Esther 5
PATbeen an ancient law in that country, mentioned by Herodotus, lib. i. and Athcnaeus, lib. xii. But the former Targum will have it, that it was procured by Haman, that none might come into the king’s presence unless he introduced them. Except such to idiom the king shall hold out his golden sceptre, that he may live.) Which, I suppose, was so seldom done, that few would venture to stand in need of a pardon. A sceptre was the ensign of the highest and most absolute authority: so that, as Wagenseil observes, when Mordecai was advanced to the greatest dignity next to the king, having royal apparel, and a great crown on his head, (viii. 15.) yet he had no sceptre; for that was proper and peculiar to the king. But I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.] Which might justly make her fear his love -vyas cooled to her, and then her person and petition might not be acceptable to him.. of Solomon, " The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; as the rivers of water, he turaeth it whithersoever he will," (Prov. xxi. 1.) So Esther dreto near, and touched the top of the sceptre.] Kissed it, saith the Vulgar, or put her hand under it, saith Grotius, in token of her subjection and thankfulness for his favour. Ver. 3- Then said the king unto Jier, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.] This is’ an usual form of speech among kings, when their hearts are enlarged, and they overflow with affection to others, or when they give them the freest liberty to demand what they please, as Grotius explains it upon Matt. xiv. 7. It is a foolish addition, which the latter Targum here makes, that he excepted one thing, which was the building the house of the sanctuary at Jerusalem, which he would not grant, because he promised Geshem, Sanballat, and Tobiah, it should not be built, lest the Jews should rebel.
Esther 5:1
jyi OW it came to pass, on the third day. In the conclusion of the fast, or, as the former Targum, on the third day of the Passover. That Esther put on her royal’ apparel, and stood in tlie inner.court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house.] But first, saith the latter Targum, she made a solemn prayer to God, with many tears, as soon as she was dressed, saying, “Thou art the great God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of my father Benjamin: as thou didst deliver Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah/ out of the fiery furnace, and Daniel from the lion’s den, so deliver me now out of the hand of the king, and give me grace and favour in his eyes/’ &c. And so he goes on in a, very long prayer. And the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.] So that he could sec every one that came into the court. \JN that night could not the king sleep.] Now follows a wonderful turn of affairs: God so disposing it, that the king could take no rest in the night; and instead of music and singing, and diverting himself with his wives and concubines, he called for the records of the kingdom to be read to him.. And he commanded to bring the book of records of the Chronicles; and they were read before the king J] These were diaries, wherein was set down what passed every day, which we now call journals, (as I observed, ii. 13.) And in them it was the manner of the Persians to set down the names of those who had done the king any eminent service; as Grotius notes out of Herodotus, Thucydides, and Procopius.
Esther 5:2
And it was so, tvhen the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight. He. was much moved, saith the former Targum, to sec trouble in her countenance, and her eyes full of tears; and so immediately comforted her in the manner following. And the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand.] In token of his favour, and inviting her approach. But the other Targum says, that the officers about him, as soon as she entered, ran to apprehend her, that she might be put to death: but the king stopped them, by his shewing she was acceptable to him. So true is that And it teas found written, that Mordecai had told ofBigthana and Teresh, two of the king s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.] It was a singular providence of GoB, that they should read in that very part of the book wherein the service of Mordecai was recorded. And the latter Targum, to increase the wonder, saith, that Shimstaeus,who brought the book, and opened it at this place, seeing this which was written of Mordecai, turned over the leaves, and would have read in another part of the book; but the leaves flew back again to the same place where he opened it, and ho was forced to read that story to the king.
Esther 5:3
And the king said, Wltat honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants tliat ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. Great men sometimes are unmindful of the highest services that are done them, and take no care to reward them. Though some think the king ordered him a reward, of which, by the artifice of those in the court, who hated the Jews, he was deprived. But there was a special providence in it, that he went without a reward then, which procured it for him most opportunely at this time. It is not improbable, that, as Josephus saith, the history of some of his ancestors Avas read before they came to his reign; wherein was set down what services men had done, and what preferment or gifts had been bestowed upon them; which moved iho king to ask, when they came to this story of.Mordecai, what had been done for him?
Esther 5:4
And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him. It was very prudent not to open her mind presently, but first to endear his affection by feasting, music, dancing, and whatsoever might please him: and it was no small pleasure, it is likely, that she invited his favourite to come to her entertainment together with him. There was also a singular providence of God in this matter, which so disposed her mind, that the high honour the king bestowed on Mordecai the next day might fall out between this and that, and make way for her petition. ■ • And the king said, Who is in the court?] For he was resolved immediately to shew how sensible he was of his service. (Now Uaman was come into the outward court of the Mug’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows tliat he had prepared for him).] He was come very early to court, that he might gratify his revenge, and go with more pleasure to the banquet. This was another part of God’s providence, to bring him so soon to court when the king was thus disposed.
Esther 5:5
And the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. Get himself ready with all speed. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther liad prepared. And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Hainan standeth in (lie court. And the king said, Let him come in.] Which ho durst not do, as great as he was, without leave. Ver. G. So Haman came in. And tlte king said nnto him, What shall be done unto the man whom tlte king delighteth to honour?] The king, in all probability, would not have asked this question, but ordered himself what he thought fit, if God had not intended that Mordecai should have the greatest honour done him, and that by the judgment of his greatest enemy. (Now Hainan thought in his heart, To whom would Hie king delight to do honour more than to myself?)] Ho had reason to think so, because he had already heaped so many favours upon him, and was now invited by the queen to keep him company at her banquet.
Esther 5:6
And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine.~. At the conclusion of the entertainment: for they did not drink wine, but water, at the beginning of their feasts. What is thy petition? and it shall be granted unto thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.] This shews it was not a sudden passion of love that made him speak so kindly to her before, but he had a settled affection for her, which disposed him to be very bountiful, and shewed he was much pleased with her entertainment.
Esther 5:7
Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is, • And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,
Esther 5:8
If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to-morrow as the king hath said.] That is, make her request to him: which she thought would be more seasonable, when she had won his heart by fresh expressions of her desire to please him, and obtained also a new promise from him, that he would deny her nothing: for there was need of a great preparation, to dispose him to do so great a thing for her, as to revoke or suspend his own decree. The latter Targum, after his fashion, gives several frivolous reasons why she invited Haman to the banquet twice; but the last of them is tolerable. The Israelites were in great expectation of the issue of this feasting, and hoped to see Haman presently cut off; but she was resolved to turn.their thoughts the right way, that is, from her unto God, looking for mercy from their heavenly Father. Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear.] When he went abroad, and appeared publicly among his people;, which should rather be translated, the royal robe, an external garment, or stole, coming down to his feet, which none wore but himself. And the horse that the king rideth upon.] I suppose it was a horse which none might ride upon but himself; like the mule among the kings, of Israel, which was peculiarly appointed to their own use, as I have noted on 1 Kings i. 33. Herodotus (lib. i.) mentions such a generous and most noble horse belonging to the king of Persia. And the crown-royal which is set upon his head.] That is, upon the horse’s head, upon which there was a royal ornament; as there is now at Rome, called afiocco. For keter is a large word, signifying any ornament about the head or the neck. And that this refers to the horse, not to the king, is plain in the Hebrew, and frcon the next verse? and ver. 10, 11. where there is no more mention of this keter; but only of the robe, and of the horse to which this royal ornament upon his head belonged. (See Ludovicus de Dieu.)
Esther 5:9
Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart. To think he was in such favour with the queen, as well as with the king. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for Mm, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.] The Targum still repeats it, that he saw Mordecai would not rise up before his image. And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they 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 hououf.] This proclamation, in all likelihood, was made by some public officer.
Esther 5:10
Nevertheless Haman refrained himself i. .From taking any sudden revenge.. » And when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.] The daughter of Totnr (saith the latter • Targum), one of the king of Persia’s governors beyond the river. Then the king said to Hainan, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the kings gate.) It is very likely these words astonished Haman, and made Vicrosoft ® CHAP, vi;j UPON ESTHER. as great commotions in him, as the Targum here describes: but he durst not dispute the king’s command, nor ask him what Mordecai he meant (there being many, of that name), when the king had plainly told him <?n whom it was he intended to bestow this honour. But if he made any difficulty to obey this command, or desired to be excused, the king bade him say no more, but go (as the verse concludes), and let nothing fail of all that he had spoke?z.
Esther 5:11
And Haman told them of the glory of his riches. How splendidly he lived. And the multitude of his children.] It was a glory in this country, as Drusius observes, to have abundance of children; but the Targum had no shame, when he affirms he had two hundred and fourscore, besides those ten that were princes in the provinces, and besides Shimstaeus the king’s’, secretary.” '…….. And all the things wherein the king had promoted him.] What offices and dignities he had conferred upon him.’-.. And how he hadadvdnced him above the princes and servants of the king.] So that he took place of the greatest princes who were natives of the country, and 6f.all; theofficers in the court. Then took Haman the apparel, and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus sliall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour J) At which sight (saith the latter Targum) Esther praised God in the words of the Psalmist, cxiii. 7,8. " He raiscth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill: that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people" And Mordecai said those words, Psal. xxx. JJ, 12. " Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; I. will praise thee, O Lord God my redeemer, that thou hast not let mine enemy triumph over me/'
Esther 5:12
And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words. There seems to have been more than one person that went with this message, to confirm the truth of what she said. Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to-morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.] He did not fail to relate the peculiar honour the queen had done him, which he could not but look upon as a token that he was established in the favour of the court. And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate.] Returned to his duty, clothed not in sackcloth, as the Targum represents him (for then he might not have come there), but in his own raiment. Shewing he,was not puffed up with the honour that had been done him; but foreseeing, no doubt, the happy event which followed. Mitt Haman lutsted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.] Which was a token of sadness and dejection.
Esther 5:13
Tlien Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house more than all the Jews. He would not have her flatter herself Avith a vain imagination, that because she was queen she should be spared; for she would find no more ■ privilege in the king’s house than the rest of the Jews did abroad., Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see’ Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king*s gate.] How small a matter will spoil all the satisfaction of those who are arrived at the top of human felicity! immense riches,’ glory ^ and honour, gave not Haman so much pleasure, as he felt pain from one man’s disrespect unto him: and yet he might have given himself ease before this, by speaking one word to the king to displace Mordecai, or put him to death, if his pride and passion would have let him be contented, without the destruction of a whole nation. And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends.] Who were waiting to hear what was become of Mordecai, whom they advised to get hanged on the gallows. Every thing tliat liad befallen him.] How cross every thing had fallen out to him that morning. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife.] They whose counsel he had used in his divination by lots, now changed their mind; and his. wife concurred in opinion with them, that these were bad omens. Jf Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shall surely fall before him.] They had observed, it is likely, how the Jews had been wonderfully raised from under great oppressions, since the time of Cyrus; and thence conclude there was a particular providence that took care of them. And it is possible they had heard something of the oracle against the Amalckites, that they should perish by the hands of the Jews. And, as Dr. Jackson excellently notes, (book i, on the Creed, chap. 21.) Those plots which would havp crushed other nations, did often turn to their advancement, and the fall of their enemies. Whence both their rising and falling, and consequently the success of such as opposed them, was in the apprehension of wise men of other nations merely fatal; altogether incorrigible by worldly policy. Whence these wise men of Chaldca (as he calls them), upon the first notice of the wind’s turning for them, read Hainan’s destiny. And accordingly Achior’s speech to Holofernes, Judith v. 17, &c. (whether truly uttered, or feigned by the penman of tho history), was framed according to the known experience of those times, and contained such advices as a faithful counsellor, well acquainted with the estate of the Jews, should have given to his lord, who did not so well understand it.
Esther 5:14
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to th^ Jews from another place. He did not know whence, but he confided in God, that by some means or other he would preserve them from utter destruction. ■ But thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed.] He would have her believe that God would cut off her and her family for self-love, and want of zeal to preserve her nation. And tvho knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for s\ich a time as [this?] Rather than refuse to intercede for her people, he would -have her think (though there was dangerin it), that.God had raised her up to the dignity in which she was, on purpose that she might be the deliverer of her people, and therefore go courageously about it. Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high.] That men might see him that was hanged on it afar off, and bo struck with the greater terror, by that spectacle, of giving any disgust to Haman. And to-morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon.] They advised him not to wait till the general slaughter of all the Jews, but to rid him pre* sently of Mordecai; for which he, had now a fair opportunity, being to attend on the king to-morrow unto the banquet. «.’.;. < - »4 Then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet.] When his heart was eased of’this trouble, thedispatch Microsoft® 5A2 [chap. VI, of his enemy, and the banquet, giving him a double pleasure. And the thing pleased Hainan; and he caused the gallcnos to be made.] And set up before the door of MordecaTs house, saith the former Targum, against the plain words of this history, vii. 9. where it is said, they stood in Hainan’s house; from whence, it is possible, he intended to remove them to the door of Mordecai: that Targum hath a great deal of frivolous stuff about this consultation which Hainan’s friends had how to destroy Mordecai; some advising one way, and some another, but none approved of till this was propounded. The reason given for it is foolish; but at last he concludes piously, that the Jews were extremely troubled at the* sight of the gallows, and all cried to God in the words of the Psalmist,* (exxiii. 2.) " Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us." 1 CHAP. VI. And while they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and hasted, to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.] He hearing their opinion,- that these.things boded some evil to him, was very. slow, we.raay well suppose, in his motion; and could have been content, perhaps, not to have gone to the banquet: or he was musing what to do for his preservation, which made him stay longer than he should have done, before he waited on the king to it. ( t
Tlien Esther bade them to return Mordecai this answer:
Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan. Not all into one public congregation, for that might have given suspicion of an intended insurrection, butin several private assemblies. And fast ye for me, neither eat or drink three days, night or day.] None, or very few, could keep a fast for three days and nights, without tasting any meat or drink: the meaning therefore is, that they should make no set meal in their families, neither dinner nor supper, but only eat and drink so much at night as would support them in prayer to God for a. blessing upon her undertaking; or, as Josephus understands it, they should abstain from all delicacies, and be, content with hard and coarse fare. But Drusius thinks this fast was only one whole day and two nights, according as it is said of our Saviour, that he lay three days and three nights in the grave; and then they might fast so long without taking any refreshment: and in those hot countries we read of monks that fasted four or five days. I also and my maidens will fast likewise.] It is not likely her maidens were Jews; yet notwithstanding they might be disposed to fast with Tier; which was not unusual with. the gentiles in time of great distress, as appears by the story of the Ninevites, whose fast the Targum thinks Mordecai imitated, making the cattle, oxen, and sheep to abstain, as well as men and women. And so tvill I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law.] Being thus recommended to God, she resolved not so much to regard the law, as the preservation of her people; for there are insome cases such violent circumstances, that to observe the law, as Grotius notes, would be to offend the chiefest law. Whither Puffendorf refers what we read in Valerius Maximus, lib. iii. cap. 7. n. 1. cap. 8. n. G. And if I perish, I jierish.] This is not a speech of despondence, but of courage and resolution; being as much as to say, I am content to perish in so good a cause; and if I perish for it in this world (as the Targum glosses), I shall have my portion in the world to come.
So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him. Betook himself to fasting and prayer (unto which he called all the Jews) as long as Esther required, omitting the joys ofthe* paschal feast, and turning it into a fast, if we may believe the former Targum: for that paraphrast thinks, that Haman laying his plot in the month of Nisan, (ii. 7.) and Mordecai presently applying himself to defeat it, these things must fall out about the Passover, which was in this month. But in memory of this the Jews keep a fast on the thirteenth of Adar^ which they call Esther’s fast.