A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Volume 3 · Appendix · Chapter 3
Eſther CHAP. III.
THIS Chapter contains Haman's Gonſpiracy to cut off the whole Nation of the Jews, as well as Mordecai, who had ſaved the King's Life from the two Conſpirators, Hamans Friends. The two Parts of this Conſpiracy, are 1. Its Cauſes. And 2. Its Effects.
Remarks upon the firſt Part, The Cauſes of the Conſpiracy.
Firſt, The efficient Cauſe was Haman's Anger, which aroſe upon this occaſion: Ahaſuerus, being tranſported with a Complacency in his new Queen (yet not made better by her) advanceth Haman, that Vileſt of Men, as Pſalm 12.8. meerly for his Mindſake, and to ſhew his uncontroulable Soveraignty, as Dar. 4.19. probably Hama… had inſinuated himſelf into the King's favour, by propoſing ſome new project for augmenting his Tribute, whereby he might ſtrengthen his Tyranny, wherefore within a few Years after his Marrying Eſther, he exalts Haman to the higheſt Pinacle of Honour, and commands all his Courtiers to bow to him, but Mordecai did not, ver. 1, 2.
Remark the Second, Then the Cringing Courtiers do Counſel Mordecai unto Conformity to the King's Command, blaming him for being ſingular: And this they did Day by Day, tempting his Conſtancy not once but often, acting the part of Beelzebub the God of Flyes, of which Pliny ſaith [Quo magis abiguntur, eo magis premunt] the more that Flyes are driven away, the more they preſs upon you: This theſe Men did here (Devil-like indeed) Daily, ver. 3, 4. for Mordecai upon their asking him the Cauſe of his Obſtinacy (as they call'd it) was not aſham'd or afraid to ſhew them both his Countrey and his Conſcience, that no Jew might do as they did, becauſe God had forbidden to give Divine Honour to any but to himſelf, Deut. 6.13. Matth. 4.10. and had commanded to blot out the remembrance of Amalek, Exod. 17.14. Deut. 25.19. 1 Sam. 15.3. of whom Haman deſcended.
Remark the Third, The Material Cauſe of Haman's Coonſpiracy was the cutting off the whole Nation of the Jews, as one Man for the ſake of that one Jew, Obſtinate Mordecai, ver. 5, 6. upon a certain lucky Day which he ſought out, by caſting Lots to find it, ver. 7.
Mark 1. Thoſe Peſtilent Pick-thanks (that had reaſon'd the Caſe with Mordecai, and could not reclaim him from his Non-conformity) carry their Complaints to Haman (that they might curry favour with the King's greateſt Favourite) and incenſe him to ruine Mordecai.
Mark 2. Hereupon Haman ſwells like a Toad, glows like an Hell-Hagg, bluſtering out thoſe Words [Shall this Slave think himſelf too good to Bow, when all the Free-men of Perſia, think it not below them to adore me? &c.] ſaith Joſephus; And his Rage was ſo inflamed that he thought it a thing below him, and too little for his revenge to vent it all upon one Man Mordecai, but he will ſpend it on his whole Nation.
Mark 3. Yet Haman wants an Happy or Lucky Time or Day, wherein to execute his moſt miſchievous and bloody Deſign: Hereupon he uſeth Diabolical Divination or Sorrilegy (which was Sorcery) Maiom, Leiom, Ʋmekodeſh, Lekodeſh, Hebr. caſting Lots into the Lap (ſaith Menochius) Prov. 16.33. or into a Pitcher, according to the Ancient Cuſtoms of thoſe Eaſtern Countreys in their Divinations, putting into a Pitcher, Papers with Names of every Month, and of every Day in the Month; then one blindfolded puts in his Hand, and pull'd out one Paper, and according to the Marks ſet down amongſt them all from the firſt Month to the twelfth, and from Day to Day in each Month, that Month and Day the Paper he pull'd out had writ within its Roll, they look'd upon it as their Lucky Time or Day, ver. 7.
Mark 4. The marvelous Providence of God for the good of his Church in a double Reſpect, firſt, This damnable Deſign of an effectual and univerſal Extirpation of the whole Jewiſh Nation was ſo far over-ruled, that it ſhall not be undertaken, until the twelfth Year of this Artaxerxes Ahaſuerus, at which time Eſther had been his Queen about five Years, and who, being ſo greatly beloved by him, was in a better Capacity to interpoſe and interceed for her People: Thus God made a Remedy ready, before the Malady brake forth. And ſecondly, Though Haman's Malice was ſo implacable and unwearied, as to trouble himſelf ſo long in ſeeking out a lucky Day for revenge; yet herein God over-ſhot the Devil in his own Bow, diſpoſing of this Diabolical Lottery, ſo Prov. 16.33. as to defer Haman's ſuppoſed lucky Day from that March unto February following, whereby it came to paſs that his Deviliſh Deſign was defeated, before that time came, wherein to accompliſh it, Chap. 9.1, &c.
Remark the Fourth, The formal Cauſe, namely, the Means and Arguments wherewith Haman perſwaded the King, into a grant of his Royal Authority, for executing his bloody purpoſe upon the Jews, after he had found out his ſuppoſed lucky Time for the accompliſhment of it, ver. 8, 9.
Mark 1. Haman Careſſeth the King, ſaying [There is a certain People] not worth hanghty Haman's naming [ſcattered abroad] this was not their Crime, but their Calamity, Deut. 32.23, 26. but he meant (ſaith Menochius) they were a malevelent People, ſo might be more miſchievous, being [diſperſed in all the Provinces of thy Kingdom] therefore the more dangerous for infecting the King's Liege-People, and for ſowing Seeds of Sedition, &c. whereas indeed (ſaith Bonartius) this diſperſion did diſenable them to make Head againſt an Adverſary, and expos'd them to be deſtroy'd with more eaſe [and their Laws divers from all People] ſo indeed they were and better Laws, Deut. 4.6, 7, 8. Neh. 9.13. here Haman ſpake Truth (as that old Lyar the Devil will do ſometimes) but for a Deviliſh End, to deceive the King with Sycophant Sophiſtry.
Mark 2. Nor do they keep the King's Laws, wherein (ſaith Piſcator) Haman reflects upon Mordecai's not bowing to him at the King's Command; and He being a Jew, all the Jews muſt be Criminals accordingly, could they but find occaſion, &c. thus this Breathing Devil repreſents all the Jews as Refractaries and Rebels, &c. being an Impudent Lyar, even while he ſpeaks Truth, for though it was true they kept not the King's Laws in ſacred Matters, which therein they could not do, it being contrary to their Conſciences, and they muſt obey God rather than Man, as before: Yet kept they the King's Laws in Civil Caſes promoting the Peace of ſuch Places where they lived, as bidden ſo to do, Jer. 29.7.
Mark 3. This curſed Courtier comes to draw his Concluſion, out of all his plauſible Premiſes (in which Syllogiſm, call'd Sorites, he fills his Mouth with moſt cogent Arguments, every Word in it, ſeeming to have weight and worth) therefore [it is not for the King's Profit to permit them] thus while he pretends only the King's and Kingdom's Profit; leſt Sedition ſhould be excited by the Jews (ſaith Bonartius) he ſolely intends the ſatiating his own Private Rage, which he conceals.
Mark 4. Haman Harangues the King at the cloſe with fine ſmooth ſilken Words [Im gnal Hammelek Tob] Heb. ver. 9. If it ſeem good to the King, &c. thus while he ſpake ſo fair (the ſooner to inſinuate) He had ſeven Abominations in his Heart, ſo ſhould not have been believed, ſaith Solomon, Prov. 26.25. Haman adds [Let an irrevocable Decree paſs to deſtroy them all root and branch] N.B. This wicked Haman was one of thoſe wretched Adverſaries, who ſtand upon Record for ſaying [Come let us cut them off from being a Nation, that their Name be no more remembred, Pſalm 83.4.
Mark 5. Laſtly to prevent a Tacit Objection, that the Deſtruction of the Jews (who paid prodigious Tribute, as Captives, into the Royal Treaſury) would prove a vaſt Damage and Detriment to the Kingdom, Haman Anſwers, he will purchaſe their Extirpation with ten thouſand Talents of Silver, which was a vaſt ſumm, computed to be three thouſand ſeven hundred and fifty thouſand Pounds Sterling: If any ask, where ſhould Haman have ſo much Money, Tirinus Anſwers, he might Promiſe to reimburſe himſelf out of his Prey of the Slain Jews, ver. 13. beſide being of the Seed Royal of Amalek, of Agag whom Samuel hew'd in pieces (ſaith Dr. Lightfoot) he might have much Money left him by his Anceſtors, and now being promoted to the higheſt Honours in the Kingdom, and having doubtleſs many Places of Profit concentr'd in that one higheſt Figure, ſo might he lay up Gold us Duſt, and Silver as the Stones of the Brooks, Job 22.24.
The Second Part of this Chapter, is the Effects of this damnable Deſign.
Remark the Firſt, The King's fooliſh Generoſity to Haman his grand Favourite, ver. 10, 11. for without the leaſt Conſideration, he grants Haman his bloody Motion immediately, and more than ſo, as the Sequel doth ſufficiently demonſtrate.
Mark 1. The King could in the Caſe of Vaſthi conſult with his Counſellours, and referr the matter to their Determination, Eſth. 1.13, to 22. and in the Caſe of the two Traitors, that conſpired to kill him, he could make Inquiſition, and do Juſtice with Deliberation, Eſth. 2.22, 23. yea and in the Caſe of Haman afterwards, though he was moſt deeply diſpleaſed with him; yet would he do nothing raſhly againſt him, till he had taken a turn in the Palace-Garden, and conſidered with himſelf what was beſt to be done, Eſth. 7.6, 7, 8.
Mark 2. But here upon the firſt Suggeſtion he gives his Royal Signet to Haman, thereby Authorizing him to do what he liſted (as Gen. 41.42. 1 Kings 21.8.) and particularly to murder ſo many thouſands of Innocents, without hearing them ſpeak for themſelves, &c. this was done more like a bruitiſh Barbarain, than a just Judge ruling in the fear of God, 2 Sam. 23.3. never conſidering how every drop of their Blood would cry with a loud Voice up to God for Vengeance against him, Gen. 4.10. 1 Kings 9.26. Matth. 22.7.
Mark 3. Moreover the King gave to Haman not only the Lives of a Million of Innocent Jews, but alſo the ten thouſand Talents which he had proffer'd to him, and which Haman probably purpoſed to raiſe out of the Spoils of the murthered Jews, all this vaſt ſumm is remitted and returned back again, as a Royal Donative to this wretched Favourite.
Mark 4. How rightly is this Haman branded with this Mark of Ignominy [Tſorer Hajehudim] the Oppreſſor of the Jews (as Junius renders it) having both a Will and a Power to cruſh them, and perhaps he glory'd in this Title, and as an Amalekite he was one of the deadliest Enemies that ever the Jews had, both in Inclination, in Reſolution, and in Power to perform his purpoſe, had not the All-powerful God ſtepp'd in to prevent him: That Wrath of Man which turns not to the Praiſe of God, He will restrain, Pſalm 76.10. Pilate Acted by a borrowed Power, John 19.11. which cannot match the lending Power, &c.
Remark the Second, Then all haſte was made immediately upon this grievous grant, the Decree was writ, not in Black but in Blood, &c.
Mark 1. Thoſe Servile Souls the King's Secretaries write, what Bloody Haman did Dictate to them in the King's Name (right or wrong) and Haman Seals it with the King's Signet, and all in haſte, leſt the King ſhould alter his Mind; either by his Clemency or by the Perſwaſion of any of thoſe over officious Officers, ſhewing him the Iniquity of it.
Mark 2. The Day of Sealing and ſending forth this Bloody Edict was the thirteenth Day of the firſt Month, ver. 12. this was ſoon after Haman had done casting Lots to find out his lucky Day, ver. 7. which no ſooner had he found, though it was very long to it, even almoſt a whole Year from the firſt Month, to the ſame Day of the twelfth; yet Malice lets Haman loſe no time, he will kill all Ages, Sizes and Sexes before hand by Poſting away in all haſte this Destructive Decree into all the Provinces, &c.
Mark 3. For this Sanguinary Edict was ſtuff'd full of various Bloody Phraſes [as Destroy, Kill, and Cauſe to Periſh, &c.] ver. 13. which Haman's malicious Mind made him thus multiply, intimating, ſo the Jews were but all made away by any means, it much matter'd not with him what way, if not by one way, then by another. N.B. What could the Devil himſelf have added more to this abhorr'd Cruelty; all Jews both Young and Old, little Children and Women must be Maſſacred without Mercy to any one, and all done in one Day.
Mark 4. But this Day of ſuch an univerſal Slaughter muſt not be until the thirteenth Day of February, next enſuing the Date of the Decree upon the thirteenth of March foregoing, that this Black and Bloody Day (wherein ſuch unparallel'd Barbarities ſhould have been done) at ſo long a diſtance, betwixt the ſending forth of this Decree, and the time of its Execution, muſt needs be acknowledged as a ſpecial over-ruling Providence of God, that before that Time came, this Helliſh Plot might be prevented, as is noted before, on ver. 7. and as on the one hand it ſerveth to magnifie the Wiſdom of God, the Lord God of the Jews; ſo on the other hand, it ſerves to manifest the Folly of this Madman Haman in deferring his Execution ſo long, for little did he know what a Day might bring forth, Prov. 27.1. much leſs, above three hundred Days.
Remark the Third, The Promulgation of this Bloody Edict, in all the Provinces by the hundred and twenty ſeven Princes thereof, put all the Jews (every where ſcattered and diſperſed) into a moſt dreadful Conſternation, eſpecially thoſe in Shuſhan, ver. 14, 15.
Mark 1. While the winged Poſts are flying into all Parts with this doleful Ditty; the King and Haman ſat down to drink, and even to drown the Clamours of Conſcience, as Cain did by building a City, &c. Gen. 4.17. ſo drank Joſeph's Brethren, Gen. 37.25. inſtead of weeping for their Wickedneſs.
Mark 2. But the Jews in Shuſhan wept, and all thoſe that loved them, being Citizens and more deſirous of Peace than of War, ſaith Serrarius, and fearing how far the Sword once drawn might proceed to put all into Confuſion in the whole Kingdom, by killing ſo many Innocents; yet did not Mordecai condole this doleful Caſe without Hope that Deliverance would come ſome way, Eſth. 4.14.