mh_parser/vol_split/17 - Esther/Chapter 1.xml

<div2 id="Esth.ii" n="ii" next="Esth.iii" prev="Esth.i" progress="97.22%" title="Chapter I">
<h2 id="Esth.ii-p0.1">E S T H E R</h2>
<h3 id="Esth.ii-p0.2">CHAP. I.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Esth.ii-p1">Several things in this chapter itself are very
instructive and of great use; but the design of recording the story
of it is to show how way was made for Esther to the crown, in order
to her being instrumental to defeat Haman's plot, and this long
before the plot was laid, that we may observe and admire the
foresight and vast reaches of Providence. "Known unto God are all
his works" before-hand. Ahasuerus the king, I. In his height feasts
all his great men, <scripRef id="Esth.ii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.1-Esth.1.9" parsed="|Esth|1|1|1|9" passage="Es 1:1-9">ver.
1-9</scripRef>. II. In his heat he divorces his queen, because she
would not come to him when he sent for her, <scripRef id="Esth.ii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.10-Esth.1.22" parsed="|Esth|1|10|1|22" passage="Es 1:10-22">ver. 10-22</scripRef>. This shows how God serves his
own purposes even by the sins and follies of men, which he would
not permit if he know not how to bring good out of them.</p>
<scripCom id="Esth.ii-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1" parsed="|Esth|1|0|0|0" passage="Es 1" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Esth.ii-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.1-Esth.1.9" parsed="|Esth|1|1|1|9" passage="Es 1:1-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Esth.1.1-Esth.1.9">
<h4 id="Esth.ii-p1.5">The Feast of Ahasuerus. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Esth.ii-p1.6">b. c.</span> 519.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Esth.ii-p2">1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus,
(this <i>is</i> Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto
Ethiopia, <i>over</i> an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
  2 <i>That</i> in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on
the throne of his kingdom, which <i>was</i> in Shushan the palace,
  3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all
his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the
nobles and princes of the provinces, <i>being</i> before him:
  4 When he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the
honour of his excellent majesty many days, <i>even</i> a hundred
and fourscore days.   5 And when these days were expired, the
king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan
the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of
the garden of the king's palace;   6 <i>Where were</i> white,
green, and blue, <i>hangings,</i> fastened with cords of fine linen
and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds <i>were
of</i> gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and
white, and black, marble.   7 And they gave <i>them</i> drink
in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,)
and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.
  8 And the drinking <i>was</i> according to the law; none did
compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his
house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
  9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women <i>in</i>
the royal house which <i>belonged</i> to king Ahasuerus.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.ii-p3">Which of the kings of Persia this Ahasuerus
was the learned are not agreed. Mordecai is said to have been one
of those that were <i>carried</i> captive from <i>Jerusalem</i>
(<scripRef id="Esth.ii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.2.5-Esth.2.6" parsed="|Esth|2|5|2|6" passage="Es 2:5,6"><i>ch.</i> ii. 5, 6</scripRef>),
whence it should seem that this Ahasuerus was one of the first
kings of that empire. Dr. Lightfoot thinks that he was that
Artaxerxes who hindered the building of the temple, who is called
also <i>Ahasuerus</i> (<scripRef id="Esth.ii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.6-Ezra.4.7" parsed="|Ezra|4|6|4|7" passage="Ezr 4:6,7">Ezra iv. 6,
7</scripRef>), after his great-grandfather of the Medes, <scripRef id="Esth.ii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Dan.9.1" parsed="|Dan|9|1|0|0" passage="Da 9:1">Dan. ix. 1</scripRef>. We have here an
account,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.ii-p4">I. Of the vast extent of his dominion. In
the time of Darius and Cyrus there were but 120 princes ( <scripRef id="Esth.ii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.6.1" parsed="|Dan|6|1|0|0" passage="Da 6:1">Dan. vi. 1</scripRef>); now there were 127,
<i>from India to Ethiopia,</i> <scripRef id="Esth.ii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.1" parsed="|Esth|1|1|0|0" passage="Es 1:1"><i>v.</i>
1</scripRef>. It had become an over-grown kingdom, which in time
would sink with its own weight, and, as usual, would lose its
provinces as fast as it got them. If such vast power be put into a
bad hand, it is able to do so much the more mischief; but, if into
a good hand, it is able to do so much the more good. Christ's
kingdom is, or shall be, far larger than this, when the kingdoms of
the world shall all become his; and it shall be everlasting.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.ii-p5">II. Of the great pomp and magnificence of
his court. When he found himself fixed in his throne, the pride of
his heart rising with the grandeur of his kingdom, he made a most
extravagant feast, wherein he put himself to vast expense and
trouble only <i>to show the riches of his glorious kingdom and the
honour of his excellent majesty,</i> <scripRef id="Esth.ii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.4" parsed="|Esth|1|4|0|0" passage="Es 1:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. This was vain glory, an affection
of pomp to no purpose at all; for none questioned the riches of his
kingdom, nor offered to vie with him for honour. If he had shown
the riches of his kingdom and the honour of his majesty, as some of
his successors did, in contributing largely towards the building of
the temple and the maintaining of the temple service (<scripRef id="Esth.ii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.6.8 Bible:Ezra.7.22" parsed="|Ezra|6|8|0|0;|Ezra|7|22|0|0" passage="Ezr 6:8,7:22">Ezra vi. 8, vii. 22</scripRef>), it would
have turned to a much better account. Two feasts Ahasuerus made:—
1. One for his nobles and princes, which lasted <i>a hundred and
eighty days,</i> <scripRef id="Esth.ii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.3-Esth.1.4" parsed="|Esth|1|3|1|4" passage="Es 1:3,4"><i>v.</i> 3,
4</scripRef>. Not that he feasted the same persons every day for
all that time, but perhaps the nobles and princes of one province
one day, of another province another day, while thus he and his
constant attendants fared sumptuously every day. The Chaldee
paraphrast (who is very bold in his additions to the story of this
book) says that there had been a rebellion among his subjects and
that this feast was kept for joy of the quashing of it. 2. Another
was made for <i>all the people, both great and small,</i> which
lasted <i>seven days,</i> some one day and some another; and,
because no house would hold them, they were entertained <i>in the
court of the garden,</i> <scripRef id="Esth.ii-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.5" parsed="|Esth|1|5|0|0" passage="Es 1:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>. The hangings with which the several apartments were
divided or the tents which were there pitched for the company, were
very fine and rich; so were the beds or benches on which they sat,
and the pavement under their feet, <scripRef id="Esth.ii-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.6" parsed="|Esth|1|6|0|0" passage="Es 1:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. Better is a dinner of herbs with
quietness, and the enjoyment of one's self and a friend, than this
banquet of wine with all the noise and tumult that must needs
attend it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.ii-p6">III. Of the good order which in some
respects was kept there notwithstanding. We do not find this like
Belshazzar's feast, in which dunghill-gods were praised and the
vessels of the sanctuary profaned, <scripRef id="Esth.ii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.5.3-Dan.5.4" parsed="|Dan|5|3|5|4" passage="Da 5:3,4">Dan. v. 3, 4</scripRef>. Yet the Chaldee paraphrase says
that the vessels of the sanctuary were used in this feast, to the
great grief of the pious Jews. It was not like Herod's feast, which
reserved a prophet's head for the last dish. Two things which are
laudable we may gather from the account here given of this feast:—
1. That there was no forcing of healths, nor urging of them: <i>The
drinking was according to the law,</i> probably some law lately
made; <i>none did compel,</i> no, not by continual proposing of it
(as Josephus explains it); they did not send the glass about, but
every man drank as he pleased (<scripRef id="Esth.ii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.8" parsed="|Esth|1|8|0|0" passage="Es 1:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>), so that if there were any that drank to excess it
was their own fault, a fault which few would commit when the king's
order put an honour upon sobriety. This caution of a heathen
prince, even when he would show his generosity, may shame many who
are called Christians, who think they do not sufficiently show
their good housekeeping, nor bid their friends welcome, unless they
make them drunk, and, under pretence of sending the health round,
send the sin round, and death with it. There is a woe to those that
do so; let them read it and tremble, <scripRef id="Esth.ii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Hab.2.15-Hab.2.16" parsed="|Hab|2|15|2|16" passage="Hab 2:15,16">Hab. ii. 15, 16</scripRef>. It is robbing men of
their reason, their richest jewel, and making them fools, the
greatest wrong that can be. 2. That there was no mixed dancing; for
the gentlemen and ladies were entertained asunder, not as in the
feast of Belshazzar, whose wives and concubines drank with him
(<scripRef id="Esth.ii-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Dan.5.2" parsed="|Dan|5|2|0|0" passage="Da 5:2">Dan. v. 2</scripRef>), or that of
Herod, whose daughter <i>danced before him.</i> Vashti feasted the
women in her own apartment; not openly in the court of the garden,
but <i>in the royal house,</i> <scripRef id="Esth.ii-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.9" parsed="|Esth|1|9|0|0" passage="Es 1:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>. Thus, while the king showed the honour of his
majesty, she and her ladies showed the honour of their modesty,
which is truly the majesty of the fair sex.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Esth.ii-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.10-Esth.1.22" parsed="|Esth|1|10|1|22" passage="Es 1:10-22" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Esth.1.10-Esth.1.22">
<h4 id="Esth.ii-p6.7">Vashti's Refusal to Appear; Vashti
Divorced. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Esth.ii-p6.8">b. c.</span> 519.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Esth.ii-p7">10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the
king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona,
Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains
that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,   11 To
bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to
show the people and the princes her beauty: for she <i>was</i> fair
to look on.   12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the
king's commandment by <i>his</i> chamberlains: therefore was the
king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.   13 Then the
king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so <i>was</i>
the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:   14
And the next unto him <i>was</i> Carshena, Shethar, Admatha,
Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, <i>and</i> Memucan, the seven princes of
Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, <i>and</i> which sat
the first in the kingdom;)   15 What shall we do unto the
queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the
commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?   16
And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the
queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the
princes, and to all the people that <i>are</i> in all the provinces
of the king Ahasuerus.   17 For <i>this</i> deed of the queen
shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their
husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king
Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him,
but she came not.   18 <i>Likewise</i> shall the ladies of
Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which
have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus <i>shall there arise</i>
too much contempt and wrath.   19 If it please the king, let
there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among
the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered,
That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king
give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.  
20 And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be
published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the
wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
  21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the
king did according to the word of Memucan:   22 For he sent
letters into all the king's provinces, into every province
according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their
language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and
that <i>it</i> should be published according to the language of
every people.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.ii-p8">We have here a damp to all the mirth of
Ahasuerus's feast; it ended in heaviness, not as Job's children's
feast by a wind from the wilderness, not as Belshazzar's by a
hand-writing on the wall, but by his own folly. An unhappy falling
out there was, at the end of the feast, between the king and queen,
which broke off the feast abruptly, and sent the guests away silent
and ashamed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.ii-p9">I. It was certainly the king's weakness to
send for Vashti into his presence when he was drunk, and in company
with abundance of gentlemen, many of whom, it is likely, were in
the same condition. <i>When his heart was merry with wine</i>
nothing would serve him but Vashti must come, well dressed as she
was, with <i>the crown on her head,</i> that the princes and people
might see what a handsome woman she was, <scripRef id="Esth.ii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.10-Esth.1.11" parsed="|Esth|1|10|1|11" passage="Es 1:10,11"><i>v.</i> 10, 11</scripRef>. Hereby, 1. He dishonoured
himself as a husband, who ought to protect, but by no means expose,
the modesty of his wife, who ought to be to her <i>a covering of
the eyes</i> (<scripRef id="Esth.ii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.16" parsed="|Gen|20|16|0|0" passage="Ge 20:16">Gen. xx. 16</scripRef>),
not to uncover them. 2. He diminished himself as a king, in
commanding that from his wife which she might refuse, much to the
honour of her virtue. It was against the custom of the Persians for
the women to appear in public, and he put a great hardship upon her
when he did not court, but command her to do so uncouth a thing,
and make her a show. If he had not been put out of the possession
of himself by drinking to excess, he would not have done such a
thing, but would have been angry at any one that should have
mentioned it. When the wine is in the wit is out, and men's reason
departs from them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.ii-p10">II. However, perhaps it was not her wisdom
to deny him. <i>She refused to come</i> (<scripRef id="Esth.ii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.12" parsed="|Esth|1|12|0|0" passage="Es 1:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>); though he sent his command by
seven honourable messengers, and publicly, and Josephus says sent
again and again, yet she persisted in her denial. Had she come,
while it was evident that she did it in pure obedience, it would
have been no reflection upon her modesty, nor a bad example. The
thing was not in itself sinful, and therefore to obey would have
been more her honour than to be so precise. Perhaps she refused in
a haughty manner, and then it was certainly evil; she <i>scorned to
come at the king's commandment.</i> What a mortification was this
to him! While he was showing the glory of his kingdom he showed the
reproach of his family, that he had a wife that would do as she
pleased. Strifes between yoke-fellows are bad enough at any time,
but before company they are very scandalous, and occasion blushing
and uneasiness.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.ii-p11">III. The king thereupon grew outrageous. He
that had rule over 127 provinces had no rule over his own spirit,
but his <i>anger burned in him,</i> <scripRef id="Esth.ii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.12" parsed="|Esth|1|12|0|0" passage="Es 1:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. He would have consulted his own
comfort and credit more if he had stifled his resentment, had
passed by the affront his wife gave him, and turned it off with a
jest.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.ii-p12">IV. Though he was very angry, he would not
do any thing in this matter till he advised with his
privy-counsellors; as he had seven chamberlains to execute his
orders, who are named (<scripRef id="Esth.ii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.10" parsed="|Esth|1|10|0|0" passage="Es 1:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>), so he had seven counsellors to direct his orders.
The greater power a man has the greater need he has of advice, that
he may not abuse his power. Of these counsellors it is said that
they were learned men, for they <i>knew law</i> and
<i>judgment,</i>that they were wise men, for they <i>knew the
times,</i>and that the king put great confidence in them and honour
upon them, for they <i>saw the king's face and sat first in the
kingdom,</i> <scripRef id="Esth.ii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.13-Esth.1.14" parsed="|Esth|1|13|1|14" passage="Es 1:13,14"><i>v.</i> 13,
14</scripRef>. In the multitude of such counsellors there is
safety. Now here is,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.ii-p13">1. The question proposed to this
cabinet-council (<scripRef id="Esth.ii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.15" parsed="|Esth|1|15|0|0" passage="Es 1:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>): <i>What shall we do to the queen Vashti according
to the law?</i> Observe, (1.) Though it was the queen that was
guilty, the law must have its course. (2.) Though the king was very
angry, yet he would do nothing but what he was advised was
according to law.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.ii-p14">2. The proposal which Memucan made, that
Vashti should be divorced for her disobedience. Some suggest that
he gave this severe advice, and the rest agreed to it, because they
knew it would please the king, would gratify both his passion now
and his appetite afterwards. But Josephus says that, on the
contrary, he had a strong affection for Vashti, and would not have
put her away for this offence if he could legally have passed it
by; and then we must suppose Memucan, in his advice, to have had a
sincere regard to justice and the public good. (1.) He shows what
would be the bad consequences of the queen's disobedience to her
husband, if it were passed by and not animadverted upon, that it
would embolden other wives both to disobey their husbands and to
domineer over them. Had this unhappy falling out between the king
and his wife, wherein she was conqueror, been private, the error
would have remained with themselves and the quarrel might have been
settled privately between themselves; but it happening to be
public, and perhaps the ladies that were now feasting with the
queen having shown themselves pleased with her refusal, her bad
example would be likely to have a bad influence upon all the
families of the kingdom. If the queen must have her humour, and the
king must submit to it (since the houses of private persons
commonly take their measures from the courts of princes), the wives
would be haughty and imperious and would scorn to obey their
husbands, and the poor despised husbands might fret at it, but
could not help themselves; for the <i>contentions of a wife are a
continual dropping,</i> <scripRef id="Esth.ii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Prov.19.13 Bible:Prov.27.15" parsed="|Prov|19|13|0|0;|Prov|27|15|0|0" passage="Pr 19:13,27:15">Prov.
xix. 13; xxvii. 15</scripRef>; and see <scripRef id="Esth.ii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.21.9 Bible:Prov.25.24" parsed="|Prov|21|9|0|0;|Prov|25|24|0|0" passage="Pr 21:9,25:24">Prov. xxi. 9; xxv. 24</scripRef>. When wives
<i>despise their husbands,</i> whom they ought to <i>reverence</i>
(<scripRef id="Esth.ii-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Eph.5.33" parsed="|Eph|5|33|0|0" passage="Eph 5:33">Eph. v. 33</scripRef>), and contend
for <i>dominion</i> over those to whom they ought to be in
<i>subjection</i> (<scripRef id="Esth.ii-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.3.1" parsed="|1Pet|3|1|0|0" passage="1Pe 3:1">1 Pet. iii.
1</scripRef>), there cannot but be continual guilt and grief,
confusion and every evil work. And great ones must take heed of
setting copies of this kind, <scripRef id="Esth.ii-p14.5" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.16-Esth.1.18" parsed="|Esth|1|16|1|18" passage="Es 1:16-18"><i>v.</i> 16-18</scripRef>. (2.) He shows what would
be the good consequence of a decree against Vashti that she should
be divorced. We may suppose that before they proceeded to this
extremity they sent to Vashti to know if she would yet submit, cry
<i>Peccavi—I have done wrong,</i> and ask the king's pardon, and
that, if she had done so, the mischief of her example would have
been effectually prevented, and process would have been stayed; but
it is likely she continued obstinate, and insisted upon it as her
prerogative to do as she pleased, whether it pleased the king or
no, and therefore they gave this judgment against her, that she
<i>come no more before the king,</i> and this judgment so ratified
as never to be reversed, <scripRef id="Esth.ii-p14.6" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.19" parsed="|Esth|1|19|0|0" passage="Es 1:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>. The consequence of this, it was hoped, would be that
<i>the wives would give to their husbands honour,</i> even the
wives of the <i>great,</i> notwithstanding their own greatness, and
the wives of the <i>small,</i> notwithstanding the husband's
meanness (<scripRef id="Esth.ii-p14.7" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.20" parsed="|Esth|1|20|0|0" passage="Es 1:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>); and
thus every man would bear rule in his own house, as he ought to do,
and, the wives being subject, the children and servants would be so
too. It is the interest of states and kingdoms to provide that good
order be kept in private families.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.ii-p15">3. The edict that passed according to this
proposal, signifying that the queen was divorced for contumacy,
according to the law, and that, if other wives were in like manner
undutiful to their husbands, they must expect to be in like manner
disgraced (<scripRef id="Esth.ii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.21-Esth.1.22" parsed="|Esth|1|21|1|22" passage="Es 1:21,22"><i>v.</i> 21,
22</scripRef>): were they better than the queen? Whether it was the
passion or the policy of the king that was served by this edict,
God's providence served its own purpose by it, which was to make
way for Esther to the crown.</p>
</div></div2>