INTRODUCTION TO ESTHER 6 Ahasuerus, not being able to sleep in the night, ordered the book of records to be brought and read to him, where a fact of Mordecai's was registered, and, upon inquiry, it appeared that nothing had been done to him for it, Esther 6:1 and Haman being in the outward court, w... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THAT NIGHT COULD NOT THE KING SLEEP,.... The night after he had been at Esther's banquet, which it might be thought would rather have caused sleep; and therefore Jarchi calls it a miracle; and no doubt it was owing to the overruling providence of God, and not to anxious thoughts about his neglect... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT WAS FOUND WRITTEN,.... Upon reading, and in which there was also a peculiar hand of Providence, directing to the reading of that part of them in which the affair of Mordecai was registered: and if what the latter Targum says is true, it was the more remarkable, that when Shimshai the scribe,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING SAID, WHAT HONOUR AND DIGNITY HATH BEEN DONE TO MORDECAI FOR THIS?.... He judged it an action worthy of regard, and what ought to be rewarded, as it was the saving of his life; but had forgot whether any royal favour had been shown to the person for it: THEN SAID THE KING'S SERVANTS TH... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING SAID, WHO IS IN THE COURT?.... Being in haste to confer some honour on Mordecai for what he had done: NOW HAMAN WAS COME INTO THE OUTWARD COURT OF THE KING'S HOUSE; though it was early in the morning, being eager to get to the speech of the king before he was engaged in any business, t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING'S SERVANTS SAID UNTO HIM, BEHOLD, HAMAN STANDETH IN THE COURT,.... In the outward court; for into the inward court none might enter without being called, for which he was waiting: AND THE KING SAID, LET HIM COME IN; into his bedchamber; and it was of God, no doubt, that Haman should be... [ Continue Reading ]
SO HAMAN CAME IN,.... But was prevented speaking to the king about the business he came upon by the following speech of the king: WHAT SHALL BE DONE UNTO THE MAN WHOM THE KING DELIGHTETH TO HONOUR? he mentions not the name of any man, that he might the more freely, and unbiasedly, and disinterested... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HAMAN ANSWERED THE KING,.... At once, being very prompt to suggest the honours he hoped to have done to himself: FOR THE MAN WHOM THE KING DELIGHTETH TO HONOUR; let the following things be done.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE ROYAL APPAREL BE BROUGHT WHICH THE KING USETH TO WEAR,.... Not a whole suit of clothes, but a single garment; the purple robe, as both the Targums, such as kings wore; that which Cyrus appeared in public in was half purple, and half white, and no other person besides might wear such an one p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LET THIS APPAREL AND HORSE BE DELIVERED TO THE HAND OF ONE OF THE KING'S MOST NOBLE PRINCES,.... The one, THAT THEY MAY ARRAY THE MAN WITHAL WHOM THE KING DELIGHTETH TO HONOUR; and the other to be led in state before him: AND BRING HIM ON HORSEBACK THROUGH THE STREET OF THE CITY; on another ho... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE KING SAID TO HAMAN, MAKE HASTE,.... And without delay go into the royal treasury, or wardrobe, as the Targum adds: "and take the apparel"; the royal robe, the purple one, or one of the precious purple robes; and then, as the same Targum, go to the king's stable, and take thence the king's ... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN TOOK HAMAN THE APPAREL, AND THE HORSE,.... The one out of the wardrobe, the other out of the stable, and the crown also no doubt, though no mention is made of it, since the king made no objection to it, yea, commanded that nothing fail of what had been spoken; but this was included in the pomp... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MORDECAI CAME AGAIN TO THE KING'S GATE,.... To attend his post and office at court; which confirms what has been already hinted, that he was in some office in the court, which this phrase is expressive of, and not a porter at the gate; for it is not probable he should return to such a station, a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HAMAN TOLD ZERESH HIS WIFE, AND ALL HIS FRIENDS, EVERY THING THAT HAD BEFALLEN HIM,.... How he was prevented speaking to the king on this errand he went; instead of which, he had the mortification of being obliged to do the honour to Mordecai which he thought would never have been given to any b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHILE THEY WERE YET TALKING WITH HIM,.... About these things, and giving their opinion of the issue of them, upon the present appearance of them: CAME THE KING'S CHAMBERLAINS, AND HASTED TO BRING HAMAN UNTO THE BANQUET THAT ESTHER HAD PREPARED; the time appointed for it being very near, or quit... [ Continue Reading ]