mh_parser/vol_split/17 - Esther/Chapter 10.xml

<div2 id="Esth.xi" n="xi" next="xv" prev="Esth.x" progress="99.92%" title="Chapter X">
<h2 id="Esth.xi-p0.1">E S T H E R</h2>
<h3 id="Esth.xi-p0.2">CHAP. X.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Esth.xi-p1">This is but a part of a chapter; the rest of it,
beginning at <scripRef id="Esth.xi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.10.4" parsed="|Esth|10|4|0|0" passage="Es 10:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>,
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,
<scripRef id="Esth.xi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Esth.10.1-Esth.10.2" parsed="|Esth|10|1|10|2" passage="Es 10:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>. II. Concerning
Mordecai his favourite, what a distinguished blessing he was to his
people, <scripRef id="Esth.xi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Esth.10.2-Esth.10.3" parsed="|Esth|10|2|10|3" passage="Es 10:2,3">ver. 2, 3</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Esth.xi-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.10" parsed="|Esth|10|0|0|0" passage="Es 10" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Esth.xi-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.10.1-Esth.10.3" parsed="|Esth|10|1|10|3" passage="Es 10:1-3" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Esth.10.1-Esth.10.3">
<h4 id="Esth.xi-p1.6">The Glory of Mordecai. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Esth.xi-p1.7">b. c.</span> 495.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Esth.xi-p2">1 And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the
land, and <i>upon</i> the isles of the sea.   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?   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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.xi-p3">We are here told,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.xi-p4">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 (<scripRef id="Esth.xi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.13" parsed="|Ezra|4|13|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:13">Ezra iv. 13</scripRef>), he laid an additional tribute
upon his subjects, to serve for some great occasion he had for
money (<scripRef id="Esth.xi-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Esth.10.1" parsed="|Esth|10|1|0|0" passage="Es 10:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>): <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> (<scripRef id="Esth.xi-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Esth.10.2" parsed="|Esth|10|2|0|0" passage="Es 10:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>), 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> (<scripRef id="Esth.xi-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.6" parsed="|Ps|9|6|0|0" passage="Ps 9:6">Ps. ix. 6</scripRef>),
the kingdom of God among men, and the records of that kingdom,
shall remain and be <i>as the days of heaven,</i> <scripRef id="Esth.xi-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Dan.2.44" parsed="|Dan|2|44|0|0" passage="Da 2:44">Dan. ii. 44</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.xi-p5">II. How great and good Mordecai was.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.xi-p6">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> (<scripRef id="Esth.xi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.10.3" parsed="|Esth|10|3|0|0" passage="Es 10:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>), 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 class="indent" id="Esth.xi-p7">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>
</div></div2>