mh_parser/vol_split/17 - Esther/Chapter 6.xml

<div2 id="Esth.vii" n="vii" next="Esth.viii" prev="Esth.vi" progress="98.62%" title="Chapter VI">
<h2 id="Esth.vii-p0.1">E S T H E R</h2>
<h3 id="Esth.vii-p0.2">CHAP. VI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Esth.vii-p1">It is a very surprising scene that opens in this
chapter. Haman, when he hoped to be Mordecai's judge, was made his
page, to his great confusion and mortification; and thus way was
made for the defeat of Haman's plot and the deliverance of the
Jews. I. The providence of God recommends Mordecai in the night to
the king's favour, <scripRef id="Esth.vii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.6.1-Esth.6.3" parsed="|Esth|6|1|6|3" passage="Es 6:1-3">ver.
1-3</scripRef>. II. Haman, who came to incense the king against
him, is employed as an instrument of the king's favour to him,
<scripRef id="Esth.vii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Esth.6.4-Esth.6.11" parsed="|Esth|6|4|6|11" passage="Es 6:4-11">ver. 4-11</scripRef>. III. From this
his friends read him his doom, which is executed in the next
chapter, <scripRef id="Esth.vii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Esth.6.12-Esth.6.14" parsed="|Esth|6|12|6|14" passage="Es 6:12-14">ver. 12-14</scripRef>. And
now it appears that Esther's intercession for her people was
happily adjourned, <i>De die in diem—from day to day.</i></p>
<scripCom id="Esth.vii-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.6" parsed="|Esth|6|0|0|0" passage="Es 6" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Esth.vii-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.6.1-Esth.6.3" parsed="|Esth|6|1|6|3" passage="Es 6:1-3" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Esth.6.1-Esth.6.3">
<h4 id="Esth.vii-p1.6">The Record of Mordecai's
Loyalty. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Esth.vii-p1.7">b. c.</span> 510.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Esth.vii-p2">1 On that night could not the king sleep, and he
commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they
were read before the king.   2 And it was found written, that
Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's
chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on
the king Ahasuerus.   3 And the king said, What honour and
dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's
servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for
him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vii-p3">Now Satan put it into the heart of Haman to
contrive Mordecai's death we read in the foregoing chapter; how God
put it into the heart of the king to contrive Mordecai's honour we
are here told. Now, if the king's word will prevail above Haman's
(for, though Haman be a great man, the king in the throne must be
above him), much more will the <i>counsel of God stand,</i>
whatever <i>devices there are in men's hearts.</i> It is to no
purpose therefore for Haman to oppose it, when both God and the
king will have Mordecai honoured, and in this juncture too, when
his preferment, and Haman's disappointment, would help to ripen the
great affair of the Jewish deliverance for the effort that Esther
was to make towards it the next day. Sometimes delay may prove to
have been good conduct. Stay awhile, and we may have done the
sooner. <i>Cunctando restituit rem—He conquered by delay.</i> Let
us trace the steps which Providence took towards the advancement of
Mordecai.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vii-p4">I. <i>On that night could not the king
sleep.</i> His <i>sleep fled away</i> (so the word is); and
perhaps, like a shadow, the more carefully he pursued it the
further it went from him. Sometimes we cannot sleep because we fain
would sleep. Even after a banquet of wine he could not sleep when
Providence had a design to serve in keeping him waking. We read of
no bodily indisposition he was under, that might break his sleep;
but God, <i>whose gift sleep is,</i> withheld it from him. Those
that are ever so much resolved to cast away care cannot always do
it; they find it in their pillows when they neither expect nor
welcome it. He that commanded 127 provinces could not command one
hour's sleep. Perhaps the charms of Esther's conversation the day
before gave occasion to his heart to reproach him for neglecting
her, and banishing her from his presence, though she was the wife
of his bosom, for above thirty days; and that might keep him
waking. An offended conscience can find a time to speak when it
will be heard.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vii-p5">II. When he could not sleep he called to
have the book of records, the Journals of his reign, read to him,
<scripRef id="Esth.vii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.6.1" parsed="|Esth|6|1|0|0" passage="Es 6:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. Surely he did
not design that that should lull him asleep; it would rather fill
his head with cares, and drive away sleep. But God put it into his
heart to call for it, rather than for music or songs, which the
Persian kings used to be attended with (<scripRef id="Esth.vii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.6.18" parsed="|Dan|6|18|0|0" passage="Da 6:18">Dan. vi. 18</scripRef>) and which would have been more
likely to compose him to rest. When men do that which is
unaccountable we know not what God intends by it. Perhaps he would
have this book of business read to him that he might improve time
and be forming some useful projects. Had it been king David's case,
he would have found some other entertainment for his thoughts; when
he could not sleep he would have remembered God and meditated upon
him (<scripRef id="Esth.vii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.64.6" parsed="|Ps|64|6|0|0" passage="Ps 64:6">Ps. lxiv. 6</scripRef>), and, if
he would have had any book read to him, it would have been his
Bible; for <i>in that law did he meditate day and night.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vii-p6">III. The servant that read to him either
lighted first on that article which concerned Mordecai, or, reading
long, came to it at length. Among other things it was found written
that Mordecai had discovered a plot against the life of the king
which prevented the execution of it, <scripRef id="Esth.vii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.6.2" parsed="|Esth|6|2|0|0" passage="Es 6:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. Mordecai was not in such favour at
court that the reader should designedly pitch upon that place; but
Providence directed him to it; nay, if we may believe the Jews'
tradition (as bishop Patrick relates it), opening the book at this
place he turned over the leaves, and would have read another part
of the book, but the leaves flew back again to the same place where
he opened it; so that he was forced to read that paragraph. How
Mordecai's good service was recorded we read <scripRef id="Esth.vii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Esth.2.23" parsed="|Esth|2|23|0|0" passage="Es 2:23"><i>ch.</i> ii. 23</scripRef>, and here it is found upon
record.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vii-p7">IV. The king enquired <i>what honour and
dignity had been done to Mordecai</i> for this, suspecting that
this good service had gone unrewarded, and, like Pharaoh's butler,
remembering it as <i>his fault this day,</i> <scripRef id="Esth.vii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.41.9" parsed="|Gen|41|9|0|0" passage="Ge 41:9">Gen. xli. 9</scripRef>. Note, The law of gratitude is a
law of nature. We ought particularly to be grateful to our
inferiors, and not to think all their services such debts to us but
that they make us indebted to them. Two rules of gratitude may be
gathered from the king's enquiry here:—1. Better honour than
nothing. If we cannot, or need not, make recompence to those who
have been kind to us, yet let us do them honour by acknowledging
their kindnesses and owning our obligations to them. 2. Better late
than never. If we have long neglected to make grateful returns for
good offices done us, let us at length bethink ourselves of our
debts.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vii-p8">V. The servants informed him that nothing
had been done to Mordecai for that eminent service; in the king's
gate he sat before, and there he still sat. Note, 1. It is common
for great men to take little notice of their inferiors. The king
knew not whether Mordecai was preferred or no till his servants
informed him. High spirits take a pride in being careless and
unconcerned about those that are below them and ignorant of their
state. The great God takes cognizance of the meanest of his
servants, knows what dignity is done them and what disgrace. 2.
Humility, modesty, and self-denial, though in God's account of
great price, yet commonly hinder men's preferment in the world.
Mordecai rises no higher than the king's gate, while proud
ambitious Haman gets the king's ear and heart; but, though the
aspiring rise fast, the humble stand fast. Honour makes proud men
giddy, but <i>upholds the humble in spirit,</i> <scripRef id="Esth.vii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Prov.29.23" parsed="|Prov|29|23|0|0" passage="Pr 29:23">Prov. xxix. 23</scripRef>. 3. Honour and dignity are
rated high in the king's books. He does not ask, What reward has
been given Mordecai? what money? what estate? but only, What
honour?—a poor thing, and which, if he had not wherewith to
support it, would be but a burden. 4. The greatest merits and the
best services are often overlooked and go unrewarded among men.
Little honour is done to those who best deserve it, and fittest for
it, and would do most good with it. See <scripRef id="Esth.vii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.9.14-Eccl.9.16" parsed="|Eccl|9|14|9|16" passage="Ec 9:14-16">Eccl. ix. 14-16</scripRef>. The acquisition of wealth
and honour is usually a perfect lottery, in which those that
venture least commonly carry off the best prize. Nay, 5. Good
services are sometimes so far from being a man's preferment that
they will not be his protection. Mordecai is at this time, by the
king's edict, doomed to destruction, with all the Jews, though it
is owned that he deserved dignity. Those that faithfully serve God
need not fear being thus ill paid.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Esth.vii-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:Esth.6.4-Esth.6.11" parsed="|Esth|6|4|6|11" passage="Es 6:4-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Esth.6.4-Esth.6.11">
<h4 id="Esth.vii-p8.4">The Honour Conferred on
Mordecai. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Esth.vii-p8.5">b. c.</span> 510.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Esth.vii-p9">4 And the king said, Who <i>is</i> in the court?
Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to
speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had
prepared for him.   5 And the king's servants said unto him,
Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him
come in.   6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him,
What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour?
Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to
do honour more than to myself?   7 And Haman answered the
king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,   8 Let
the royal apparel be brought which the king <i>useth</i> to wear,
and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which
is set upon his head:   9 And let this apparel and horse be
delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that
they may array the man <i>withal</i> whom the king delighteth to
honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city,
and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the
king delighteth to honour.   10 Then the king said to Haman,
Make haste, <i>and</i> 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.  
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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vii-p10">It is now morning, and people begin to
stir.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vii-p11">I. Haman is so impatient to get Mordecai
hanged that he comes early to court, to be ready at the king's
levee, before any other business is brought before him, to get a
warrant for his execution (<scripRef id="Esth.vii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.6.4" parsed="|Esth|6|4|0|0" passage="Es 6:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>), which he makes sure that he shall have at the first
word. The king would gratify him in a greater thing than that; and
he could tell the king that he was so confident of the justice of
his request, and the king's favour to him in it, that he had got
the gallows ready: one word from the king would complete his
satisfaction.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vii-p12">II. The king is so impatient to have
Mordecai honoured that he sends to know who is in the court that is
fit to be employed in it. Word is brought him that Haman is in the
court, <scripRef id="Esth.vii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.6.5" parsed="|Esth|6|5|0|0" passage="Es 6:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. <i>Let
him come in,</i> says the king, the fittest man to be made use of
both in directing and in dispensing the king's favour; and the king
knew nothing of any quarrel he had with Mordecai. Haman is brought
in immediately, proud of the honour done him in being admitted into
the king's bed-chamber, as it should seem, <i>before he was up;</i>
for let the king but give orders for the dignifying of Mordecai,
and he will be easy in his mind and try to sleep. Now Haman thinks
he has the fairest opportunity he can wish for to solicit against
Mordecai; but the king's heart is as full as his, and it is fit he
should speak first.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vii-p13">III. The king asks Haman how he should
express his favour to one whom he had marked for a favourite:
<i>What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to
honour?</i> <scripRef id="Esth.vii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.6.6" parsed="|Esth|6|6|0|0" passage="Es 6:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>.
Note, It is a good property in kings, and other superiors, to
delight in bestowing rewards and not to delight in punishing.
Parents and masters should take a pleasure in commending and
encouraging that which is good in those under their charge.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vii-p14">IV. Haman concludes that he himself is the
favourite intended, and therefore prescribes the highest
expressions of honour that could, for once, be bestowed upon a
subject. His proud heart presently suggested, "To whom will the
king delight to do honour more than to myself? No one deserves it
so well as I," thinks Haman, "nor stands so fair for it." See how
men's pride deceives them. 1. Haman had a better opinion of his
merits than there was cause for: he thought none so worthy of
honour as himself. It is a foolish thing for us thus to think
ourselves the only deserving persons, or more deserving than any
other. The deceitfulness of our own hearts appears in nothing so
much as in the good conceit we have of ourselves and our own
performances, against which we should therefore constantly watch
and pray. 2. He had a better opinion of his interest than there was
reason for. He thought the king loved and valued no one but
himself, but he was deceived. We should suspect that the esteem
which others profess for us is not so great as it seems to be or as
we are sometimes willing to believe it is, that we may not think
too well of ourselves nor place too much confidence in others. Now
Haman thinks he is carving out honour for himself, and therefore
does it very liberally, <scripRef id="Esth.vii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.6.8-Esth.6.9" parsed="|Esth|6|8|6|9" passage="Es 6:8,9"><i>v.</i> 8,
9</scripRef>. Nay, he does it presumptuously, prescribing honours
too great to be conferred upon any subject, that he must be dressed
in the royal robes, wear the royal crown, and ride on the king's
own horse; in short, he must appear in all the pomp and grandeur of
the king himself, only he must not carry the sceptre, the emblem of
power. He must be attended by one of <i>the king's most noble
princes,</i> who must be his lacquey, and all the people must be
made to take notice of him and do him reverence; for he must ride
in state through the streets, and it must be <i>proclaimed before
him,</i> for his honour, and the encouragement of all to seek the
ruler's favour, <i>Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king
delights to honour,</i> which had the same intention with that
which was proclaimed before Joseph, <i>Bow the knee;</i> for every
good subject will honour those whom the king delights to honour.
And shall not every good Christian then honour those whom the King
of kings delights to honour and call the <i>saints that are on the
earth the excellent ones?</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vii-p15">V. The king confounds him with a positive
order that he should immediately go himself and put all this honour
upon Mordecai the Jew, <scripRef id="Esth.vii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.6.10" parsed="|Esth|6|10|0|0" passage="Es 6:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>. If the king had but said, as Haman expected, <i>Thou
art the man,</i> what a fair opportunity would he have had to do
the errand he came on, and to desire that, to grace the solemnity
of his triumphs, 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 now
designing! Now, it is to no purpose to think of moving any thing to
the king against Mordecai when he is <i>the man whom the king
delights to honour.</i> Solomon says, <i>The heart of the king is
unsearchable</i> (<scripRef id="Esth.vii-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.25.3" parsed="|Prov|25|3|0|0" passage="Pr 25:3">Prov. xxv.
3</scripRef>), but it is not unchangeable.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vii-p16">VI. Haman dares not dispute nor so much as
seem to dislike the king's order, but, with the greatest regret and
reluctance imaginable, brings it to Mordecai, who I suppose did no
more cringe to Haman now than he had done, valuing his counterfeit
respect no more than he had valued his concealed malice. The
apparel is brought, Mordecai is dressed up, and rides in state
through the city, recognized as the king's favourite, <scripRef id="Esth.vii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.6.11" parsed="|Esth|6|11|0|0" passage="Es 6:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. It is hard to say which
of the two put a greater force upon himself, proud Haman in putting
this honour upon Mordecai, or humble Mordecai in accepting it: the
king would have it so, and both must submit. Upon <i>this</i>
account it was agreeable to Mordecai as it was an indication of the
king's favour, and gave hope that Esther would prevail for the
reversing of the edict against the Jews.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Esth.vii-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:Esth.6.12-Esth.6.14" parsed="|Esth|6|12|6|14" passage="Es 6:12-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Esth.6.12-Esth.6.14">
<h4 id="Esth.vii-p16.3">Haman Cast Down. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Esth.vii-p16.4">b. c.</span> 510.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Esth.vii-p17">12 And Mordecai came again to the king's gate.
But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head
covered.   13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his
friends every <i>thing</i> that had befallen him. Then said his
wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai <i>be</i> of the
seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt
not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.  
14 And while they <i>were</i> yet talking with him, came the king's
chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that
Esther had prepared.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vii-p18">We may here observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vii-p19">I. How little Mordecai was puffed up with
his advancement. He <i>came again to the king's gate</i> (<scripRef id="Esth.vii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.6.12" parsed="|Esth|6|12|0|0" passage="Es 6:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>); he returned to his
place and the duty of it immediately, and minded his business as
closely as he had done before. Honour is well bestowed on those
that are not made proud and idle by it, and will not think
themselves above their business.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vii-p20">II. How much Haman was cast down with his
disappointment. He could not bear it. To wait upon any man,
especially Mordecai, and at this time, when he hoped to have seen
him hanged, was enough to break such a proud heart as he had. He
<i>hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered,</i>
as one that looked upon himself as sunk and in a manner condemned.
What harm had it done him to stoop thus to Mordecai? Was he ever
the worse for it? Was it not what he himself proposed to be done by
<i>one of the king's most noble princes?</i> Why then should he
grudge to do it himself? But that will break a proud man's heart
which would not break a humble man's sleep.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vii-p21">III. How his doom was, out of this event,
read to him by his wife and his friends: "If Mordecai be, as they
say he is, <i>of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun
to fall,</i> though but in a point of honour, never expect to
<i>prevail against him;</i> for thou <i>shalt surely fall before
him,</i>" <scripRef id="Esth.vii-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.6.13" parsed="|Esth|6|13|0|0" passage="Es 6:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>.
Miserable comforters were they all; they did not advise him to
repent, and ask Mordecai's pardon for his bad design against him,
but foretold his destiny as fatal and unavoidable. Two things they
foresaw:—1. That Haman would be disappointed in his enterprise
against the Jews: "<i>Thou shalt not prevail</i> to root out that
people. Heaven plainly fights against thee." 2. That he himself
would be destroyed: <i>Thou shalt surely fall before him.</i> The
contest between Michael and the dragon will not be a drawn battle;
no, Haman must fall before Mordecai. Two things they grounded their
prognostications upon:—(1.) This Mordecai was <i>of the seed of
the Jews; feeble Jews</i> their enemies sometimes called them, but
formidable Jews they sometimes found them. They are a holy seed, a
praying seed, in covenant with God, and a seed that the Lord hath
all along blessed, and therefore let not their enemies expect to
triumph over them. (2.) Haman had begun to fall, and therefore he
was certainly a gone man. It has been observed of great
court-favourites that when once they have been frowned upon they
have fallen utterly, as fast as they rose; it is true of the
church's enemies that when God begins with them he will make an
end. As for God his work is perfect.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vii-p22">IV. How seasonably he was now sent for to
the banquet that Esther had prepared, <scripRef id="Esth.vii-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.6.14" parsed="|Esth|6|14|0|0" passage="Es 6:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. He thought it seasonable, in
hopes it would revive his drooping spirits and save his sinking
honour. But really it was seasonable because, his spirits being
broken by this sore disappointment, he might the more easily be run
down by Esther's complaint against him. The wisdom of God is seen
in timing the means of his church's deliverance so as to manifest
his own glory.</p>
</div></div2>