Esther 3
PATunto the second house of the women, as the rest were, but the king kept her in his own house, intending to make her more than a concubine. In the tenth month (which is the month Tebeth), in the seventh year of his reign.] He made tho great feast we read of in the foregoing chapter in the third year of his reign, in the end of which Vashti was sent away. How it came to pass that it was so long before Esther was advanced to succeed her, seems difficult to resolve: but we are to consider, that a great deal of time was spent in gathering the virgins together, and that she was a year in preparing herself for admission to the king; and several, it is likely, went in before her, who had also their time for preparation; and took some time, it is likely, to try how he liked her wit, humour, and conversation.. And advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that tvere with him.’] Either of his own or other nations. For it is likely the Persian kings, as the Chaldee before them, had many kings and princes, whom they had conquered, with them, who had the honour sometimes to sit on royal seats before them, (2 Kings xxv. 28.)
Esther 3:1
jljlFTER these things. Abont five years after, as appears from ver. 7. Did king Ahasuerus promote Ilaman the son of Hammedatha the Agagitc.]. He was descended from the royal race of the Amalckite kings, and grown into great favour in tins court, as Daniel and big companions, who were of noble blood also, (Dan. i. 3.) The latter Targum hath given us the pedigree of Haman, up to Eliphaz, the eldest son of-Esau.
Esther 3:2
And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed and reverenced Hainan; for the king had so commanded concerning him. To bow the knee or the body to all great persons. was a common respect; for which there needed not a particular command to require this of every body with respect, to Hainan, since no doubt they did it to all princes, and would much more do it to him, who took place of them all, and was theprince’s favourite. There was therefore some kind of Divine honour intended in this; such asSvaspaid to the Persian kings themselves, to whom the Greeks would not pay this sort of respect’,’ because it was accounted Divine. And the word reverence imports something beyond boiving, which was falling flat upon their faces to the ground. Such prostrations. the kings of Persia expected: and Ahasuerus, to express his great affection to Hainan, would have it paid. to him. The former Targum I believe thought of this, when he saith, Tfiey in the king’s gate bowed down to his image which lie hadset’up, and worshipped Haman. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.] Because he was of a nation devoted by God to destruction, with whom therefore the Jews would have no friendship, nor shew them any kindness, but remember the injuries they had done them, (Deut. xxv. 18, 19.) But this doth not seem a reason weighty enough;,why he should not jiay him civil respect, which was given to all men in great place, especially since by denying it he might expose his whole nation to danger. This is an argument that there was something more intended: and accordingly the author of the apocryphal additions to this book understood it, who represents Mordecai praying after this manner: “Thou knowest, O Lord, that it is not contumaey, nor pride, nor desire of vain-glory, that makes me not worship Haman; for 1 would willingly kiss his feet, for the safety of Israel: but I do it, that I may not prefer the glory of a man to the glory of God; nor adore any one but thee my Lord alone.” *
Esther 3:3
Then the king’s servants, which tvere in the king’s gate, said xinto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king’s commandments?. I suppose it seemed strange to them, that one single person should refuse to do what every body did, especially since tliereby he disobeyed the king: therefore they expostulated with him, to make him sensible of his duty and his danger.
Esther 3:4
Noiv it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them. Seemed not to regard what they said, and perhaps gave them no answer. Tliat they told Hainan, to see whether Mordecafs matters would stand.] Whether he would persist in his stiffness, and what would be the issue of it. For he had told them thathewasa Jew;.] Beingmuch pressed by them, he confesses the reason why he could not do’as they did. For, that they might not think it was pride or sullenness that made him not comply with theking’s order, he acquaints them plainly of what religion and what nation he was; who might not shew any respect to an Amalekite (as some take it), or worship any but God alone, as I take the meaning to be. And thus the latter Targum here explains it: when they askedhim why he did not obey the king, he answered, " What is the son of man that he should exalt himself? what is he that is born of a woman, who comes lamenting into the world, and is of few days, and then returns to his earth, that I should worship him? No, I worship God, the living God, who endures for ever/’ &c. And so he goes on, describing very well the glorious majesty of God, the Lord of heaven and earth, and thus’concludes,’" He is to be praised by us, and before him we ought to bow down ourselves/’ •
Esther 3:5
And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then tvas Haman full of wrath. It is likely he did not mind what every one did that was in the king’s gate (where there was a great crowd), till he was told of Mordecai’s neglect; and then he marked him when he next passed by, and was highly enraged at him.
Esther 3:6
And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of king Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.] He disdained to take so poor a revenge as to rid himself of one man alone, but resolved to make the whole nation suffer, who he knew were enemies’ to that nation from whence he sprung. \
Esther 3:7
In the first month (that is the month Nisan), in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is the lot, before Haman, from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is the month AdarJ] It was the manner of the eastern country,, by casting lots into an urn, to inquire what days would be fortunate, and what not, to undertake any business in: according to which superstition Haman endeavoured to find what time of the year was most favourable to the Jews, and what most unlucky. And first he inquired what month was most unfortunate, and found the month Adar,: which was the last month in the year, answerable to our February. For, as Guil. Schickard observes, there was no festival solemnity in this month, nor was it sanctified by any peculiar rifes. And’then he inquired the day, and found the thirteenth day was riot auspicious to them, (ver. 13.) Some think there were as many lots as there were days in the year, and for every day he drew a lot; but found none to his mind, till he came to the last month of all, and to the middle of it. (See Hottinger’s Smegma Orientale, p. 75.) Now this’whole business was governed by a wonderful providence of God; by whom these lots were directed, and not by the Pcrsiangods, to fall in the last month of the year; whereby almost a whole year intervened between the design and its execution, and gave time for Mordecai to acquaint Esther with it, and for her to intercede with the king, for the revoking or suspending his decree, and disappointing the conspiracy.
Esther 3:8
And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus. Or rather had said: for it is not likely he would cast his lots till he knew his mind, for fear he’should lose his labour.’ There is a certain people scattered abroad, and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom.] For a great number of them, being well settled in the land of their captivity, would not return to Judea when Cyrus gave them leave; whom Haman represents as a despicable people, or vagrants and stragglers (as the latter Targum un- Oigitized by Microsoft ® [chap. IV; de’rstands it), dispersed here and there up and down in his dominions. And their laws are diverse from all people, neither keep they the king’s laws.’] A proud, high-spirited people (as the same Targum represents the sense), who Jive by laws of their own, and will observe none of the king’s; for they will neither eat of our meat, nor drink of our wine, nor keep, our festivals; but have several of their own, on which they will not work, nor do the king’s business. All which ho sets forth at large in that paraphrase. Tlierefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them.] The former Targum thus glosses upon these words, " Theking gets nothing by them, while they live in this kingdom; but what will he not get if he destroys them all?" The other. Targum makes him represent them as griping usurers, which; was to the damage of the king’s people.
Esther 3:9
If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed. Ho desires, not only a verbal command, but an order in writing, for their utter extirpation as a pestilent people… • And I will pay ten thousand talents of silver.] He promises to compensate the loss, of the tribute which they paid yearly by a vast sum of money, which he would pay immediately. But he intended not to pay o&e farthing of it himself, it being easy to raise it out of the spoil of the Jews’, goods, (ver. 13.). k .., To the hands of those that have the charge of the business.] Not of those who had the charge tokill them, but.‘of those that received the, king’s money; as appears by the next words; tobring it.into the king’s treasuries* And §o. the same Targum, “,I will pay it into the hands of those % whocoin the king’s money;” that is,. into the mint, as we now speak..’) „ li/ii * t’ > vji« r
Esther 3:10
And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the soti of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy. Without any examination into the condition of. the people, he consented, to their destruction. So, loath* are men that love their pleasure to take any pains to distinguish between truth and falsehood…. „•< ~
Esther 3:11
And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given unto thee, the’ people also, to da with them ns it seemeth goodto thee. He gave him power to draw up what decree^ he:pleased^ and seal it with.his own ring; but as for.themoney, he loved him so much, he would have none of it..
Esther 3:12
TJien were the king’s scribes called. As there were sacred scribes among the Jews, who were men learned in the. law, so there were political both among them and other nations, as L’Empereur observes upon Bertram, de Itepub. Jud.p.381;. And there were twosorts of them; one of which was -employed in writing public letters or contracts, and other acts that,were to be signed by authority, the more honourable and highest of which were such, as are called here the king’s scribes, whom the Chaldee calls, the king’s notaries, and.we now call secretaries of state.. . • * ■. •; On the thirteenth day of the first month.] This was not wisely projected, to let his desigu be known solong before it was to take effect; for.the king’s mind might, alter, or the Jews might, find some way to deliver themselves, or might steal out of the kingdom. <, And there tvas written (according to all that Haman had commanded) unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province, according to the writing thereof, and t6 every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus wds it written, and sealed with the king’s ring.] He himself indited the decree by the royalauthority, and made it, no doubt, as strict as it was possible; and perhaps commanded it to be executed under great penalties, by all manner.of officers, who were required to take care to sec it done., And that none might be ignorant, it was written in the language of every people, and in the character they could read.
Esther 3:13
And the letters toere sent by posts into all theking’s provinces. Concerning these posts which were in use among the Persians, see Herodotus, lib. viii. cap. 98. where, describing the dispatches which were sent into Persia to carry the hews of Xerxes’s overthrow, he saith, Tovrltov $£ Ttov y Ayy(\u)v ovSlv e<m Saaaov, otl irapayivtrat. Svrjrbv tov, &c. There is nothing upon earth swifter than these messengers, whom neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor night, can hinder from finishing their course speedily.. The manner of which he there sets down, which the Persians, he saith/call \Ayyapftov. To destroy V to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even ttpon the thirteenth day, of the twelfth month, and to take\ the sppil of them for a prey.] This was a strong motive to such abloody.exccution, that they who killed them should enrich themselves by their spoil?
Esther 3:14
The copy of the writing, for a commandment to be given in every province, was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day. Copies of this original decree of; the king-were, sent into every province,, and there ordered to *be published, requiring them to be ready against that day.
Esther 3:15
Hie posts went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment; and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. He procured a* new commandment from the king, requiring their speedy delivery of this decree, that the people might not want time to. prepare for its execution; and he also got it signed by the king’s council; for that, seems to be meant by its being given in Shushan. And the king and Haman sat dowti to drink.] It is likely- Haman made an entertainment for the king, to thank him for his great kindness to him in this grant. ■ But the city Shushan tvas perplexed.] The Je\vs that lived there, who were very numerous, knew not what to do: and it is probable other people in the city were very fearful what, would bfecomO of them; not knowing but that they might also suffer in such a massacre: and perhaps some of them were related to the Jews,,or had made friendship with thefcn, and therefore were much concerned at this horrid decree.*
And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen in the stead of Vashti.’] She being at, this time, as Jacobus Capellus computes, twenty years old, ad A. M. 3645. But some make a question whether she did not commit a great sin to come at this dignity, not considering the custom of those times and countries. For those persons whom the king took into his bed after the manner beforementioned, were not harlots, but became his wives of a lower sort; for whom he provided ever after, and they were no longer chargeable to their parents or friends; nor might any other man marry them. Such a one Esther would have been, if he had not liked her so well as to do more for her.’ Which, no doubt, was ordered by a special providence of God, who thus rewarded her virtue, and also preserved the whole nation of the Jews from perishing. T
Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast.~\ So it was called, because it was made in honour of her, and, if we may believe Josephus, lasted a whole month…. And he made a release to the provinces.] At this feast he gave the people some ease in their imposts, and forgave them some of the duties they were bound to pay him. Some have affirmed, that this is reported by Herodotus to have been the custom of the Persian kings at their marriages. But I can find no more than this in him, that 6 tea- Qiaraixtvog Ba<Tt\evg, &c. %vhen he was made king, he remitted the tribute that was due to him from all the cities, (lib. vi. cap. 59.) And gave gifts, according to the state of the king.’] He made great presents to the queen, as the manner of the Persian kings was; who gave to their queen at their marriage such a city to buy them clothes, such a one for their hair, another for their necklaces and other ornaments, and so for the rest of their expenses. Here the latter Targum tells an idle tale, how the king desired Esther to tell him what country <she was of, and who were her ancestors from whom she descended. To which she answered, that her parents dying when she was an infant, she did not know who were her forefathers: which the king hearing, he released all men of their taxes, and gave them gifts, saying, I will be kind to all people of all nations, because I will be sure to be kind to the people of Esther, who are among some of them.’ k /
And when the virgins tvere gathered together the second time, then Mordecai $a in the king’s gate.* This doth not signify that there was another inquisition for virgins after Esther was married; but, to join this history with what follows, he repeats what was said before, ver. 2.. that nt the time when this second collection of virgins was made for the choice of a new wife, as there had been one before when Vashti was married, then Mordecai was in attendance at the gate of the palace; and so proceeds to shew how he discovered a plot against the life of the king.
Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people, as Mordecai had charged her. Which he would not have her to discover, lest she should be hated for her nation’s sake, or her nation be envied for her good fortune. For Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.] A rare, example of virtue, that she should be so observant of him when she was a queen; for most forget what they were, when they are unexpectedly grown very great.
In those days (while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate), two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.] These were two great men, who, perhaps, kept the door of the king’s bedchamber, and were incensed at the divorce of Vashti (whose creatures they were), or at the advancement of Esther, knowing her to be related to Mordecai, who they were afraid would be raised to greater power than themselves. Thus the former Targum writes, " Doth not the queen by her power with the king intend to turn us out of our places, and put in Mordecai?" therefore they resolved to poison him, as both that and the latter Targum understand it.’ •. *,
And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai s name. One of their servants; whose name (as Josephus saith) was Barnabazus, discovered the conspiracy to Mordecai, who found means to inform Esther of it, and she acquainted the king with it from Mordecai.
And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found ont. His information which he gave to the king appeared to be true, upon a due inquiry into the matter.. Therefore they were both hanged on a tree: audit teas written in the book of the Chronicles before the king.] In the day-book, wherein all memorable things were recorded, to be read (as the Targum observes) before the king, when he required. Here we may see the infelicity and the danger of the most potent persons: the life of a great king depending upon the fidelity of one single person, whose service was neglected by the court, though a memorial was made of it. Thus all masters of families are obnoxious to the perfidiousness of their servants that wait upon them. They are the words of Conradus Pellicanus.