Westminster Annotations, Esther – Job
ANNOTATIONS On the Book of ESTHER.
The Argument.
THis History falls within the yeers recorded in Ezra, and in the reign of one of those Persian Kings there mentioned: who it was, see in Notes on Chap. 1. 1. In the third yeer of this King, was the great feast made, Chap. 1. 3. In the seventh yeer he married Esther, Chap. 2. 16. In the twelfth yeer fell that great Conspiracy of Haman, Chap. 3. 7. which God prevented by Esthers preferment, Chap. 4. 14. God did not onelyonly deliver his people, and give them victory over their enemies, but also raised up Mordecai to settle their peaceable condition for time to come. And so the book ends, Chap. 10. 3.
CHAP. I.
Vers. 1. OF Ahasuerus] It seems to be Xerxes. See Ezr. 4. 6. He was the sonne of Darius Hystaspis; his wife was called Amestris, a name not much unlike Esther. Others think that it was Darius his father, whose wife was Atossa, not much differing from Hadassa, chap. 2. 7. See Herodotus and Ctesi…s.
an hundred and seven and twenty provinces] Belike the kingdom was enlarged since the first Darius his time. See Dan. 6. 1.
V. 2. sate on the throne] That is, had quietnesse and rest.
Shushan] Neh. 1. 1.
the palace] The city and palace were both of one name. See chap. 3. 15. & 4. 6. & 9. 14, 15. The kings of Persia usually kept their winter-court here, as they did their summer-court at Ecbatana, Ezra 6. 2. Shushan was a city situated on the river Coaspes: it hath its name in Hebrew from lilies, whereof store grew there in likelihood.
V. 4. When he shewed] Or, While he shewed, or, after he had shewed, as Deut. 4. 45.
V. 5. a feast] Some think there were two feasts; one for the princes, the other for the people. Others think there was but one for both.
that were present] Heb. found. Both inhabitants and strangers.
V. 6. blue] Or, violet.
the beds were of gold] Which they used in those countreys, in stead of tables.
of red, and blue, and white, and black marble] Or, of porphyre, and marble, and alabaster, and stone of blue colour.
V. 7. royall wine] Heb. wine of the kingdom. The best and choisest wines, such as the king himself used to drink.
according to the state of the king]▪ Heb. according to the hand of the king. As was beseeming so magnificent a prince.
V. 8. none did compell] Or, no man might restrain. So the word is used, Dan. 4. 9. no secret is restrained from thee. For it shewed the kings magnificence, to give men as much wine as they would, and not to restrain any.
V. 9. for the woman] Or, for their wives. To wit, whose husbands did feast with the king.
V. 10. On the seventh day] Which was the last day of the feast that the king made, as v. 5.
merry] Heb. good, 2 Sam. 13. 28.
with wine] So that this command came rather from wine then from reason: yet God by this means brought in Esther to preserve his Church.
chamberlains] Or, eunuchs.
V. 11. fair to look on] Heb. good of countenance.
V. 12. by his chamberlains] Heb. which was by the hand of his eunuchs.
V. 13. which knew the times] That had experience of matters of government, by reading and observation, 1 Chron. 12. 32.
so was the kings manner] This heathen king did always use the counsell of learned men in his publike affairs; and so he doth now in the midst of his jollity.
V. 14. the seven princes of Persia] Ezra 7. 14.
which saw the kings face] Matth. 18. 10. Which were his chief counsellours, who daily had accesse to him.
V. 15. What shall we do?] Or, what may we do? Heb. What to do?
V. 16. but also to all the princes] By her disobedience she hath given an example to all women to do the like to their husbands.
V. 17. For this deed of the queen] That is, her disobedience.
shall] Or, will. shall] Or, will.
The king Ahasuerus] She came not at the kings own command, Why should we at meaner mens?
V. 18. the ladies of Persia] The ladies will first be corrupted by the queens example, and then the meaner women by theirs. contempt and wrath] Contempt in wives, works wrath in husbands.
V. 19. If it please the king] Heb. if it be good with the king.
from him] Heb. from before him.
let it be written among the laws] Among the authenticall records of the kingdom, that it may remain firm.
that it be not altered] Heb. that it passe not away.
that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus] Let her be divorced, and another made queen.
unto another] Heb. unto her companion.
V. 20. for it is great] For he had under him an hundred and seven and twenty provinces. See v. 1.
V. 21. pleased the king] Heb. was good in the eyes of the king.
V. 22. that every man should bear rule in his own house] That is, that the wife, and the whole family, should be subject to her husband, and at his commandment.
and that it should be published according to the language of every people] Or, and should speak according to the language of his own people. Heb. that one should publish according to the language of his people. That is, that women should speak their husbands language, and all the family; for conformity in language, is a token of subjection, Dan. 1. 4.
CHAP. II.
Vers. 1. HE remembred Vashti] He spake of Vashti, it may be, with some relenting, after his heat was over, though he could not rev…rse the former law, ch. 8. 8. Dan. 6. 15.
and what was decreed against her] By advice of the seven wise men of his councell, chap. 1. 19, 21.
V. 2. Let there be fair y…ung virgins sought for the king] Lest he should take Vashti again, and punish his counsellours.
V. 3. unto the custody] Heb. unto the hand.
Hege] Or, Hegai] Verse 8.
keeper of the women] The abuse of these countreys was so great, that they invented many means to serve the lusts of princes; and therefore, as they ordained wicked laws, That the king might have whose daughters he would, so they had divers houses appointed, as, one for them while they were virgins here, another when they were concubines, v. 14.
for purification] Read what this purification was, v. 12.
V. 6. Who had been carried away] 2 King. 24. 15. 2 Chron. 36. 10. Jer. 24. 1.
V. 7. brought up] Heb. nourished.
that is] Or, the same is.
Esther] Her name was changed, as may well be thought, when she was married unto the king.
fair and beautifull] Heb. fair of form, and good of countenance, Gen. 12. 11. and 24. 16.
V. 9. she obtained kindnesse of him] Dan. 1. 9.
such things as belonged to her] Heb. her portions.
he preferred her] Heb. he changed her.
V. 10. that she should tot shew it] Because the Jews were the… despised, and so she might misse the honor she after attained to.
V. 11. Mordecai walked every day] For though she was taken away from him, ye… he ceased not to have a fatherly care over her, and therefore did resort oft times to hear of her.
to know how Esther did] Heb. to know the peace.
V. 13. whatsoever she desired was given her] What apparell, ornaments, or other things she asked of the eunuch, that was he bound to give her.
V. 14. into the second house of the women] See Notes on v. 3.
V. 15. the keeper of the women appointed] Wherein her modesty appeared, in that she sought not fine apparell to commend her beauty, but stood to the eunuchs appointment.
V. 16. the monethmonth Tebeth] Which contained part of December, and part of January.
V. 17. favour] Or, kindnesse.
in his sight] Heb. before him.
V. 18. Esthers feast] Made for her sake, when he made her queen.
release, &c.] Heb. rest. He released thetr tribute.
according to the state] That is, great and magnificent, ch. 1. 7.
V. 19. the second time] Either to attend at Esthers marriagefeast, or to chuse some concubines for the king.
Mordecai sate in the kings gate] Either he had the office of a porter, or else he sate there to hear how it fared with Esther.
V. 20. as Mordecai had charged her] Lest the king should dislike her for her peoples sake, who were meanly thought of there.
V. 21. Bigthan] Or, Bigthana, chap. 6. 2.
the door] Heb. the threshold.
sought to lay hand on the king▪ Ahasuerus] Meaning to kill him, 1 Sam. 24. 6. and 26. 9.
V. 23. in the books of the chronicles] In the chronicles of the Medes and Persians, chap. 10. 2.
before the king] Either it was written while the king was there, or in the book which used to lie before the king, for him to read in.
CHAP. III.
Vers. 1. THe Agagite] It is likely he was an Amalekite, and of the race of Agag, 1 Sam. 15. 8. which might be one cause why Mordecai would not stoop so low to him, v. 2. See Exod. 17. 16. Num. 24. 7.
set his seat above all the princes] 2 King. 25. 28.
V. 2. but Mordecai bowed not] The Persians manner was to fall down and reverence their kings, and such as he appointed in chief authority, which Mordecai would not do to this ambitious and proud man.
V. 3. the kings servants] Such courtiers as attended at the gate.
V. 4. they told Haman] Thus we see that there is none so wicked, but they have their flatterers to accuse the godly.
V. 6. for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai] Or, but seeing they had shewed him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought, &c. See here the extremity of pride and malice.
V. 7. the monethmonth Nisan] Which containeth part of March, and part of April.
they cast Pur, that is, the lot▪ before Haman] According to the Persian superstition, to know what monethmonth and day should be good to enterprise this thing, that it might have good successe: but God disappointed their lots and expectation.
the monethmonth Adar] Containing part of February, and part of March.
V. 8. their laws are diverse from all people, neither keep they the kings laws] These be the two arguments which commonly the worldlings and the wicked use toward princes; against the godly, to wit, The contempt of their laws, And diminution of their profit; without respect how God is either pleased or displeased, Dan. 3. 12. and 6. 13.
for the kings profit] Heb. meet, or equall.
V. 9. that they may be destroyed] Heb. to destroy them.
pay] Heb. weigh.
ten thousand talents of silver] To make the king mor… willing to yeeld to the destruction of the Jews, he promiseth this great sum to the king, out of their estates. For talents, see 1 Chro. 22. 14.
that have the charge of the businesse] That received the kings moneys.
V. 10. took his ring from his hand] Gen. 41. 42.
enemy] Or, oppressour.
V. 12. scribes] Or, secretaries.
had commanded] Or, did command.
according to the writing thereof] Chap. 8. 9.
V. 13. the spoil of them] The fore-named sum, v. 9. being remitted to him, v. 11. he disposeth the spoil to the executioners, to make them more eager in the work.
V. 14. was published] Or, to be published.
V. 15. was given in Shushan] Chap. 8. 14.
the city Shushan was perplexed] To wit, the Jews that were in Shushan, who were condemned by this decree, made great lamentation, as soon as they heard of it.
CHAP. IIII.
Vers. 1. WHen Mordecai perceived all that was done] By the proclamation set out. See v. 8.
rent his clothes] Josh. 7. 6.
and put on sackcloth] Jon. 3. 5, 6.
and cried with a loud and a bitter cry] Gen. 27. 34.
V. 2. And came even before the kings gate] Because he would advertise Esther of this cruell proclamation.
clothed with sackcloth] In the habit of a mourner, 1 King. 21. 27, 29.
V. 3. many lay in sackcloth and ashes] Heb. sackcloth and ashes were laid under many.
V. 4. chamberlains] Heb. eunuchs, Gen. 39. 1. 1 King. 22. 9. 2 King. 9. 32.
told it her] How Mordecai grieved: for they could not tell her of the grief of the Jews in all provinces, which they knew not: therefore the verse before should be read in a parenthesis; for the matter they told the queen is in the second verse, not in the last before this.
V. 5. whom he had appointed to attend upon her] Heb. whom he had set before her.
V. 8. to charge her that she should go in unto the king] She was once under his charge, and indebted to him for a pious and charitable education, when she was an orphan, chap. 2. 7. and therefore, though now she were greater, then he, he thought he might make bold to lay a charge on her for a publike service, that so much concerned Gods Church.
V. 11. of his] Or, for him.
except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter] This was a signe that the king did call him to him, and free him from the danger of the law, and gave him some hope that his petition was likely to be granted.
V. 14. at this time] In this great extremity of Gods people▪
enlargement] Heb. respiration.
deliverance arise to the Jews] Thus Mordecai spake in the confidence of that faith which all Gods children ought to have, which is, That God will deliver them, though all worldly means fail.
for such a time as this?] For to deliver Gods Church out of these present dangers. The occasions which God offers us by his speciall providence to do good to others, must not be neglected by us.
V. 16. present] Heb. found.
fast ye for me] Praying that God would encline the kings heart to grant my petition, and save my life.
and if I perish, I perish] I will put my life in danger, and refer the successe to God, seeing it is for his glory, and the deliverance of his Church.
V. 17. went his way] Heb. passed.
CHAP. V.
Vers. 1. ON the third day] To wit, after that the Jews had begun to fast.
V. 2. the king held out to Esther the golden scepter] Which was a signe that her coming was well pleasing unto him, as ch. 4. 11.
touched the top of the scepter] For the scepter being stretched out to her, the top was next her. This she toucheth, in acknowledgement of the kings favour, and of submitting her self and her petition to him.
to the half of the kingdom] Meaning hereby, that whatsoever she asked, should be granted, as Mark 6. 23.
V. 4. let the king and Haman come this day] She invites Haman also, that she might accuse him to his face, and he might not by false suggestions disswade the king privily from believing her complaint.
V. 6. at the banquet of wine] Because they used to drink excessively in their banquets, they called the banquet by the name of that which was most in use, and most highly esteemed: or, in which wine was most plentifull, for it was not the ordinary drink.
V. 8. to perform] Heb. to do.
I will do to morrow as the king hath said] I will then d…clare what thing I demand. She expected a more fit opportunity.
V. 9. joyfull] Thus wicked men triumph, when death is neerer them then they are aware of.
glad] Heb. good, chap. 1. 10. and 9. 19.
V. 10. called] Heb. caused to come.
V. 11. of the glory of his riches] He rips up his greatnesse, to exaggerate Mordecai's offence, and his own discontent.
wherein the king had promoted him] The wicked, when they are promoted, in stead of acknowledging their charge, and humbling themselves, wax ambitious, disdainfull and cruell.
V. 13. Yet all this availeth me nothing] No honour can satisfie malicious men, without revenge. Haman cannot stay for Mordecai's death till the tiem appointed to kill all the Jews, though it drew neer.
so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the kings gate] And not rising up to me, as others do.
V. 14. gallows] Heb. tree.
then go thou in merrily] Then thou mayest be merry, when thy adversary is hanged.
CHAP. VI.
Vers. 1. COuld not the king sleep] Heb. the kings sleep fled away. See Gods wonderfull work for the preservation of Mordecai, who had been hanged before Esther had known of it, if God had not taken away sleep from the king, directed him to read the chronicles, and moved him to prefer Mordecai.
V. 2. Bigthana] Or, Bigthan▪ chap. 2. 21.
door] Heb. threshold, 2 King. 22. 4. and 23. 4.
What honour and dignity hath been done, &c.] For he thought it unworthy his estate, to receive a benefit, and not reward it.
V. 4. on the gallows that he had prepared for him] Thus while the wicked imagine the destruction of others, they themselves fall into the same pit.
V. 6. whom the king delighteth to honour] Heb. in whose honour the king delighteth.
Haman thought in his heart] Because of the kings former favour to him, he made account this honor had been intended to himself, and therefore requires abundance: but he little thought it was▪ meant to Mordecai his enemy, whose life he came to beg, else …e would have asked little enough.
V. 7. whom the king delighteth to honour Heb. in whose honour the king delighteth.
V. 8. Let the royall apparell be brought] Heb. Let them bring the royall apparell. Note Hamans pride; nothing would serve him, but the kings own royalties.
which the king useth to wear] Heb. wherewith the king clotheth himself.
V. 9. let this apparell and horse be delivered] It seems the crown was counted part of the royall apparell, or else it was not put on his head, but carryed before him.
bring him] Heb. cause him to ride.
V. 10. Then the king said to Haman] So God sometimes honours his by their enemies.
let nothing fail] Heb. suffer not a whit to fail.
V. 12. and having his head covered] For grief or shame, 2 Sam. 15. 30. Jer. 14. 4.
V. 13. If Mordecai be] Or, Seeing Mordecai is.
shalt surely fall] Thus God sometime putteth in the mouth of the very wicked to speak that thing which he hath decreed shall come to passe.
surely fall before him] Or, fall quite down before him: For he being a Jew, will revenge the wrong done to him and his countrey-men: and favourites of princes plot the downfall of former favourites, lest they hinder their rising.
CHAP. VII.
Vers. 1. TO banquet] Heb. to drink, Gen. 43. 34.
V. 3. let my life be given me] Because she was involved in the same danger, as being of the same nation, chap. 4. 13. and therefore calls them her people.
V. 4. to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish] Heb. that they should destroy, and kill, and cause to perish.
the enemy could not countervail the kings damage] Meaning, that Haman could not profit the king so much with his ten thousand talents of silver, chap. 3. 9. as he would hinder him by the losse of the Jews tribute and strength accruing to his royal state from them. Thus she urgeth the king with the danger of her own person, and the equity of the king. She had concealed her kinred and people to good time, when, by Gods providence, she might do them good, and her self no harm.
V. 5. that durst presume in his heart] Heb. whose heart hath filled him, Act. 5. 3.
V. 6. The adversary] Heb. the man adversary.
before] Or, at the presence of.
V. 7. to Esther] Heb. of, or from Esther.
he saw that there was evil determined] He saw by the kings angry face, that he intended to put him to death.
V. 8. Haman was fallen upon the bed] He fell down on the bed, on which they had feasted, and made request for his life.
before me] Heb. with me.
they covered Hamans face] It was the manner of the Persians, when one was out of the kings favour, to cover his face, as counting him unworthy ever to see the kings face any more: or, as a condemned person, Job 9. 24.
V. 9. gallows] Heb. tree.
who had spoken good for the king] Which discovered the conspiracy against the king, chap. 2. 22, 23.
V. 10. on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai] Thus the mischief devised by him for another, fell upon his head, chap. 9. 25. Psal. 7. 15, 16. and 9. 15, 16.
CHAP. VIII.
Vers. 1. MOrdecai came before the king] That is, was received into the kings favour and presence, and was made one of those princes spoken of, chap. 1. 14.
Esther had told what he was unto her] That he was her uncle, and had brought her up, chap. 2. 5, 7.
V. 2. which he had taken from Haman] It seems, chap. 3. 10, 12. that Haman was keeper of the kings seal, which office now is bestowed on Mordecai: or, which he had formerly delivered to Haman for expediting the busines against the Jews, chap. 3. 10.
V. 3. and besought him with tears] Heb. and she wept and besought him:
to put away the mischief] By abolishing the wicked decrees which he had made for the destruction of the Jews.
V. 4. Then the king held out] Or, For when the king had held out. the golden scepter] Read chap. 5. 2.
So Esther] Or, Then Esther.
V. 5. the letters devised] Heb. the device.
which he wrote] Or, who wrote.
V. 6. endure to see] Heb. be able that I may see.
unto my people] Chap. 7. 4.
V. 7. because he laid his hand upon the Jews] He intended so to do, and had gotten a decree to kill them, chap. 2. 21.
V. 8. for the writing which is written in the kings name] Others read it, but the writing, &c. That is, I cannot reverse a law sealed with the kings seal (Dan. 6. 15.) but I give you power to make another decree in favour of them, that they stand on their guard, and slay their enemies. This seems to be right, because in the new decree, v. 11. no man is commanded to assist them, nor forbidden to set upon them; both which, doubtlesse, Mordecai would have inserted, if he had durst: and the assistance the rulers gave the Jews was not by the kings decree, but for fear of Mordecai. See chap. 9. 3.
may no man reverse] See chap. 1. 19. The king did as good as revoke the decree for Esthers sake. This shews his great love to her, and Gods speciall providence over his people.
V. 9. the monethmonth Sivan] Which containeth part of May, and part of June.
according to the writing thereof] That is, in such letters and language as was usuall in every province, chap. 3. 12.
V. 10. in the king Ahasuerus name] 1 King. 21. 8.
V. 11. to stand for their life] That is, to defend themselves against all that would assail them.
V. 12. upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth monethmonth] The same day they should have been destroyed, chap. 3. 13.
monethmonth Adar] Which containeth part of February, and part of March.
V. 13. published] Heb. revealed.
to avenge themselves on their enemies] The king gave them liberty to kill all that did assault them, as v. 11.
V. 14. the decree was given at Shushan the palace] Proclaimed, and set up for all men to read. See chap. 9. 14.
V. 15. blue] Or, violet.
and was glad] Contrary to their sorrow, chap. 3. 15.
V. 16. and joy] He sheweth by these words that follow, what this light was, to wit, joy, from this new decree, which cheared their hearts, as the light of the sun did their eyes, Psal. 18. 28. and 97. 11. This is to be understood of the Jews in Shushan, chap. 3. 25. Others are spoken of, v. 17.
V. 17. became Jews] They conformed themselves to the Jews religion, if not for love, yet for fear.
for the fear of the Jews] Chap. 9. 3. Because they were afraid lest the Jews should kill them.
CHAP. IX.
Vers. 1. THough it was turned to the contrary] This was Gods great providence, who turneth the joy of the wicked into sorrow, and the tears of the godly, into gladnesse, Psal. 30. 5, 11. and 126. 5.
V. 3. officers of the king] Heb. those which did the businesse that belonged to the king.
helped the Jews] Did them honour, and shewed them friendship, and stood for them.
the fear of Mordocai fell upon them] Chap. 8. 17.
V. 5. the Jews sinote all their enemies] Which had conspired their death, by the perswasion of wicked Haman.
what they would] Heb. according to their will.
V. 6. in Shushan the peace] Where the palace was: for so many could not be slain in the kings house.
destroyed five hundred men] Besides those three hundred that they slew the second day, v. 15. and Hamans sons, as vers. 12. whom they slew, not as enemies barely, but as devoted to destruction by God, Exod. 17. 24. Deut. 25. 17.
V. 10. but on the spoil laid they not their hand] Shewing their moderation, in not taking so much as the kings decree allowed; and that it might appear they sought nothing, but to save their lives.
V. 11. was brought] Heb. came.
V. 13. to do to morrow also] For some enemies were left the day before, which might hurt the Jews hereafter.
let Hamans ten sons be hanged] Heb. let men hang Hamans ten sons; As they did their father, to terrifie other oppressors.
gallows] Heb. tree, chap. 7. 8. Deut. 21. 23.
V. 15. For] Or, And.
V. 16. gathered] Or, had gathered. To wit, the day before.
and stood for their lives] As the king gave them leave to do, chap. 8. 11.
and slew] Or, and when they had slain.
of their foes seventy and five thousand] Rather to secure their own lives, then to be revenged on their foes.
V. 17. On the thirteenth day of the monethmonth Adar] On that day they killed their enemies, as v. 16.
on the fourteenth day] In all places, saving in Shushan, as v. 18.
of the same] Heb. in it.
V. 19. made the fourteenth day of the monethmonth Adar] This yeer onelyonly; for it was otherwise ordered afterwards, v. 21.
of sending portions] Of the cattell they killed. See 1 Sam. 1. 4, 5. Neh. 8. 12.
V. 20. And Mordecai wrote these things] Or, But Mordecai, &c. For he writ to them how the Jews in Shushan had slain their foes on the fourteenth day also, and so appointed the fourteenth day to be kept, because the countrey-Jews had rest then; and the fifteenth, because they of Shushan had not rest till then: so they must joy in one anothers peace.
V. 21. that they should keep the fourteenth day of the monethmonth Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same yeerly] As the Jews do even to this day, calling them in the Persians language, Purim, that is, the dayes of lots.
V. 22. As the dayes wherein the Jews rested from their enemies] He setteth before our eyes the use of this feast, which was for the remembrance of Gods deliverance, the maintenance of mutuall friendship, and relief of the poor, vers. 19.
V. 23. And the Jews undertook] Or, And he caused the Jews to undertake.
V. 24. had cast Pur] Read chap. 3. 7.
consume] Heb. crush.
V. 25. when Esther came] Heb. when she came.
he commanded] That is, the king.
upon his own head] Chap. 7. 10. Psal. 7. 16.
V. 26. Pur] That is, lot.
and of that which] Or, and that which.
V. 27. The Jews ordained, and took upon them] Or, They ordained, and caused the Jews to take upon them. To wit, Esther and Mordecai, vers. 21.
so as it] Or, that it.
fail] Heb. passe.
that they would keep these two dayes] Meaning the fourteenth, and the fifteenth day of the monethmonth Adar.
V. 28. fail] Heb. passe.
perish] Heb. be ended.
V. 29. all authority] Heb. all strength.
to confirm this second letter of Purim] Or, to confirm this letter of Purim by a second. That is, they writ both to confirm Mordecai's former letter.
V. 30. with words of peace and truth] Which were letters declaring unto them quietnesse, and assurance, and putting them out of doubt and fear.
V. 31. and as they had decreed] As in their necessity, Esther and Mordecai had appointed a fast to pray for them and theirs, chap. 3. 16, 17. so they should now praise God for their deliverance. Their people are called their seed, chap. 10. 3.
for themselves] Heb. for their souls.
their cry] Their earnest prayer.
CHAP. X.
Vers. 1. UPon the land] Upon the continent.
V. 2. advanced him] Heb. made him great.
V. 3. and accepted of the multitude of his brethren] These three points are here set forth as commendable and necessary for him that is in authority, To have the favour of the people, To procure their wealth, And to be gentle and loving toward them.
and speaking peace] Speaking well to the king for them.
to all his seed] That is, to his people. See notes on chap. 9. vers. 31.
ANNOTATIONS On the Book of JOB.
The ARGUMENT.
IN this Book Job is set forth as an example, first of patience, then of humane frailty. Some think him to be one of Abrahams posteritie by Keturah. But his dwelling speaks him rather one of Esau's generation, Lam. 4. 21. His great losses are set out, Chap. 1. His crosses in his body and wife, Chap. 2. His first impatient fit, Chap. 3. His discourse with his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, Chap. 4. and so forth, to the end of Chap. 31. Elihu's speech is continued to the conclusion of Chap. 37. Gods conviction of Job, and his submission from thence, to Chap. 42. 7. The conclusion contains the reconciliation of Jobs three friends to God and him, and Jobs renewed, and augmented prosperity. Jobs friends labour to prove him an Hypocrite, because of his great sufferings. He defends his integrity against them, yet so, that sometimes he taxeth God for dealing too hardly with him. Elihu shews both him and them their errours. God seconds, and confirms his speech, and brings all to an happy conclusion.