287 lines
20 KiB
XML
287 lines
20 KiB
XML
<div2 id="Esth.vi" n="vi" next="Esth.vii" prev="Esth.v" progress="98.36%" title="Chapter V">
|
||
<h2 id="Esth.vi-p0.1">E S T H E R</h2>
|
||
<h3 id="Esth.vi-p0.2">CHAP. V.</h3>
|
||
<p class="intro" id="Esth.vi-p1">The last news we had of Haman left him in his
|
||
cups, <scripRef id="Esth.vi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.3.15" parsed="|Esth|3|15|0|0" passage="Es 3:15"><i>ch.</i> iii. 15</scripRef>.
|
||
Our last news of queen Esther left her in tears, fasting and
|
||
praying. Now this chapter brings in, I. Esther in her joys, smiled
|
||
upon by the king and honoured with his company at her banquet of
|
||
wine, <scripRef id="Esth.vi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Esth.5.1-Esth.5.8" parsed="|Esth|5|1|5|8" passage="Es 5:1-8">ver. 1-8</scripRef>. II. Haman
|
||
upon the fret, because he had not Mordecai's cap and knee, and with
|
||
great indignation setting up a gallows for him, <scripRef id="Esth.vi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Esth.5.9-Esth.5.14" parsed="|Esth|5|9|5|14" passage="Es 5:9-14">ver. 9-14</scripRef>. Thus those that sow in tears
|
||
shall reap in joy, but the triumphing of the wicked is short.</p>
|
||
<scripCom id="Esth.vi-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.5" parsed="|Esth|5|0|0|0" passage="Es 5" type="Commentary"/>
|
||
<scripCom id="Esth.vi-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.5.1-Esth.5.8" parsed="|Esth|5|1|5|8" passage="Es 5:1-8" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Esth.5.1-Esth.5.8">
|
||
<h4 id="Esth.vi-p1.6">Esther's Approach to the
|
||
King. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Esth.vi-p1.7">b. c.</span> 510.)</h4>
|
||
<p class="passage" id="Esth.vi-p2">1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that
|
||
Esther put on <i>her</i> royal <i>apparel,</i> and stood in the
|
||
inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and
|
||
the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against
|
||
the gate of the house. 2 And it was so, when the king saw
|
||
Esther the queen standing in the court, <i>that</i> she obtained
|
||
favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden
|
||
sceptre that <i>was</i> in his hand. So Esther drew near, and
|
||
touched the top of the sceptre. 3 Then said the king unto
|
||
her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what <i>is</i> thy request?
|
||
it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom. 4
|
||
And Esther answered, If <i>it seem</i> good unto the king, let the
|
||
king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared
|
||
for him. 5 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste,
|
||
that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to
|
||
the banquet that Esther had prepared. 6 And the king said
|
||
unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What <i>is</i> thy petition?
|
||
and it shall be granted thee: and what <i>is</i> thy request? even
|
||
to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. 7 Then
|
||
answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request <i>is;</i>
|
||
8 If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it
|
||
please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request,
|
||
let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for
|
||
them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vi-p3">Here is, I. Esther's bold approach to the
|
||
king, <scripRef id="Esth.vi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.5.1" parsed="|Esth|5|1|0|0" passage="Es 5:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. When the
|
||
time appointed for their fast was finished she lost no time, but on
|
||
the third day, when the impression of her devotions were fresh upon
|
||
her spirit, she addressed the king. When the heart is enlarged in
|
||
communion with God it will be emboldened in doing and suffering for
|
||
him. Some think that the three days' fast was only one whole day
|
||
and two whole nights, in all which time they did not take any food
|
||
at all, and that this is called <i>three days,</i> as Christ's
|
||
lying in the grave so long is. This exposition is favoured by the
|
||
consideration that on the third day the queen made her appearance
|
||
at court. Resolutions which have difficulties and dangers to break
|
||
though should be pursued without delay, lest they cool and slacken.
|
||
<i>What thou doest,</i> which must be done boldly, <i>do it
|
||
quickly.</i> Now she <i>put on her royal apparel,</i> that she
|
||
might the better recommend herself to the king, and laid aside her
|
||
fast-day clothes. She put on her fine clothes, not to please
|
||
herself, but her husband; in her prayer, as we find in the
|
||
Apocrypha (<scripRef id="Esth.vi-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Esth.14.16" parsed="|Esth|14|16|0|0" passage="Esther xiv. 16">Esther xiv. 16</scripRef>), she thus appeals to God: <i>Thou
|
||
knowest, Lord, I abhor the sign of my high estate which is upon my
|
||
head, in the days wherein I show myself, &c.</i> Let hose whose
|
||
rank obliges them to wear rich clothes learn hence to be dead to
|
||
them, and not make them their adorning. She stood <i>in the inner
|
||
court over against the king,</i> expecting her doom, between hope
|
||
and fear.</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vi-p4">II. The favourable reception which the king
|
||
gave her. When he <i>saw her</i> she <i>obtained favour in his
|
||
sight.</i> The apocryphal author and Josephus say that she took two
|
||
maids with her, on one of whom she leaned, while the other bore up
|
||
her train,—that her countenance was cheerful and very amiable, but
|
||
her heart was in anguish,—that the king, lifting up his
|
||
countenance that shone with majesty, at first looked very fiercely
|
||
upon her, whereupon she grew pale, and fainted, and bowed herself
|
||
on the head of the maid that went by her; but then God changed the
|
||
spirit of the king, and, in a fear, he leaped from his throne, took
|
||
her in his arms till she came to herself, and comforted her with
|
||
loving words. Here we are only told,</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vi-p5">1. That he protected her from the law, and
|
||
assured her of safety, by <i>holding out to her the golden
|
||
sceptre</i> (<scripRef id="Esth.vi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.5.2" parsed="|Esth|5|2|0|0" passage="Es 5:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>),
|
||
which she thankfully <i>touched the top of,</i> thereby presenting
|
||
herself to him as a humble petitioner. Thus having had power with
|
||
God and prevailed, like Jacob, she had power with men too. <i>He
|
||
that will lose his life</i> for God shall <i>save it,</i> or find
|
||
it in a better life.</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vi-p6">2. That he encouraged her address
|
||
(<scripRef id="Esth.vi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.5.3" parsed="|Esth|5|3|0|0" passage="Es 5:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>): <i>What wilt
|
||
thou, queen Esther, and what is thy request?</i> So far was he from
|
||
counting her an offender that he seemed glad to see her, and
|
||
desirous to oblige her. He that had divorced one wife for not
|
||
coming when she was sent for would not be severe to another for
|
||
coming when she was not sent for. God can turn the hearts of men,
|
||
of great men, of those that act most arbitrarily, which way he
|
||
pleases towards us. Esther feared that she should perish, but was
|
||
promised that she should have what she might ask for, though it
|
||
were <i>the half of the kingdom.</i> Note, God in his providence
|
||
often prevents the fears, and outdoes the hopes, of his people,
|
||
especially when they venture in his cause. Let us from this story
|
||
infer, as our Saviour does from the parable of the unjust judge, an
|
||
encouragement to <i>pray always</i> to our God, <i>and not
|
||
faint,</i> <scripRef id="Esth.vi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.18.6-Luke.18.8" parsed="|Luke|18|6|18|8" passage="Lu 18:6-8">Luke xviii.
|
||
6-8</scripRef>. Hear what this haughty king says (<i>What is thy
|
||
petition, and what is thy request? It shall be granted thee</i>),
|
||
and say <i>shall not God</i> hear and answer the prayers of <i>his
|
||
own elect, that cry day and night to him?</i> Esther came to a
|
||
proud imperious man; we come to the God of love and grace. She was
|
||
not called; we are: the Spirit says, <i>Come,</i> and the bride
|
||
says, <i>Come.</i> She had a law against her; we have a promise,
|
||
many a promise, in favour of us: <i>Ask, and it shall be given
|
||
you.</i> She had no friend to introduce her, or intercede for her,
|
||
while on the contrary he that was then the king's favourite was her
|
||
enemy; but we have an advocate with the Father, in whom he is well
|
||
pleased. <i>Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of
|
||
grace.</i></p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vi-p7">3. That all the request she had to make to
|
||
him, at this time, was that he would please to come to a banquet
|
||
which she had prepared for him, and bring Haman along with him,
|
||
<scripRef id="Esth.vi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.5.4-Esth.5.5" parsed="|Esth|5|4|5|5" passage="Es 5:4,5"><i>v.</i> 4, 5</scripRef>. Hereby,
|
||
(1.) She would intimate to him how much she valued his favour and
|
||
company. Whatever she had to ask, she desired his favour above any
|
||
thing, and would purchase it at any rate. (2.) She would try how he
|
||
stood affected to her; for, if he should refuse this, it would be
|
||
to no purpose as yet to present her other request. (3.) She would
|
||
endeavour to bring him into a pleasant humour, and soften his
|
||
spirit, that he might with the more tenderness receive the
|
||
impressions of the complaint she had to make to him. (4.) She would
|
||
please him, by making court to Haman his favourite, and inviting
|
||
him to come whose company she knew he loved and whom she desired to
|
||
have present when she made her complaint; for she would say nothing
|
||
of him but what she durst say to his face. (5.) She hoped at the
|
||
banquet of wine to have a fairer and more favourable opportunity of
|
||
presenting her petition. Wisdom is profitable to direct how to
|
||
manage some men that are hard to deal with, and to take them by the
|
||
right handle.</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vi-p8">4. That he readily came, and ordered Haman
|
||
to come along with him (<scripRef id="Esth.vi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.5.5" parsed="|Esth|5|5|0|0" passage="Es 5:5"><i>v.</i>
|
||
5</scripRef>), which was an indication of the kindness he still
|
||
retained for her; if he really designed the destruction of her and
|
||
her people, he would not have accepted her banquet. There he
|
||
renewed his kind enquiry (<i>What is thy petition?</i>) and his
|
||
generous promise, that it should be granted, <i>even to the half of
|
||
the kingdom</i> (<scripRef id="Esth.vi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Esth.5.6" parsed="|Esth|5|6|0|0" passage="Es 5:6"><i>v.</i>
|
||
6</scripRef>), a proverbial expression, by which he assured her
|
||
that he would deny her nothing in reason. Herod used it, <scripRef id="Esth.vi-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Mark.6.23" parsed="|Mark|6|23|0|0" passage="Mk 6:23">Mark vi. 23</scripRef>.</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vi-p9">5. That then Esther thought fit to ask no
|
||
more than a promise that he would please to accept of another
|
||
treat, the next day, in her apartment, and Haman with him
|
||
(<scripRef id="Esth.vi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.5.7-Esth.5.8" parsed="|Esth|5|7|5|8" passage="Es 5:7,8"><i>v.</i> 7, 8</scripRef>),
|
||
intimating to him that then she would let him know what her
|
||
business was. This adjourning of the main petition may be
|
||
attributed, (1.) To Esther's prudence; thus she hoped yet further
|
||
to win upon him and ingratiate herself with him. Perhaps her heart
|
||
failed her now when she was going to make her request, and she
|
||
desired to take some further time for prayer, that God would give
|
||
her <i>a mouth and wisdom.</i> The putting of it off thus, it is
|
||
likely, she knew would be well taken as an expression of the great
|
||
reverence she had for the king, and her unwillingness to be too
|
||
pressing upon him. What is hastily asked is often as hastily
|
||
denied; but what is asked with a pause deserves to be considered.
|
||
(2.) To God's providence putting it into Esther's heart to delay
|
||
her petition a day longer, she knew not why, but God did, that what
|
||
was to happen in the night intervening between this and to-morrow
|
||
might further her design and make way for her success, that Haman
|
||
might arrive at the highest pitch of malice against Mordecai and
|
||
might begin to <i>fall before him.</i> The Jews perhaps blamed
|
||
Ester as dilatory, and some of them began to suspect her sincerity,
|
||
or at least her zeal; but the event disproved their jealousy, and
|
||
all was for the best.</p>
|
||
</div><scripCom id="Esth.vi-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:Esth.5.9-Esth.5.14" parsed="|Esth|5|9|5|14" passage="Es 5:9-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Esth.5.9-Esth.5.14">
|
||
<h4 id="Esth.vi-p9.3">Haman's Joy and Chagrin; Haman's Mediated
|
||
Revenge. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Esth.vi-p9.4">b. c.</span> 510.)</h4>
|
||
<p class="passage" id="Esth.vi-p10">9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with
|
||
a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that
|
||
he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation
|
||
against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself:
|
||
and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and
|
||
Zeresh his wife. 11 And Haman told them of the glory of his
|
||
riches, and the multitude of his children, and all <i>the
|
||
things</i> wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had
|
||
advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. 12
|
||
Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in
|
||
with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself;
|
||
and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king. 13
|
||
Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew
|
||
sitting at the king's gate. 14 Then said Zeresh his wife and
|
||
all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits
|
||
high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be
|
||
hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the
|
||
banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to
|
||
be made.</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vi-p11">This account here given of Haman is a
|
||
comment upon that of Solomon, <scripRef id="Esth.vi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Prov.21.24" parsed="|Prov|21|24|0|0" passage="Pr 21:24">Prov.
|
||
xxi. 24</scripRef>. <i>Proud and haughty scorner is his name that
|
||
deals in proud wrath.</i> Never did any man more answer that name
|
||
than Haman, in whom pride and wrath had so much the ascendant. See
|
||
him,</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vi-p12">I. Puffed up with the honour of being
|
||
invited to Esther's feast. He was <i>joyful and glad of heart</i>
|
||
at it, <scripRef id="Esth.vi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.5.9" parsed="|Esth|5|9|0|0" passage="Es 5:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. Observe
|
||
with what a high gust he speaks of it (<scripRef id="Esth.vi-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Esth.5.12" parsed="|Esth|5|12|0|0" passage="Es 5:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), how he values himself upon it,
|
||
and how near he thinks it brings him to the perfection of felicity,
|
||
that Esther the queen did let no man come with the king to the
|
||
banquet but his mighty self, and he thought it was because she was
|
||
exceedingly charmed with his conversation that the next day she had
|
||
invited him also to come with the king; none so fit as he to bear
|
||
the king company. Note, Self-admirers and self-flatterers are
|
||
really self-deceivers. Haman pleased himself with the fancy that
|
||
the queen, by this repeated invitation, designed to honour him,
|
||
whereas really she designed to accuse him, and, in calling him to
|
||
the banquet, did but call him to the bar. What magnifying glasses
|
||
do proud men look at their faces in! And how does the <i>pride of
|
||
their heart deceive them!</i> <scripRef id="Esth.vi-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Obad.1.3" parsed="|Obad|1|3|0|0" passage="Ob 1:3">Obad.
|
||
3</scripRef>.</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vi-p13">II. Vexing and fretting at the slight that
|
||
Mordecai put upon him, and thereby made uneasy to himself and to
|
||
all about him. 1. Mordecai was as determined as ever: <i>He stood
|
||
not up, nor moved for him,</i> <scripRef id="Esth.vi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.5.9" parsed="|Esth|5|9|0|0" passage="Es 5:9"><i>v.</i>
|
||
9</scripRef>. What he did was from a principle of conscience, and
|
||
therefore he persevered in it, and would not cringe to Haman, no,
|
||
not when he had reason to fear him and Esther herself complimented
|
||
him. He knew God could and would deliver him and his people from
|
||
the rage of Haman, without any such mean and sneaking expedients to
|
||
mollify him. Those that walk in holy sincerity may walk in holy
|
||
security, and go on in their work, not fearing what man can do unto
|
||
them. <i>He that walks uprightly walks surely.</i> 2. Haman can as
|
||
ill bear it as ever; nay, the higher he is lifted up, the more
|
||
impatient is he of contempt and the more enraged at it. (1.) It
|
||
made his own spirit restless, and put him into a grievous
|
||
agitation. He was <i>full of indignation</i> (<scripRef id="Esth.vi-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Esth.5.9" parsed="|Esth|5|9|0|0" passage="Es 5:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>) and yet <i>refrained himself,</i>
|
||
<scripRef id="Esth.vi-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Esth.5.10" parsed="|Esth|5|10|0|0" passage="Es 5:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. Gladly would
|
||
he have drawn his sword and run Mordecai through for affronting him
|
||
thus; but he hoped shortly to see him fall with all the Jews, and
|
||
therefore with much ado prevailed with himself to forbear stabbing
|
||
him. What a struggle had he in his own bosom between his anger,
|
||
which required Mordecai's death immediately (<i>O that I had of his
|
||
flesh! I cannot be satisfied!</i> <scripRef id="Esth.vi-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Job.31.31" parsed="|Job|31|31|0|0" passage="Job 31:31">Job
|
||
xxxi. 31</scripRef>), and his malice, which had determined to wait
|
||
for the general massacre! Thus <i>thorns and snares are in the way
|
||
of the froward.</i> (2.) It made all his enjoyments sapless. This
|
||
little affront which he received from Mordecai was the dead fly
|
||
which spoiled all his pot of precious ointment; he himself owned in
|
||
the presence of his wife and friends, to the everlasting reproach
|
||
of a proud and discontented mind, that he had no comfort in his
|
||
estate, preferment, and family, as long as Mordecai lived and had a
|
||
place <i>in the king's gate,</i> <scripRef id="Esth.vi-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:Esth.5.10-Esth.5.13" parsed="|Esth|5|10|5|13" passage="Es 5:10-13"><i>v.</i> 10-13</scripRef>. He took notice of his own
|
||
riches and honours, the numerousness of his family, and the high
|
||
posts to which he was advanced, that he was the darling of the
|
||
prince and the idol of the court; and <i>yet all this avails him
|
||
nothing</i> as long as Mordecai is unhanged. Those that are
|
||
disposed to be uneasy will never want something or other to be
|
||
uneasy at; and proud men, though they have <i>much</i> to their
|
||
mind, yet, if they have not <i>all</i> to their mind, it is as
|
||
nothing to them. The thousandth part of what Haman had would serve
|
||
to make a humble modest man as much of a happiness as he expects
|
||
from this world; and yet Haman complained as passionately as if he
|
||
had been sunk into the lowest degree of poverty and disgrace.</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="Esth.vi-p14">III. Meditating revenge, and assisted
|
||
therein by his wife and his friends, <scripRef id="Esth.vi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Esth.5.14" parsed="|Esth|5|14|0|0" passage="Es 5:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. They saw how gladly he would
|
||
dispense with his own resolution of deferring the slaughter till
|
||
the time determined by the lot, and therefore advised him to take
|
||
an earnest and foretaste of the satisfaction he then expected in
|
||
the speedy execution of Mordecai; let him have that to please him
|
||
at the moment; and having, as he thought, made sure the destruction
|
||
of all the Jews, at the time appointed, he will not think scorn,
|
||
for the present, to lay hands on Mordecai alone. 1. For the
|
||
pleasing of his fancy they advise him to get <i>a gallows
|
||
ready,</i> and have it set up before his own door, that, as soon as
|
||
ever he could get the warrant signed, there might be no delay of
|
||
the execution; he would not need so much as to stay the making of
|
||
the gallows. This is very agreeable to Haman, who has the gallows
|
||
made and fixed immediately; it must be fifty cubits high, or as
|
||
near that as might be, for the greater disgrace of Mordecai and to
|
||
make him a spectacle to every one that passed by; and it must be
|
||
before Haman's door, that all men might take notice it was to the
|
||
idol of his revenge that Mordecai was sacrificed and that he might
|
||
feed his eyes with the sight. 2. For the gaining of his point they
|
||
advise him to go early in the morning to the king, and get an order
|
||
from him for the hanging of Mordecai, which, they doubted not,
|
||
would be readily granted to one who was so much the king's
|
||
favourite and who had so easily obtained an edict for the
|
||
destruction of the whole nation of the Jews. There needed no
|
||
feigned suggestion; it was enough if he let the king know that
|
||
Mordecai, in contempt of the king's command, refused to reverence
|
||
him. And now we leave Haman to go to bed, pleased with the thoughts
|
||
of seeing Mordecai hanged the next day, and then going merrily to
|
||
the banquet, and not dreaming of handselling his own gallows.</p>
|
||
</div></div2> |