Haman makes a gallows

B. C. 510.

B. C. 510.

A. M. 3494. 9¶Then went Haman forth that || queen did let no man come in with A. M. 3494. day joyful and with a glad heart: but the king unto the banquet that she when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, had prepared but myself; and to-morrow am I that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he invited unto her also with the king. was full of indignation against Mordecai.

10 Nevertheless, Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and 2 called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.

11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had 1advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

3

m

13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate. 14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows TM be made of fifty cubits high, and to-morrow "speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows

1 Chap. iii. 1.- -3 Heb. tree.➖➖m Chap. vii. 9.-
Chap. vii. 10.

Chap. vi. 4.

as much happiness as he expects to receive from any thing under the sun. And Haman as passionately complains as if he was in the lowest depth of poverty.

12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the to be made.
Chap. iii. 5.2 Sam. xiii. 22.- 2 Hebrew, caused to come.
* Chap. ix. 7, &c.
Verse 9. That he stood not up, nor moved to him
-To show how little he feared him, and that he had
a firm confidence in his God, that he would deliver
him and his people in this great exigency.
Verse 10. Nevertheless, Haman refrained himself
--From taking present vengeance upon Mordecai,
which he might easily have effected, either by his
own, or any of his servants' hands, without any fear
of inconvenience to himself. But herein God's wise
and powerful providence appeared in disposing Ha-
man's heart, contrary to his own inclination, and
making him, as it were, to put fetters upon his own
hands.

Verses 11, 12. Haman told them of the glory of his riches--Partly to gratify his own vain-glorious humour, and partly to aggravate Mordecai's impudence in denying him reverence, and to alleviate his own vexation caused by it. And to-morrow am I invited unto her also with the king-Thus he makes that matter of glorying which was the occasion of his utter ruin. So ignorant are the wisest men, and subject to fatal mistakes, rejoicing when they have most cause of fear, and sorrowing for those things which tend to joy and comfort.

Verse 13. Yet this availeth me nothing—It gives me no content. Such torment did his envy and malice bring upon him. So long as I see Mordecai sitting at the king's gate-Enjoying that honour and privilege without disturbance, and denying me the worship due to me by the king's command. Thus though proud men have much to their mind, if they have not all, it is nothing. The thousandth part of what Haman had, would give a modest, humble man, ||

Verse 14. Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends-They saw how gladly he would dispense with his own resolution, of deferring the slaughter till the time determined by the lot, and therefore advise him to take an earnest of the satisfaction he then expected, in the speedy execution of Mordecai: Let a gallows be made―They advise him to have one made ready, that, as soon as he could get the warrant signed, there might be no delay of the execution, and to cause it to be made fifty cubits high, that it might be more conspicuous to all, and thereby be more disgraceful to Mordecai, and might strike all Haman's enemies with the greater dread of despising or opposing him. And to-morrow speak thou unto the king-They advise him to go early in the morning to get an order from the king for hanging Mordecai, which they doubted not would be readily granted to one that was so much the king's favourite, and who had so easily obtained an edict for the destruction of the whole nation of the Jews. Then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet-Having thus triumphed over thy implacable enemy, and got rid of all that vexes thee and imbitters thy prosperity and glory. And the thing pleased Haman--He approved of their advice, and caused the gallows to be erected accordingly. And now," says Henry, "we leave Haman to go to bed, pleased with the thoughts of seeing Mordecai hanged the next day, and then going merrily to the banquet; and not dreaming of handselling his own gallows."

CHAPTER VI.

Providence recommends Mordecar to the king's favour, 1-3. Haman is constrained publicly to honour him through the city, 4-11. His friends foretel his doom, 12, 13. He goes to the banquet, 14.

made it a part of his grandeur to live unacquainted and unconcerned with what passed in his dominions, (which was the custom of most of the eastern kings,) should overlook the service Mordecai had done him; or, if he ordered him a reward, that by the artifice of those at court, who were no well

There seems, however, to have been a particular direction of Providence, in having his reward delayed till this time, when he and all his nation were appointed to destruction; when the remembrance of his services might be a means to recommend them to the king's mercy, and the honours conferred on him a poignant mortification to his proud adversary."-Dodd.

NOTES ON CHAPTER VI. Verse 1. On that night could not the king sleep -How vain are all the contrivances of foolish man against the wise and omnipotent God, who hath the hearts and hands of kings and all men perfectly at his disposal, and can by such trivial accidents (as they are accounted) change their minds, and pro-wishers to the Jews, he should be disappointed of it. duce such terrible effects. He commanded to bring the book of records-His mind being troubled, he knew not how, nor why, he chooses this for a diversion, God putting this thought into him, for other wise he might have diverted himself, as he used to do, with his wives or concubines, or voices and instruments of music, which were far more agreeable to his temper. "In these records of the Chronicles, which we now call journals, (wherein was set down what passed every day,) the manner of the Persians was to record the names of those who had done the king any signal services. Accordingly, Josephus informs us, that upon the secretary's reading these journals, he took notice of such a person who had great honours and possessions given him as a reward for a glorious and remarkable action, and of such another who made his fortune by the bounties of his prince for his fidelity; but, that when he came to the particular story of the conspiracy of the two eunuchs against the person of the king, and of the discovery of this treason by Mordecai, the secretary read it over, and was passing forward to the next; when the king stopped him, and asked him if the person had had any reward given him for his service; which shows indeed a singular providence of God, that the secretary should read in that very part of the book wherein the service of Mordecai || was recorded. Why Mordecai was not rewarded before, it is in vain to inquire. To account for the humour of princes, and their management of public affairs, is almost impossible. We see daily, even among us, that men are frequently unmindful of the highest services which are done them, and take no care to reward them, especially if the person be in himself obscure, and not supported by a proper recommendation; and therefore we are not to wonder, if a prince, who buried himself in indolence, and

Verses 3, 4. There is nothing done for him-He hath had no recompense for this great and good service. The king said, Who is in the court—It is likely it was now morning, when the courtiers used to be in waiting; and the king is so impatient to have Mordecai honoured, that he sends to know who was come, that was fit to be employed in the business. Now Haman was come-Early in the morning, because his malice would not suffer him to sleep; and he was impatient till he had executed his revenge; and was resolved to watch for the very first opportunity of speaking to the king, before he was engaged in other matters. Into the outward court-Where he waited; because it was dangerous to come into the inner court without special license, chap. iv. 11. So that the king and his minister were equally impatient about this poor Jew Mordecai, the former to have him honoured, and the latter to have him hanged!

Verses 5, 6. The king said, Let him come in— The king thought him the fittest man he had to be made use of, both in directing and in dispensing his favour, knowing nothing of any quarrel he had with Mordecai. So Haman came in-Proud of the honour done him, in being admitted into the king's bed-chamber, before he was up; for it is likely the king only wished to give orders for the honouring of Mordecai, and then he would be easy in his mind, and try to sleep. Haman, however, thinks of

Haman is obliged to honour

B. C. 510.

5

B. C. 510.

A. M. 3494. 7 And Haman answered the king, || it be done to the man whom the king A. M. 3494. For the man whom the king de- delighteth to honour. lighteth to honour,

Heb. Let them

10 Then the king said to Haman, 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 king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.

9

11 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 shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

self.-
xli. 43.

to

d1 Kings i. 33.- Heb. cause him to ride. Gen. Heb. suffer not a whit to fall.

'Heb, in whose honour the king delighteth. bring the royal apparel.- -7 Heb. wherewith the king clotheth himfinding the king alone, and unengaged, and that this was the fairest opportunity he could wish for, to solicit for Mordecai's execution. And the kingWhose heart was as full as his, and who, as was fit, spoke first; said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour ?-He|| before him, Thus shall it be done, &c.-For his names no one, because he would have the more im-honour, and the encouragement of all to seek the partial answer. It is a good property in kings and king's favour. other superiors, to delight in bestowing rewards, and not to delight in punishing. Now Haman thought in his heart-As he had great reason to do, because of the favour which the king had showed to him above all others; To whom would the king delight to do honour more than myself?—No one deserves to be honoured so much as I, nor stands so fair for it. See how men's pride deceives them! The deceitfulness of our own hearts appears in nothing so much as in the good opinion we are wont to have of ourselves, and of our own performances, against which we should therefore constantly watch and pray. Haman thought the king loved and valued no one but himself, but he was deceived.

Verse 9. And let this apparel, &c., be delivered one of the king's most noble princes-To be his attendant. And bring him on horseback through the city-That all the people may be made to take notice of him, and do him reverence. And proclaim

Verse 10. The king said, Do even so to Mordecai the Jew-If the king had but said as Haman expected, Thou art the man, what a fair opportunity would he have had to perform the errand he came on, and to have requested, that, to grace the solemnity of his triumph, Mordecai, his sworn enemy, might be hanged at the same time; but how is he thunderstruck when the king bids him, not to order all this to be done, but to do it himself to Mordecai the Jew, the very man he hated above all men, and whose ruin he was seeking, and now came to solicit! He saw it was now to no purpose to think of moving any thing to the king against Mordecai, since he is the man whom the king delights to

honour.

Verses 7, 8. Haman answered, Let the royal apVerses 11, 12. Then Haman took the apparelparel, &c.-Concluding he himself was the favourite The king's words undoubtedly produced great comintended, he prescribes the highest instances of hon-motion in his breast, but he durst not dispute, nor so our that could for once be bestowed upon a subject; much as seem to dislike the king's order; but, though nay, he names honours too great to be conferred on with the greatest regret and reluctance imaginable, any subject. Which the king useth to wear, &c.- brings the apparel, &c., to Mordecai, who, we may Namely, the king's outward garment, which was suppose, did no more cringe to Haman now than he made of purple, interwoven with gold, as Justin and did before, valuing his counterfeit respects no more Curtius relate. To form a notion of that height of than he had valued his concealed malice. And arpride and arrogance at which Haman, who thought rayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback, &c. all the honours he specified were designed for him--It is hard to say which of the two put a greater self, was arrived, we may observe, that for any one to put on the royal robe without the privity and consent of the king was among the Persians accounted a capital crime. And the horse that the king rideth upon-Namely, usually; which was well known, both by his excellence, and especially by his peculiar trappings and ornaments. And the crown royal which is set upon his head-Upon the king's head. Thus he wished him to appear in all the pomp and grandeur of the king himself, only not to carry the sceptre, the emblem of power.

force upon himself: proud Haman, in giving this honour to Mordecai, or humble Mordecai, in accepting it. Upon one account, no doubt, it was agreeable to Mordecai, as it was an indication of the king's favour, and gave ground to hope that Esther would prevail for the reversing of the edict against the Jews. Mordecai came again to the king's gateTo his former place, showing that, as he was not overwhelmed with Haman's threats, so he was not puffed up with this honour. Besides, he came thi ther to attend the issue of the business he had most

The king urges Esther

A. M. 3494.
B. C. 510.

g

B. C. 510.

12 And Mordecai came again to the || Jews, before whom thou hast begun to A. M. 3494 king's gate. But Haman 'hasted to his fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, house mourning, and having his head covered. but shalt surely fall before him. 13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the

Verse 13. Then said his wise men-The magicians, whom, after the Persian manner, he had called together, to consult upon this strange emergency. If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews-Which they were told, and it was generally supposed he was, but of which they were not infallibly sure; before| whom thou hast begun to fall-Though but in a point of honour; thou shalt not prevail against himThey had observed, it is probable, how the Jews had been wonderfully raised from under great oppressions, since the time of Cyrus, and in how many remarkable instances God had appeared for them, and against their enemies, in this very court and kingdom, and thence concluded there was a particular providence that took care of them. Or perhaps they

14 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.

b Chap. v. 8.

only formed their judgment from the omen, in Haman having been obliged to pay such honours himself to one of that nation which he had purposed, and even got the king's edict, entirely to destroy. But shalt surely fall before him-This they concluded, either, 1st, By rules of policy, because Haman's reputation and interest were sinking, and Mordecai, whom they understood to be a man of great wisdom and courage, had now got into the king's favour, and therefore was likely to gain an opportunity of moving him to a dislike, if not revocation, of his own bloody decree, and consequently to a detestation of that person who had procured it. Or, 2d, By an instinct or impression from God upon their minds, who might suggest this to them, as he did other things to other wicked men, for his own great glory, and the good of his people.

Verse 14. The king's chamberlains hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet-Who was now slack to go thither, by reason of the great dejection of his own mind, and the fear of a worse entertainment from the king and queen than he had formerly received.

CHAPTER VII.

Esther petitions for her life, and the lives of her people, 1-4. She tells the king that Haman is the man who designed her ruin, 5, 6. By the king's order he is hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai, 7–10.

A. M. 3494. SO the king and Haman came 1to banquet with Esther the queen.

B. C. 510.

NOTES ON CHAPTER VII.

Verse 2. The king said again to Esther, What is thy petition, Queen Esther? &c. If the king had now forgot that Esther had an errand to him, and had not again asked what it was, she could scarce have known how to renew it herself; but he was mindful of it, and now was bound with the three-fold cord of a promise, thrice made, to favour her.

Verse 3. Then Esther the queen answered and said, &c.—Esther, at length, surprises the king with a petition, not for wealth, or honour, or the preferment of some of her friends to some high post, which

B. C.

granted thee: and what is thy request? A. M. 3494.
and it shall be performed, even to the
half of the kingdom.

3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king,

a Chap. v. 6.

the king expected, but for the preservation of herself and her countrymen from death and destruction. O king, let my life be given me at my petition-It is my humble and only request, that thou wouldst not give me up to the malice of that man that designs to take away my life, and will certainly do it, if thou do not prevent it. And my people-That is, the lives of my people, of the Jews, of whom I am descended. Even a stranger, a criminal, shall be permitted to petition for his life. But that a friend, a wife, a queen, should have occasion to make such a request, was very affecting!

A. M. 3494. and if it please the king, let my life be || afraid before the king and the A. M. 3494. given me at my petition, and my peo-queen. ple at my request: 7 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace-garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.