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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Esther, Chapter X].</TITLE>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>E S T H E R</B></FONT>
<BR>
<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. X.</FONT>
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<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
This is but a part of a chapter; the rest of it, beginning at
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+10:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>,
with six chapters more, being found only in the Greek, is rejected as
apocryphal. In these three verses we have only some short hints,
I. Concerning Ahasuerus in the throne, what a mighty prince he was,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+10:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
II. Concerning Mordecai his favourite, what a distinguished blessing he
was to his people,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+10:2,3">ver. 2, 3</A>.</P>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Glory of Mordecai.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 495.</TD></TR>
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<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and
<I>upon</I> the isles of the sea.
&nbsp; 2 And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the
declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king
advanced him, <I>are</I> they not written in the book of the
chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?
&nbsp; 3 For Mordecai the Jew <I>was</I> next unto king Ahasuerus, and
great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his
brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to
all his seed.
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<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
We are here told,</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
I. How great and powerful king Ahasuerus was. He had a vast dominion,
both in the continent and among the islands, from which he raised a
vast revenue. Besides the usual customs which the kings of Persia
exacted
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:13">Ezra iv. 13</A>),
he laid an additional tribute upon his subjects, to serve for some
great occasion he had for money
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+10:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>):
<I>The king laid a tribute.</I> Happy is our island, that pays no
tribute but what is laid upon it by its representatives, and those of
its own choosing, and is not squeezed or oppressed by an arbitrary
power, as some of the neighbouring nations are. Besides this instance
of the grandeur of Ahasuerus, many more might be given, that were
<I>acts of his power and of his might.</I> These however are not
thought fit to be recorded here in the sacred story, which is confined
to the Jews, and relates the affairs of other nations only as they fell
in with their affairs; but they are <I>written in the Persian
chronicles</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+10:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
which are long since lost and buried in oblivion, while the sacred
writings live, live in honour, and will live till time shall be no
more. When the <I>kingdoms of men,</I> monarchs and monarchies, are
destroyed, and <I>their memorial has perished with them</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:6">Ps. ix. 6</A>),
the kingdom of God among men, and the records of that kingdom, shall
remain and be <I>as the days of heaven,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+2:44">Dan. ii. 44</A>.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. How great and good Mordecai was.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
1. He was great; and it does one good to see virtue and piety thus in
honour.
(1.) He was great with the king, next to him, as one he most delighted
and confided in. Long had Mordecai sat contentedly in the king's gate,
and now at length he is advanced to the head of his council-board. Men
of merit may for a time seem buried alive; but often, by some means or
other, they are discovered and preferred at last. The declaration of
the greatness to which the king advanced Mordecai was <I>written in the
chronicles of the kingdom,</I> as very memorable, and contributing to
the great achievements of the king. He never did such acts of power as
he did when Mordecai was his right hand.
(2.) He was <I>great among the Jews</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+10:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
not only great above them, more honourable than any of them, but great
with them, dear to them, familiar with them, and much respected by
them. So far were they from envying his preferment that they rejoiced
in it, and added to it by giving him a commanding interest among them
and submitting all their affairs to his direction.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
2. He was good, very good, for he did good. This goodness made him
truly great, and then his greatness gave him an opportunity of doing so
much the more good. When the king advanced him,
(1.) He did not disown his people the Jews, nor was he ashamed of his
relation to them, though they were strangers and captives, dispersed
and despised. Still he wrote himself <I>Mordecai the Jew,</I> and
therefore no doubt adhered to the Jews' religion, by the observances of
which he distinguished himself, and yet it was no hindrance to his
preferment, nor looked upon as a blemish to him.
(2.) He did not seek his own wealth, or the raising of an estate for
himself and his family, which is the chief thing most aim at when they
get into great places at court; but he consulted the welfare of his
people, and made it his business to advance that. His power, his
wealth, and all his interest in the king and queen, he improved for the
public good.
(3.) He not only did good, but he did it in a humble condescending way,
was easy of access, courteous and affable in his behaviour, and spoke
peace to all that made their application to him. Doing good works is
the best and chief thing expected from those that have wealth and
power; but giving good words is also commendable, and makes the good
deed the more acceptable.
(4.) He did not side with any one party of his people against another,
nor make some his favourites, while the rest were neglected and
crushed; but, whatever differences there were among them, he was a
common father to them all, recommended himself to <I>the multitude of
his brethren,</I> not despising the crowd, and spoke peace <I>to all
their seed,</I> without distinction. Thus making himself acceptable by
humility and beneficence, he was universally accepted, and gained the
good word of all his brethren. Thanks be to God, such a government as
this we are blessed with, which <I>seeks the welfare of our people,
speaking peace to all their seed.</I> God continue it long, very long,
and grant us, under the happy protection and influence of it, to
<I>live quiet and peaceable lives, in godliness, honesty,</I> and
charity!</P>
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