聖書注解書

Now in the twelfth month, that [is], the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)

Now in the twelfth month, … — That lucky time, as Haman had deemed it, but was deluded by the devil (the author of all such arts and lots of divination, to foretell future arbitrary events) qui etsi semel videatur verax, millies est mendax, et semper fallax; who, if he sometimes hit upon the truth, yet usually cozeneth those that trust to him (Bucholcer). Thus he served Balaam the sorcerer, slain by the sword of Israel; Croesus, taken prisoner by Cyrus; Ahab, slain at Ramoth-Gilead; Julian the apostate, going against the Persians; Walter, earl of Athol, who murdered his master, James I., king of Scots, in hope to attain the crown. Crowned indeed he was, but not, as his witches and sorcerers had ambiguously insinuated, with the crown of that realm, but with a crown of red hot iron clapped upon his bead, being one of the tortures wherewith he ended at once his wicked days and desires (Hector. Boeth.). The pope, to honour and encourage the leaguers in France, sent them consecrated pictures and medals, promising them thereby good success against the Huguenots, but God confuted and defeated them all; as he did likewise Tyrone in Ireland, to whom, among other trinkets, the pope had sent a plume of Phoenix feathers (Carlt. Rem.), a mere collusion.

When the king’s commandment and decree drew near, … — Both that for the Jews, and the other against them. This latter was not reversed, though the former was published. The king, it seemeth, greatly cared not for the lives of his subjects, since he would not so much as privately hint to them to be quiet, and to let the Jews alone. Such an intimation as this might have saved the lives of seventy-five thousand of them. But God had a holy hand in it, for the just punishment of those blood-thirsty Persians, confident in the good success of their sorceries; having made hell their refuge, but it failed them.

In the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped, … — But their hope ran aground, as they say; their lucky day deceived them. Wicked men’s hope, when they most need it, will be as the giving up of the ghost, and that is but cold comfort, Job 11:20 , and as the spider’s web, Job 18:18-19 , who gets to the top of the window, as high as she can, and then when she falls she fails to the bottom, for nothing stays her. From such high hopes fell our English Papists, first, when Queen Mary died. You hope and hope (said Dale the promoter to Julian Lining, whom he had apprehended), but your hope shall end in a rope; for though the queen fail, she that you hope for shall never come at it; for there is my Lord Cardinal’s grace and many more between her and it. Secondly, at Queen Elizabeth’s death, that long looked for day, as they called it, triumphing before the victory, and selling the hide before they had taken the beast. This they had done before in 1588, when, in assurance of victory, they had styled their forces the Invincible Armada; and also afterwards, at the gunpowder plot, when they had presumptuously disposed of the chief offices, holds, and revenues of the land; like as before the Pharsalian field was fought, the Pompeians were in such miserable security, that some of them contended for the priesthood, which was Caesar’s office; others disposed of the consulships and offices in Rome so at the battle of Agincourt in France, where our Henry V won the day, the French were so confident of a victory, that they sent to King Henry to know what ransom he would give. A presumptuous confidence goes commonly bleeding home, when a humble fear returns in triumph.

Though it was turned to the contrary — By a sweet and gracious providence of God, whose glory it is to help at a pinch, to alter the scene suddenly, to begin where we have given over, and to cause a strange turn of things, according to that of the psalmist: God shall send from heaven and save me (when it might seem to some that salvation itself could not save me), he shall send forth his mercy and his truth, Psalms 57:4 , and then what should hinder the Church’s happiness.

That the Jews had rule over them that hated them — They domineered over their enemies as so many Sultans, éשׁìèå So true is that of the preacher, "Man knoweth not his time; but as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them," Ecclesiastes 9:12 . Security is the certain usher of destruction, and God delighteth, by turning the scale, to retaliate, as he did upon the Egyptians at the Red Sea, the Philistines at Mizpeh, these Hamanists, and our gunpowder Papists. See Psalms 7:16 .

return to '

The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.

The Jews gathered themselves together — They were laeti in Domino, sed non securi, cheerful in God, but not free from care, as Bernard hath it. They had prayed, but yet provided for the thirteenth of Adar, which by many was meant still to be a bloody day, notwithstanding the known favour of the king, and the patronage of Mordecai. The Hamanists would join together to perform that sentence, whereof the author repented and had rued it. (That old enmity, Genesis 3:15 , will never out of the serpent’s seed.) The Jews therefore well and wisely get together, and unite their forces, that they may make a powerful resistance. They are noted by Tacitus to be a nation at great unity among themselves, and to hate all others. One of the main scandals they do to this day take from Christians is their dissension, that mother of dissolution, as Nazianzen calleth it. The Turks pray to God to keep us still at variance, and say that their fingers shall sooner be all of one length than we be of one mind (Camer. Med. Histor. Cent. 2, c. 23). What a shame is this! If nothing else will, yet our common misery, and the hatred of our enemies, should unite us, as it did these exiles; and it was foretold by Jeremiah, Jeremiah 50:4 , that Judah and Israel, that could not agree at other times, yet when they should be both in a weeping condition they should better agree. So did Basil and Eusebius against the Arians; Ridley and Hooper against the Papists, … And it is high time for us now to set aside our private emulations and exceptions; as the creatures in the ark laid by their antipathies within, because of the common danger of an inundation without.

To lay hand on such as sought their hurt — To repel force with force, to kill and spoil those that sought to do so to them. This nature promoted them to (as was forenoted), and they had also the king’s warrant for it, and they kept themselves within compass thereof, by not meddling with any but only those that molested them. See Esther 8:11 .

And no man could withstand them — Tantum potest bona causa bonis usa consiliis et mediis, saith an interpreter here. A good cause, a good conscience, and a good courage, what cannot these three do where they meet? How should any stand before those who are Deo armati, strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might? Ephesians 6:10 . Pilate’s wife could warn him of meddling with such; and Haman’s wife could tell him, that a Jew might fall before a Persian and get up again and prevail. But if a Persian, or whosoever of the Gentiles, begin to fall before a Jew, he can neither stand nor rise, Esther 6:13 . There is an invisible hand of omnipotency that striketh in for his own, and confounds their opposites.

For the fear of them fell upon all the people — This was the work, not of some Pan Deus Arcadiae (as the heathens fancied); but of God, the sole giver of victory, who, when he pleaseth, affrighteth the Church s enemies, as he promiseth to do in many places. See Exodus 23:27 Deuteronomy 11:2 ; Deuteronomy 11:5 Jeremiah 46:27-28 , … And as accordingly he did it on the Egyptians, Midianites, Philistines, Syrians, … And the like he did for Baldwin, king of Jerusalem, against the great caliph; for the Hussites, against all the force of Germany; for the Angrognians, against the pope’s army that came against them. The soldiers told their captains they were so astonished they could not strike, and that the ministers, with their prayers, conjured and bewitched them (Acts and Men. 883). So at the siege of Mountabone, whensoever the people of God began to sing a psalm (as they usually did before their sallying forth) the enemies coming, acquainted with their practice, would so quake and tremble, crying, They come, they come, as though the wrath of God had been breaking out upon them (Spec. Bel. Sacr. 282). What was this handful of captives to the whole Persian empire, that they should now become no less formidable to them than not long after those few Grecians were to Xerxes? who, having covered the seas with his ships, and with a world of men passed over into Greece, was afterwards himself alone, in a small fishing boat, glad to get back into Asia, to save his own life (Herodotus).

return to '

And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.

And all the rulers of the provinces … helped the Jews — Heb. Gave them a lift, sc. over the brook, the brake, or whatsoever lay in their way of deliverance. This they did out of their respect to the king, rather than for any great goodwill to the Jews, who were generally hated for their religion, and wished out of the world. Sit divus mode non sit virus, Let god be, only not let poison be, said the Roman emperor of his brother, whom he maliciously murdered.

, Because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them — But much more, because God himself over awed them, and dispirited them See Trapp on " Esther 9:2 " How else should he appear to be the God of the spirits of all flesh, and that in the thing wherein people deal proudly he was above them? Exodus 18:11 . How should they come to know themselves to be but men, Psalms 9:20 , and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit, …, Isaiah 31:3 ; if he did not otherwhiles make their hearts heartless, Hosea 7:11 , their hands feeble, Jeremiah 6:24 Isaiah 13:7 Ezekiel 21:7 , their eyes fail, Deuteronomy 28:28 , their knees knock together, as Belshazzar’s did, Daniel 5:6 . How else would they ever be brought to bring presents unto him that ought to be feared, Psalms 76:7-8 , and to say unto him, Lord, be not thou a terror to me? …, Jeremiah 17:17 . If Mordecai be feared, it is because God hath put a majesty upon him, and made him dreadful, as Abraham likewise was to Abimelech, Genesis 21:22-23 , David to Saul, 1 Samuel 18:29 , the Baptist to Herod, our Saviour to the Pharisees, Mark 11:18 , Paul and Silas to their persecutors, Acts 16:27 , … And this the Lord still doth, that he may dwell upon earth, Psalms 68:18 , sc. in his faithful worshippers, which wicked men would not suffer, if not thus reined in and restrained. And, secondly, that praise may wait for him in Zion, and unto him may the vow be performed, Psalms 65:1 .

return to '

For Mordecai [was] great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.

For Mordecai was great in the king’s house — So great a favourite, as that it was dangerous to displease him; and most men coveted his favour. It was now in the court and kingdom of Persia, as it was once at Rome when Sejanus ruled the roast under Tiberius. Ut quisque Seiano intimus, ita ad Caesaris amicitiam validus. Contra quibus infensus esset, metu et sordibus conflictabantur (Tacit.). His friends were Caesar’s friends, and his enemies were in a very low and lamentable condition.

And his fame went throughout all the provinces — Auditio eius, the report of him went far and near. Per ora hominum volitabat, so the Vulgate Latin. He was

Famous among famous man who have a reputation. It was everywhere discoursed that Mordecai was the king’s darling, kinsman, counsellor, that he had saved the king’s life, and was therefore promoted to the highest dignity; that it were good getting in with him, who both could and would reciprocate aud remunerate any that should well deserve him and his people. How thankful the Lord Cromwell was to those that had done him any courtesy. See Acts and Mon. fol. 1083. How ungrateful Bishop Banner was to the same Lord Cromwell, who had been his great patron, railing at him as the rankest heretic that had ever lived, …; see in fol. 1087; but this was after his death; Leoni mortuo vel mus insultat. A dead lion or a leaping mouse.

For this man Mordecai — Vir ille insignis, that distinguished man, though he were but novus homo et peregrinus, a newly raised man, a stranger, and one that had brought in a strange alteration of things in the court and commonwealth; and therefore could not but be much envied and maligned, as far as men dared show themselves against him; yet

He waxed greater and greater — Heb. he was going (that is, growing) and greatening. See the like Hebraism, Proverbs 4:18 Genesis 8:5 . For why? he did gloria invidiam vincere, conquor, envy, and dazzle her eyes with his lustre; which, saith Sallust, is the hardest thing that can be, Difficillimum inter mortales. For as the tallest trees are weakest at the tops; so doth envy always aim at the highest. But maugre malice itself, Mordecai was in the number of those few that lived and died with glory, gotten by his piety, zeal, and other virtues; neither had his adversaries anything to complain of him more than his greatness, as Camden saith of the old earl of Essex (Camd Eliz. fol. 532).

return to '

Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.

Thus the Jews smote all their enemies — It was the Lord’s work, and therefore to do it negligently, to keep back their swords from blood, had been to incur that curse, Jeremiah 48:10 , as Saul did in sparing Agag, 1 Samuel 15:9 ; Ahab in showing mercy to Benhadad, whom God had destined to destruction, 1 Kings 20:42 . These Jews, as so many judges, were set up by God to do to death these desperate enemies; and since there was no hope of curing, to fall to cutting, Immedicabile vulnus ense recidendum est, Incurable wound inflicted by a sword, that others might hear and fear, and do no more so, but see and say with the psalmist, Verily there is a reward for the righteous; verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.

With the strokes of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction — Here then we see what punishments they deserve that are enemies to the Church, and sooner or later they shall be sure of. For as hard weather rotteth not in the air, so neither do the judgments against persecutors. God himself hath against them, and will surely have his pennyworths of them; his hand that is lifted up in threatening, Isaiah 26:11 , will not fail to fall down in punishing; and the higher it is lifted the heavier it shall fall. Subito tollitur qui diu toleratur. Suddenly he was destroyed who for a long time was endured. "They shall fall by the sword; they shall be a portion for foxes," Psalms 63:10 . The spoiler shall be spoiled, Isaiah 33:1 ; and he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword, Revelation 13:10 2 Thessalonians 1:6 .

And did what they would unto those that hated them — Where it is to be hoped, that they furbished the sword of justice with the oil of mercy, that they remembered that of the philosopher, Posse et nolle nobile est, to be able and unwilling is noble, that in some cases a man must not do all that he may do; as there be some, again, wherein severity ought to cast the scale. The Turks’ severity I can by no means like, that will rather cut off two innocent persons than let one guilty man go free. Nor that of the Venetians, who punish with death such as steal from the State but one penny, if it be proved against them. Again, care must be taken that justice be not executed (whether in a civil or military way) with a vindictive mind, but all selfish actions carefully strained out. Private revenge leaveth a stain upon a man some ways innocent, witness Jehu; and puts an innocence upon the greatest offender, witness Abner.

return to '

And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.

And in Shushan the palace — One would wonder that any here should offer to stir against the Jews, so much favoured by the king, patronized by Mordecai, and well appointed to withstand them. But they were mad with malice against God’s people, and ambitious of their own destruction. Haman’s death still sticks in their stomachs, and they resolve to be revenged, whatever it stands them in. With like stoutness of stomach it was that Jezebel painted her face, and tired her head, when Jehu was come to Jezreel, and looking out at a window, said, Had Zimri peace, … Herein certainly she showed her great stoutness, as if she would daunt Jehu, and out brave him in the midst of his pomp and triumph, 2 Kings 9:30-31 . Divine vengeance suffereth not wicked people to rest, and to keep in their malice and mischief; but that they must break out and run headlong, like wild beasts into the hunter’s toil, or upon the spear’s point, whereby they perish.

return to '

And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,

Ver. 7-9. And Parshandatha, and Dalphon … and Vajezatha — This Vajezatha was the youngest, but most malicious of them all against the Jews, as their doctors guess and gather from the little Zain and great Vau found in his name. Hebrew Text Note

return to '

The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.

The ten sons of Haman — Of whom he had so boasted, Esther 5:12 , and bore himself bold, as believing that being so full of children, he should leave the rest of his substance to his babes, Psalms 17:14 . These ten likely were ringleaders to those Hamanists in Shushan, that durst appear in so bad a cause, being evil eggs of an evil bird. Non enim fieri ullo mode potest, ut ex me et Agrippina vir bonus nascatur, said Domitius, the father of Nero; It cannot be that of myself and Agrippina should come any good man. Kακου κορακος κακυν ωον (Dio. in Ner.). Haman brought up his sons to bring down his house; and was a parricide to them rather than a parent. His darling Vajezatha he corrected not, but cockered; no wonder, therefore, that he proved to be of a gastrill-kind (disquieting his own nest), of a viperous brood; and, therefore, though not hanged together with his father, and the whole family (as the Apocryphal additions of Esther, Esther 16:18, tell us, but not truly), yet slain in this insurrection at Shushan, together with the rest of his brethren; the good people crying out, as once they did at Rome, when the son of Maximinus, the emperor, was put to death, Ex pessimo genere ne catulum quidem habendum, Let not one whelp be left of so evil a litter.

But on the spoil laid they not their hand — Lest the king should be damnified, or themselves justly taxed of covetousness and cruelty. "Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God," 1 Corinthians 10:32 . Non semper omnia quae licent sunt facienda Not everything which is permitted should be done. (Lavat.). This is oft repeated in this chapter, to their great commendation; that although, by the king’s grant, they might have taken the spoil, Esther 8:11 , yet they did it not: 1. To show that they were God’s executioners, not thieves and robbers. 2. To gratify the king for his courtesy towards them, by leaving the spoil wholly to his treasury. 3. It is not unlikely, saith an interpreter (Fevard), that Mordecai and Esther had admonished them how ill Saul had sped with his spoils of the Amalekites, and Achan with his wedge of gold, which served but to cleave his body and soul asunder, and his Babylonish garment, which proved to be his burial sheet.

return to '