When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; Ver. 1. _When Mordecai perceived all that was done_] Mαθων το γινομενον, saith Josephus, when he had learned or ful... [ Continue Reading ]
And came even before the king's gate: for none [might] enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. Ver. 2. And came even before the king's gate] Which should have been always open to poor petitioners (as the gate of the Roman Aedilis was), but was now shut against such mourners as Mordecai.... [ Continue Reading ]
And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, [there was] great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. Ver. 3. _And in every province_] Heb. In every province, and province, &c., not only in Shushan, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told [it] her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received [it] not. Ver. 4. So Esther's maids came and told it her] She herself (say interpreters) was kept... [ Continue Reading ]
Then called Esther for Hatach, [one] of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it [was], and why it [was]. Ver. 5. _Then called Esther for Hatach_] She snuffeth not at Mordecai's refusal of her courtesy. She saith not,... [ Continue Reading ]
So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which [was] before the king's gate. Ver. 6. _So Hatach went forth to Mordecai_] He was obedient to his queen mistress, pleasing her in all things, not answering again, Titus 2:10, unless it were, I will, or the like. _Servus sit monosyll... [ Continue Reading ]
And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. Ver. 7. _And Mordecai told him all that had happened unto him_] Not by fate or blind fortune, κατα συγκυριαν (and yet time and... [ Continue Reading ]
Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew [it] unto Esther, and to declare [it] unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people. Ver. 8. _Als... [ Continue Reading ]
And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. Ver. 9. _And Hatach came and told Esther_] He acted the part of a faithful messenger: so must ministers, those servants of the Churches, declare unto the people all the mind of God, Acts 20:27, and not steal God's word every one from his neighb... [ Continue Reading ]
Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; Ver. 10. _Again Esther spake unto Hatack_] Having before found him a fit and faithful messenger, she further employeth him; so those that minister well do purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith wh... [ Continue Reading ]
All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, [there is] one law of his to put [him] to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he m... [ Continue Reading ]
And they told to Mordecai Esther's words. Ver. 12. And they told to Mordecai Esther's words] _See Trapp on "_ Est 4:9 _"_ She would have been her own messenger, but might not. The greatest are not always the happiest. The Lady Elizabeth once wished herself a merry milk maid.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. Ver. 13. _Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther_] He would not take her excuse, but seems to say unto her, as one once did to a philosopher (Aul. Gell.), that in a... [ Continue Reading ]
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, [then] shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for [such] a time as this? Ver. 14. _But if thou altog... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Esther bade [them] return Mordecai [this answer], Ver. 15. _Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer_] A sweet answer, and such as fully satisfied him. No man's labour can be in vain in the Lord. Good therefore and worthy of all acceptation is the wise man's counsel: "In the morning s... [ Continue Reading ]
Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which [is] not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. Ver. 16. _Go, gather tog... [ Continue Reading ]
So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him. Ver. 17. _So Mordecai went his way, and did according, &c._] As he had put her upon a dangerous, but, as the cause stood, necessary, exploit (nature will venture its own particular good for the general, as heavy thing... [ Continue Reading ]