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. Ver. 1. _On that night_] That very night before Mordecai should have been hanged on the morrow morning, and so early that Esther could not have begged his lif... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 2. _And it was found written_] It was God who directed the reader to that very place; like as he did the eunuch to Isa... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 3. _And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this?_] Lyra saith that he had waited six years f... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king said, Who [is] 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. Ver. 4. _And the king said, Who is in the court_] Josephus saith, that he first asked what time it was, and u... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in._ Ver. 5. _Behold, Haman standeth in the court_] For into the presence he might not come uncalled. And to be thus called in he held it no small happiness; but was soon confuted. He came i... [ Continue Reading ]
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? Ver. 6. _So Haman came in_] Merry and pleasent, but went out sad and heavy hearted. Thes... [ Continue Reading ]
And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, Ver. 7. _And Haman answered the king_] After a short pause, he had his answer ready; but making a bridge of his own shadow, he soon fell into the brook. Ambition rideth without reins, and like those horses, Amo 6:11 runnet... [ Continue Reading ]
Let the royal apparel be brought which the king [useth] to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: Ver. 8. _Let the royal apparel be brought, &c._] This was very glorious and gorgeous; as is to be seen in Xenophon, Plutarch, Lucian, Dion, Chrys... [ Continue Reading ]
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 [withal] 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... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, [and] 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. Ver. 10. _Then the king said to Haman_] The king had no intent herein to ensnare Hama... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 11. _Then took Haman the apparel, &c._] Full sore against stomach be s... [ Continue Reading ]
And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. Ver. 12. And Mordecai came again to the king's gate] No whit overjoyed by his new honour, or thereby (as many would have been - a small wind bloweth up a bubble), only he conceiveth hope... [ Continue Reading ]
And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every [thing] that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai [be] 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. Ver. 13.... [ Continue Reading ]
And while they [were] yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared. Ver. 14. _And while they were yet talking with him_] But could not yield him one word of comfort. He hoped haply that they would have found out for him some... [ Continue Reading ]