mh_parser/vol_split/17 - Esther/Chapter 3.xml

<div2 id="Esth.iv" n="iv" next="Esth.v" prev="Esth.iii" progress="97.78%" title="Chapter III">
<h2 id="Esth.iv-p0.1">E S T H E R</h2>
<h3 id="Esth.iv-p0.2">CHAP. III.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Esth.iv-p1">A very black and mournful scene here opens, and
which threatens the ruin of all the people of God. Were there not
some such dark nights, the light of the morning would not be so
welcome. I. Haman is made the king's favourite, <scripRef id="Esth.iv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.1" parsed="|Esth|3|1|0|0" passage="Es 3:1">ver. 1</scripRef>. II. Mordecai refuses to give him the
honour he demands, <scripRef id="Esth.iv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.2-Esth.3.4" parsed="|Esth|3|2|3|4" passage="Es 3:2-4">ver.
2-4</scripRef>. III. Haman, for his sake, vows to be revenged upon
all the Jews, <scripRef id="Esth.iv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.5-Esth.3.6" parsed="|Esth|3|5|3|6" passage="Es 3:5,6">ver. 5, 6</scripRef>.
IV. He, upon a malicious suggestion, obtains an order from the king
to have them all massacred upon a certain day, <scripRef id="Esth.iv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.7-Esth.3.13" parsed="|Esth|3|7|3|13" passage="Es 3:7-13">ver. 7-13</scripRef>. V. This order is dispersed
through the kingdom, <scripRef id="Esth.iv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.14-Esth.3.15" parsed="|Esth|3|14|3|15" passage="Es 3:14,15">ver. 14,
15</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Esth.iv-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3" parsed="|Esth|3|0|0|0" passage="Es 3" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Esth.iv-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.1-Esth.3.6" parsed="|Esth|3|1|3|6" passage="Es 3:1-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Esth.3.1-Esth.3.6">
<h4 id="Esth.iv-p1.8">Haman's Malignant Proposal. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Esth.iv-p1.9">b. c.</span> 510.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Esth.iv-p2">1 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote
Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set
his seat above all the princes that <i>were</i> with him.   2
And all the king's servants, that <i>were</i> in the king's gate,
bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded
concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did <i>him</i>
reverence.   3 Then the king's servants, which <i>were</i> in
the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the
king's commandment?   4 Now it came to pass, when they spake
daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told
Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had
told them that he <i>was</i> a Jew.   5 And when Haman saw
that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full
of wrath.   6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai
alone; for they had showed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore
Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that <i>were</i> throughout
the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, <i>even</i> the people of
Mordecai.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.iv-p3">Here we have,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.iv-p4">I. Haman advanced by the prince, and adored
thereupon by the people. Ahasuerus had lately laid Esther in his
bosom, but she had no such interest in him as to get her friends
preferred, or to prevent the preferring of one who she knew was an
enemy to her people. When those that are good become great they
still find that they cannot do good, nor prevent mischief, as they
would. This Haman was an Agagite (an Amalekite, says Josephus),
probably of the descendants of Agag, a common name of the princes
of Amalek, as appears, <scripRef id="Esth.iv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.24.7" parsed="|Num|24|7|0|0" passage="Nu 24:7">Num. xxiv.
7</scripRef>. Some think that he was by birth a prince, as
Jehoiakim was, whose seat was set above the rest of the captive
kings (<scripRef id="Esth.iv-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.28" parsed="|2Kgs|25|28|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:28">2 Kings xxv. 28</scripRef>),
as Haman's here was, <scripRef id="Esth.iv-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.1" parsed="|Esth|3|1|0|0" passage="Es 3:1"><i>v.</i>
1</scripRef>. The king took a fancy to him (princes are not bound
to give reasons for their favours), made him his favourite, his
confidant, his prime-minister of state. Such a commanding influence
the court then had that (contrary to the proverb) those whom it
blessed the country blessed too; for all men adored this rising
sun, and the king's servants were particularly commanded <i>to bow
before him and to do him reverence</i> (<scripRef id="Esth.iv-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.2" parsed="|Esth|3|2|0|0" passage="Es 3:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>), and they did so. I wonder what
the king saw in Haman that was commendable or meritorious; it is
plain that he was not a man of honour or justice, of any true
courage or steady conduct, but proud, and passionate, and
revengeful; yet was he promoted, and caressed, and there was none
so great as he. Princes' darlings are not always worthies.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.iv-p5">II. Mordecai adhering to his principles
with a bold and daring resolution, and therefore refusing to
reverence Haman as the rest of the king's servants did, <scripRef id="Esth.iv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.2" parsed="|Esth|3|2|0|0" passage="Es 3:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. He was urged to it by his
friends, who reminded him of the king's commandment, and
consequently of the danger he incurred if he refused to comply with
it; it was as much as his life was worth, especially considering
Haman's insolence, <scripRef id="Esth.iv-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.3" parsed="|Esth|3|3|0|0" passage="Es 3:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>. They <i>spoke daily to him</i> (<scripRef id="Esth.iv-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.4" parsed="|Esth|3|4|0|0" passage="Es 3:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>), to persuade him to conform, but
all in vain: he hearkened not to them, but told them plainly that
he was a Jew, and could not in conscience do it. Doubtless his
refusal, when it came to be taken notice of and made the subject of
discourse, was commonly attributed to pride and envy, that he would
not pay respect to Haman because, on the score of his alliance to
Esther, he was not himself as much promoted, or to a factious
seditious spirit and a disaffection to the king and his government;
those that would make the best of it looked upon it as his
weakness, or his want of breeding, called it a humour, and a piece
of affected singularity. It does not appear that any one scrupled
at conforming to it except Mordecai; and yet his refusal was pious,
conscientious, and pleasing to God, for the religion of a Jew
forbade him, 1. To give such extravagant honours as were required
to any mortal man, especially so wicked a man as Haman was. In the
apocryphal chapters of this book (<scripRef id="Esth.iv-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Esth.13.12-Esth.13.14" parsed="|Esth|13|12|13|14" passage="Es 13:12-14"><i>ch.</i> xiii. 12-14</scripRef>) Mordecai is
brought in thus appealing to God in this matter: <i>Thou knowest,
Lord, that it was neither in contempt nor pride, nor for any desire
of glory, that I did not bow down to proud Haman, for I could have
been content with good will, for the salvation of Israel, to kiss
the soles of his feet; but I did this that I might not prefer the
glory of man above the glory of God, neither will I worship any but
thee.</i> 2. He especially thought it a piece of injustice to his
nation to give such honour to an Amalekite, one of that devoted
nation with which God had sworn that he would have perpetual war
(<scripRef id="Esth.iv-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.17.16" parsed="|Exod|17|16|0|0" passage="Ex 17:16">Exod. xvii. 16</scripRef>) and
concerning which he had given that solemn charge (<scripRef id="Esth.iv-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.25.17" parsed="|Deut|25|17|0|0" passage="De 25:17">Deut. xxv. 17</scripRef>), <i>Remember what
Amalek did.</i> Though religion does by no means destroy good
manners, but teaches us to render <i>honour to whom honour</i> is
due, yet it is the character of a citizen of Zion that not only in
his heart, but <i>in his eyes,</i> such a <i>vile person as Haman
was is contemned,</i> <scripRef id="Esth.iv-p5.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.15.4" parsed="|Ps|15|4|0|0" passage="Ps 15:4">Ps. xv.
4</scripRef>. Let those who are governed by principles of
conscience be steady and resolute, however censured or threatened,
as Mordecai was.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.iv-p6">III. Haman meditating revenge. Some that
hoped thereby to curry favour with Haman took notice to him of
Mordecai's rudeness, waiting to see whether he would bend or break,
<scripRef id="Esth.iv-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.4" parsed="|Esth|3|4|0|0" passage="Es 3:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. Haman then
observed it himself, and was <i>full of wrath,</i> <scripRef id="Esth.iv-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.5" parsed="|Esth|3|5|0|0" passage="Es 3:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. A meek and humble man
would have slighted the affront, and have said, "Let him have his
humour; what am I the worse for it?" But it makes Haman's proud
spirit rage, and fret, and boil, within him, so that he becomes
uneasy to himself and all about him. It is soon resolved that
Mordecai must die. The head must come off that will not bow to
Haman; if he cannot have his honours, he will have his blood. It is
as penal in this court not to worship Haman as it was in
Nebuchadnezzar's not to worship the golden image which he had set
up. Mordecai is a person of quality, in a post of honour, and own
cousin to the queen; and yet Haman thinks his life nothing towards
a satisfaction for the affront: thousands of innocent and valuable
lives must be sacrificed to his indignation; and therefore he vows
the destruction of all the people of Mordecai, for his sake,
because his being a Jew was the reason he gave why he did not
reverence Haman. Herein appear Haman's intolerable pride,
insatiable cruelty, and the ancient antipathy of an Amalekite to
the Israel of God. Saul the son of Kish, a Benjamite, spared Agag,
but Mordecai the son of Kish, a Benjamite (<scripRef id="Esth.iv-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Esth.2.5" parsed="|Esth|2|5|0|0" passage="Es 2:5"><i>ch.</i> ii. 5</scripRef>), shall find no mercy with
this Agagite, whose design is to <i>destroy all the Jews throughout
the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus</i> (<scripRef id="Esth.iv-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.6" parsed="|Esth|3|6|0|0" passage="Es 3:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>), which, I suppose, would include
those that had returned to their own land, for that was now a
province of his kingdom. <i>Come and let us cut them off from being
a nation,</i> <scripRef id="Esth.iv-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.83.4" parsed="|Ps|83|4|0|0" passage="Ps 83:4">Ps. lxxxiii.
4</scripRef>. Nero's barbarous wish is his, that they had all but
one neck.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Esth.iv-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.7-Esth.3.15" parsed="|Esth|3|7|3|15" passage="Es 3:7-15" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Esth.3.7-Esth.3.15">
<h4 id="Esth.iv-p6.7">Haman Obtains Leave to Slay the
Jews. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Esth.iv-p6.8">b. c.</span> 510.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Esth.iv-p7">7 In the first month, that <i>is,</i> the month
Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that
<i>is,</i> the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to
month, <i>to</i> the twelfth <i>month,</i> that <i>is,</i> the
month Adar.   8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a
certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in
all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws <i>are</i> diverse
from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it
<i>is</i> not for the king's profit to suffer them.   9 If it
please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and
I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those
that have the charge of the business, to bring <i>it</i> into the
king's treasuries.   10 And the king took his ring from his
hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the
Jews' enemy.   11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver
<i>is</i> given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it
seemeth good to thee.   12 Then were the king's scribes called
on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written
according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's
lieutenants, and to the governors that <i>were</i> over every
province, and to the rulers of every people of every province
according to the writing thereof, and <i>to</i> every people after
their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and
sealed with the king's ring.   13 And the letters were sent by
posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to
cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and
women, in one day, <i>even</i> upon the thirteenth <i>day</i> of
the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and <i>to take</i> the
spoil of them for a prey.   14 The copy of the writing for a
commandment to be given in every province was published unto all
people, that they should be ready against that day.   15 The
posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the
decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat
down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.iv-p8">Haman values himself upon that bold and
daring thought, which he fancied well became his great spirit, of
destroying all the Jews—an undertaking worthy of its author, and
which he promised himself would perpetuate his memory. He doubts
not but to find desperate and bloody hands enough to cut all their
throats if the king will but give him leave. How he obtained leave,
and commission to do it, we are here told. He had the king's ear,
let him alone to manage him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.iv-p9">I. He makes a false and malicious
representation of Jews, and their character, to the king, <scripRef id="Esth.iv-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.8" parsed="|Esth|3|8|0|0" passage="Es 3:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. The enemies of God's
people could not give them such bad treatment as they do if they
did not first give them a bad name. He would have the king believe,
1. That the Jews were a despicable people, and that it was not for
his credit to harbour them:"<i>A certain people there is,</i>"
without name, as if nobody knew whence they came and what they
were; "they are not incorporated, <i>but scattered abroad and
dispersed in all the provinces</i> as fugitives and vagabonds on
the earth, and inmates in all countries, the burden and scandal of
the places where they live." 2. That they were a dangerous people,
and that it was not safe to harbour them. "They have laws and
usages of their own, and conform not to the statutes of the kingdom
and the customs of the country; and therefore they may be looked
upon as disaffected to the government and likely to infect others
with their singularities, which may end in a rebellion." It is no
new thing for the best of men to have such invidious characters as
these given of them; if it be no sin to kill them, it is no sin to
belie them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.iv-p10">II. He bids high for leave to destroy them
all, <scripRef id="Esth.iv-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.9" parsed="|Esth|3|9|0|0" passage="Es 3:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. He knew
there were many that hated the Jews, and would willingly fall upon
them if they might but have a commission: <i>Let it be written</i>
therefore <i>that they may be destroyed.</i> Give but orders for a
general massacre of all the Jews, and Haman will undertake it shall
be easily done. If the king will gratify him in this matter, he
will make him a present of <i>ten thousand talents,</i> which shall
be <i>paid into the king's treasuries.</i> This, he thought, would
be a powerful inducement to the king to consent, and would obviate
the strongest objection against him, which was that the government
must needs sustain loss in its revenues by the destruction of so
many of its subjects; so great a sum, he hoped, would be equivalent
for that. Proud and malicious men will not stick at the expenses of
their revenge, nor spare any cost to gratify it. Yet no doubt Haman
knew how to re-imburse himself out of the spoil of the Jews, which
his janizaries were to seize for him (<scripRef id="Esth.iv-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.13" parsed="|Esth|3|13|0|0" passage="Es 3:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>), and so to make them bear the
charges of their own ruin; while he himself hoped to be not only a
saver but a gainer by the bargain.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.iv-p11">III. He obtains what he desired, a full
commission to do what he would with the Jews, <scripRef id="Esth.iv-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.10-Esth.3.11" parsed="|Esth|3|10|3|11" passage="Es 3:10,11"><i>v.</i> 10, 11</scripRef>. The king was so
inattentive to business, and so bewitched with Haman, that he took
no time to examine the truth of his allegations, but was as willing
as Haman could wish to believe the worst concerning the Jews, and
therefore he gave them up into his hands, as lambs to the lion:
<i>The people are thine, do with them as it seemeth good unto
thee.</i> He does not say, "Kill them, slay them" (hoping Haman's
own cooler thoughts would abate the rigour of that sentence and
induce him to sell them for slaves); but "Do what thou wilt with
them." And so little did he consider how much he should lose in his
tribute, and how much Haman would gain in the spoil, that he gave
him withal the ten thousand talents: <i>The silver is thine.</i>
Such an implicit confidence likewise he had in Haman, and so
perfectly had he abandoned all care of his kingdom, that he gave
Haman his ring, his privy-seal, or sign-manual, wherewith to
confirm whatever edict he pleased to draw up for this purpose.
Miserable is the kingdom that is at the disposal of such a head as
this, which has one ear only, and a nose to be led by, but neither
eyes nor brains, nor scarcely a tongue of its own.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.iv-p12">IV. He then consults with his soothsayers
to find out a lucky day for the designed massacre, <scripRef id="Esth.iv-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.7" parsed="|Esth|3|7|0|0" passage="Es 3:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. The resolve was taken up
in the first month, in the twelfth year of the king, when Esther
had been his wife about five years. Some day or other in that year
must be pitched upon; and, as if he doubted not but that Heaven
would favour his design and further it, he refers it to <i>the
lot,</i> that is, to the divine Providence, to choose the day for
him; but that, in the decision, proved a better friend to the Jews
than to him, for the lot fell upon <i>the twelfth month,</i> so
that Mordecai and Esther had eleven months to turn themselves in
for the defeating of the design, or, if they could not defeat it,
space would be left for the Jews to make their escape and shift for
their safety. Haman, though eager to have the Jews cut off, yet
will submit to the laws of his superstition, and not anticipate the
supposed fortunate day, no, not to gratify his impatient revenge.
Probably he was in some fear lest the Jews should prove too hard
for their enemies, and therefore durst not venture on such a
hazardous enterprise but under the smiles of a good omen. This may
shame us, who often acquiesce not in the directions and disposals
of Providence when they cross our desires and intentions. He that
believeth the lot, much more that believeth the promise, will not
make haste. But see how God's wisdom serves its own purposes by
men's folly. Haman has appealed to the lot, and to the lot he shall
go, which, by adjourning the execution, gives judgment against him
and breaks the neck of the plot.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.iv-p13">V. The bloody edict is hereupon drawn up,
signed, and published, giving orders to the militia of every
province to be ready against <i>the thirteenth day of the twelfth
month,</i> and, on that day, to murder all the Jews, men, women,
and children, and seize their effects, <scripRef id="Esth.iv-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.12-Esth.3.14" parsed="|Esth|3|12|3|14" passage="Es 3:12-14"><i>v.</i> 12-14</scripRef>. Had the decree been to
banish all the Jews and expel them out of the king's dominions, it
would have been severe enough; but surely never any act of cruelty
appeared so barefaced as this, to <i>destroy, to kill, and to cause
to perish, all the Jews,</i> appointing them <i>as sheep for the
slaughter</i> without showing any cause for so doing. No crime is
laid to their charge; it is not pretended that they were obnoxious
to the public justice, nor is any condition offered, upon
performance of which they might have their lives spared; but die
they must, without mercy. Thus have the church's enemies thirsted
after blood, the <i>blood of the saints and the martyrs of</i>
Jesus, and drunk of it till they have been perfectly intoxicated
(<scripRef id="Esth.iv-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.17.6" parsed="|Rev|17|6|0|0" passage="Re 17:6">Rev. xvii. 6</scripRef>); yet still,
like <i>the horse-leech,</i> they cry, <i>Give, give.</i> This
cruel offer is ratified with the king's seal, directed to the
king's lieutenants, and drawn up in the king's name, and yet the
king knows not what he does. Posts are sent out, with all
expedition, to carry copies of the decree to the respective
provinces, <scripRef id="Esth.iv-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.15" parsed="|Esth|3|15|0|0" passage="Es 3:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. See
how restless the malice of the church's enemies is: it will spare
no pains; it will lose no time.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Esth.iv-p14">VI. The different temper of the court and
city hereupon. 1. The court was very merry upon it: <i>The king and
Haman sat down to drink,</i> perhaps to drink "Confusion to all the
Jews." Haman was afraid lest the king's conscience should smite him
for what he had done and he should begin to wish it undone again,
to prevent which he engrossed him to himself, and kept him
drinking. This cursed method many take to drown their convictions,
and harden their own hearts and the hearts of others in sin. 2. The
city was very sad upon it (and the other cities of the kingdom, no
doubt, when they had notice of it): <i>The city Shushan was
perplexed,</i> not only the Jews themselves, but all their
neighbours that had any principles of justice and compassion. It
grieved them to see their king so abused, to see <i>wickedness in
the place of judgment</i> (<scripRef id="Esth.iv-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.3.16" parsed="|Eccl|3|16|0|0" passage="Ec 3:16">Eccl. iii.
16</scripRef>), to see men that lived peaceably treated so
barbarously; and what would be the consequences of it to themselves
they knew not. But the king and Haman cared for none of these
things. Note, It is an absurd and impious thing to indulge
ourselves in mirth and pleasure when the church is in distress and
the public are perplexed.</p>
</div></div2>