CHAPTER VI _That night the king, not being able to sleep, orders the_ _chronicles of the kingdom to be read to him; and finds there_ _the record concerning the discovery of the treason of the_ two _eunuchs, made by Mordecai_, 1, 2. _He inquires whether Mordecai had been rewarded, and was answer... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Esther 6:3. _WHAT HONOUR AND DIGNITY HATH BEEN DONE TO MORDECAI_] It is certain he found nothing in the record; and had any thing been done, that was the most likely place to find it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Esther 6:4. _WHO IS IN THE COURT?_] This accords with the _dream_ mentioned by the Targum; and given above. _NOW HAMAN WAS COME_] This must have been very _early_ in the morning. Haman's pride and revenge were both on the tenters to be gratified.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Esther 6:6. _THE KING SAID UNTO HIM_] He did not give him time to make his request; and put a question to him which, at the first view, promised him all that his heart could wish.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Esther 6:8. _LET THE ROYAL APPAREL BE BROUGHT_] _Pride_ and _folly_ ever go hand in hand. What he asked would have been in any ordinary case against his own life: but he wished to reach the pinnacle of honour: never reflecting that the higher he rose, the more terrible would be his fall. The _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Esther 6:9. _ONE OF THE KING'S MOST NOBLE PRINCES_] Alas, Poor Haman! Never was the fable of the _dog and shadow_ more literally fulfilled. Thou didst gape at the _shadow_, and didst lose the _substance_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Esther 6:10. _MAKE HASTE_, AND _TAKE THE APPAREL - AND DO EVEN SO TO_ _MORDECAI_] O mortifying reverse of human fortune! How could Haman bear this? The _Targumist might_ speak according to _nature_ when he said that "Haman besought the king to kill him rather than degrade him so." How astonish... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Esther 6:12. _MORDECAI CAME AGAIN TO THE KING'S GATE_] He resumed his former humble state; while Haman, ashamed to look up, _covered his_ _face_, and ran home to hide himself in his own house. _Covering the_ _head and face_ was a sign of _shame_ and _confusion_, as well as of _grief_, among mo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Esther 6:13. _BUT SHALT SURELY FALL BEFORE HIM._] The _Septuagint_ adds, ὁτι ὁ Θεος ὁ ζων μετ' αυτου, _for the living God is with him_. But this is a sentiment that could scarcely be expected to proceed from the mouth of _heathens_, such as these were.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Esther 6:14. _HASTED TO BRING HAMAN_] There was a dreadful banquet before him, of which he knew nothing: and he could have little appetite to enjoy that which he knew was prepared at the palace of Esther. ONE grand design of this history is, to show that he who lays a snare for the life of hi... [ Continue Reading ]