Job 13

Job 13:1

Beds - For in those eastern countries, they did not then sit at tables as we do, but rested or leaned upon beds or couches.

Job 13:3

The law - According to this law which the king had now made, that none should compel another to drink more than he pleased. How does this Heathen prince shame many, that are called Christians, who think they do not make their friends welcome, unless they make them drunk, and under pretence of sending the health round, send the sin round, and death with it!

Job 13:4

Women - While the king entertained the men. For this was the common custom of the Persians, that men and women did not feast together.

Job 13:7

Refused - Being favoured in this refusal by the law of Persia, which was to keep mens wives, and especially queens, from the view of other men.

Job 13:8

The times - The histories of former times, what princes have done in such cases as this was.

Job 13:9

Saw - Who had constant freedom of access to the king, and familiar converse with him: which is thus expressed, because the Persian kings were very seldom seen by their subjects. Sat - Who were his chief counsellors and officers.

Job 13:13

Contempt - Contempt in the wives, and thereupon wrath in the husbands; and consequently strife in families.

Job 13:21

Keeper - Of all the women, both virgins and concubines: only the virgins he himself took care of, as requiring more care and caution, and the concubines be committed to Shaashgaz, ver.14, his deputy. Purification - That is, to cleanse them from all impurities, to perfume, and adorn, and every way prepare them for the king: for the legal purification of the Jews he never regarded.

Job 13:25

Esther - Hadassah was her Hebrew name before her marriage; and she was called Esther by the king after it.

Job 13:27

Pleased - Because she was very beautiful, therefore he supposed she would be acceptable to the king; and by the Divine power, which moveth the hearts of men which way he pleaseth.

Job 13:28

Shew it - Lest the knowledge hereof should either make her contemptible, or bring some inconvenience to the whole nation; but there was also an hand of God in causing this to be concealed, for the better accomplishment of that which he designed, though Mordecai was ignorant of it.