_A.M. 3494. B.C. 510._ Providence recommends Mordecai to the king's favour, Esther 6:1. Haman is constrained publicly to honour him through the city, Esther 6:4. His friends foretel his doom, Esther 6:12; Esther 6:13. He goes to the banquet, Esther 6:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
_On that night could not the king sleep_ How vain are all the contrivances of foolish man against the wise and omnipotent God, who hath the hearts and hands of kings and all men perfectly at his disposal, and can by such trivial accidents (as they are accounted) change their minds, and produce such... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is nothing done for him_ He hath had no recompense for this great and good service. _The king said, Who is in the court_ It is likely it was now morning, when the courtiers used to be in waiting; and the king is so impatient to have Mordecai honoured, that he sends to know who was come, that... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king said, Let him come in_ The king thought him the fittest man he had to be made use of, both in directing and in dispensing his favour, knowing nothing of any quarrel he had with Mordecai. _So Haman came in_ Proud of the honour done him, in being admitted into the king's bed-chamber, before... [ Continue Reading ]
_Haman answered, Let the royal apparel_, &c. Concluding he himself was the favourite intended, he prescribes the highest instances of honour that could for once be bestowed upon a subject; nay, he names honours too great to be conferred on any subject. _Which the king useth to wear_, &c. Namely, the... [ Continue Reading ]
_And let this apparel, &c., be delivered to one of the king's most noble princes_ To be his attendant. _And bring him on horseback through the city_ That all the people may be made to take notice of him, and do him reverence. _And proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done_, &c. For his honour, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king said, Do even so to Mordecai the Jew_ If the king had but said as Haman expected, _Thou art the man_, what a fair opportunity would be have had to perform the errand he came on, and to have requested, that, to grace the solemnity of his triumph, Mordecai, his sworn enemy, might be hanged a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Haman took the apparel_ The king's words undoubtedly produced great commotion in his breast, but he durst not dispute, nor so much as seem to dislike the king's order; but, though with the greatest regret and reluctance imaginable, brings the apparel, &c, to Mordecai, who, we may suppose, did... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said his wise men_ The magicians, whom, after the Persian manner, he had called together, to consult upon this strange emergency. _If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews_ Which they were told, and it was generally supposed he was, but of which they were not infallibly sure; _before whom thou h... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king's chamberlains hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet_ Who was now slack to go thither, by reason of the great dejection of his own mind, and the fear of a worse entertainment from the king and queen than he had formerly received.... [ Continue Reading ]