, to find a lucky day for the execution of his vengeance; and He, who Christian, so ordered, that the lot fell in the month Adar, which was eleven months from this period, and so allowed time for all the circumstances to intervene whereby the deliverance of the Jews was effected. Thus the superstitions as well as the vices of mankind are made subservient to His ete who “‘worketh all things after the council of his own.” It may seem incredible that a king—that any king, should thus assign over the lives and properties of a whole nation to gratify the revenge of a favourite minister; but we have too many similar instances on record, in the history of the world, to doubt on this account.

Haman, having found the king’s weak side, most likely by means of flattery, which is the sweetest food of arbitrary princes, lost no time in rendering his object secure, by sealing it with the king’s seal; and then sent off expresses to all the provinces of his kingdom, which, considering their extent, required no little time to reach them all. This accomplished, lest any pang of remorse should afflict the royal bosom, the king and Haman sat down to drink.

Notes on the verses

Chap. III. Ver. 1. Haman the Agagite.—Perhaps a descendant of Agag, king of the Amalekites.

Ver. 2. King’s servants.—(Dr. Shaw, speaking of the cities in the East, says, “If we quit the streets, and enter into any of the principal houses, we shall first pass through a porch, or gate-way, with benches on each side, where the master of the family receives visits, and dispatches business; few persons, not even the nearest relations, having admission any farther, except upon extraordinary occasions.” The servants were probably officers who waited the king’s call; and it is likely that Mordecai was one of them.)

Ver. 6. He thought scorn.—That is, he scorned; he sought a great revenge.

Ver. 7. They cast Pur.—“This appears to be the Hebrew corruption of the Persian Pari, which signifies any thing that happens fortuitously. They used a species of divination to find the lucky month to destroy the Jews.” The LXX. add, “The lot fell on the 14th day of the month Adar.” — Dr. Clarke

Ver. 9. I will pay 10,000 talents of silver.—(Here Haman is obliged to acknowledge that there would be a loss to the revenue, which he was willing to make up out of his own property. Ten thousand talents of silver, counted by the Babylonish talent, amount to about ten millions of dollars, but, reckoned by the Jewish talent, they amount to double that sum. In those days, silver and gold were more plentiful than at present; and we have many instances of individuals possessing almost incredible riches.

Herodotus relates, that when Xerxes went into Greece, Pythius the Lydian had 2000 talents of silver, and 4,000,000 of gold darics, which unitedly amount to nearly thirty millions of dollars. Plutarch tells us, that after Crassus had dedicated the tenth of all he had to Hercules, he entertained the Roman people at 10,000 tables, and distributed to every citizen as much corn as was sufficient for three months; and after all these expenses, he had 7,100 Roman talents left, which amount to more than five millions of dollars.) — Bagster.