Esther 5
DOYLYChap. VI. ver. 1. On that night &c.] The revengeful
projects of Haman were no sooner concerted, than they were followed by a wonderful turn of affairs, in which several instances of providential interference concurred towards the rescue of the innocent, and the mortification of this haughty and injurious man. Pyle.
The Scriptures relate many events brought to pass by means which seem disproportionate, unsuitable, and even contrary to the effect. Such events speak God to be their cause, His invisible power supplying the apparent defects in the means. Thus plots contrived in darkness, with all possible caution and secrecy, are by improbable means and unaccountable accidents disclosed and brought to light; “a bird of the air,” as the wise man speaks, “telling the matter,” or “the stone,” according to the expression of the Prophet, “crying out of the wall.” In the book of Esther we read, The king cannot sleep; to divert him, the chronicle is called for; Mordecai’s service is there pitched upon, and enquiry made concerning his recompense; honour is decreed him; so the cruel device of Haman comes out, and he himself suffers. Whence can such events proceed but from the ever watchful care of Him, whose eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all his goings? Dr. Isaac Borrow, Bp. Horne.
Esther 5:2
- And it was found written, that Mordecai &c.] It was a singular interposition of Divine Providence, that among the voluminous registers of occurrences, afforded by the affairs of so many provinces, the reader should turn to that part in which Mordecai’s service was recorded. Bps. Hall and Patrick.
Esther 5:8
- — the crown royal which is set upon his head:] That is, upon the head of the horse, as is commonly understood: the Hebrew word signifies any ornament about the head or neck. Bp. Patrick, Dr. Wells.
Haman complaineth to his friends. The queen accuseth him. Before CHRIST about 518. him to ride. not a whil to fall.
may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and † bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
Esther 5:9
- — and bring him on horseback through the street &c.] Pitts gives an account of a person, who had turned Mahometan, having honours paid to him, very similar to those here described as paid to Mordecai. Strange as the custom may seem of paying honour to a person by putting vestments on him above his degree, and which it is not designed that he should keep, together with the carrying him thus equipped about a large town on horseback, attended by a cryer; we perceive from this instance that it has prevailed no less with Africans, than anciently with Asiatica. Harmer.
Esther 5:10
- — Make haste, — and do even so to Mordecai] A marvellous concurrence of circumstances drawn together by the infinite wisdom and power of the Almighty. Who but Haman should be called by the king? And when should Haman be called to advise of Mordecai’s honour, but in the very instant when he came to petition for Mordecai’s destruction? Bp. Hall. Thus Haman’s thirst of revenge caused him to minister to his own grief and humiliation. Bp. Patrick.
Esther 5:12
- — came again to the king’s gate.] To perform the business of the place which he held, and to shew that he was not elated with the high honour which he had received. It is probable he looked upon this honour as a happy omen of the successful events which followed. Dr. Wells.
— having his head covered.] This was a token of
sorrow. See 2 Sam. xv. 30; xix. 4; Jerem. xiv. 3, 4. The same was customary with other nations. Thus Panthea, the wife of Abradatas, when taken captive by Cyrus, is described by Xenophon as sitting covered with a vail, and looking upon the ground; and, among the Greeks, vailing the head is spoken of as a sign of grief. Parkhurst.
Esther 5:13
- — If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, &c.] They consider the favour shewn to Mordecai to be a certain prelude of Haman’s fall; because the new favourite, being a Jew, would shew no mercy to the irreconcilable enemy of the Jewish nation. They had probably observed too the wonderful interpositions of Providence in favour of the Jews during the captivity, and thence concluded that they were especial objects of the Divine protection. Bp. Patrick.
Chap. VII. ver. 4. — although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage.] Although the enemy of our nation, who thus designed our destruction, could not countervail the king’s damage; forasmuch as the king would have lost more than he had gained, had we been sold. Dr. Wells.