Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that might at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.

CHAP. VI.

Vers. 1. ON that night could not the king sleep, &c.] The kings head might perhaps be troubled with thinking what great request it should be that Esther had to make, that was so hardly drawn from her; but doubtlesse beside, there was a speciall hand of divine providence in keeping the king awake; for Mor∣decai might have been hanged before Esther had known any thing of it. (Haman be∣ing come early the next morning, vers. 4. to beg this of the king) had not the Lord kept him from sleep, and directed him to reade in that place of the Chronicles where Mordecaies service was recorded, and so made way to his advancement.

Vers. 3. Then said the kings servants that ministred unto him, There is nothing done for him.] Here it is said expressely, that nothing had been done for Mordecai; yet we see what is said in the Apocryphall additions, chap, 12. vers. 5, 6. So the king commanded Mordocheus to serve in the court, and for this he rewarded him. Howbeit,

Aman the son of Amadatheus the Agagite, who was in great honour with the king, sought to molest Mordocheus and his people, because of the two Eunuchs of the kings.

Vers. 4. And the king said, Who is in the court, &c.] That is, in the outer court: for it was death for any body to come into the court, except he were called by name chap. 4.11.

Now Haman was come into the outward court of the kings house, to speak unto the king, to hang Mordecai, &c.] Hereby it appears that it was towards day ere that was read to the king which Mordecai had done, whereupon followed that enquiry, what had been done for the honouring of the man that had done him such good service.

Vers. 6. And the king said unto him. What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour?] Though the king knew of no difference betwixt Haman and Mordecai, yet he suppressed Mordecaies name; and thus the Lord by his provi∣dence brought it about, that even Haman himself should to his greater vexation ap∣point the honours that should be done to Mordecai; and that at a time when he was come to desire of the king that he might be hanged, and with full assurance that he should have obtained his desire.

Vers. 10. Take the apparell and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai. &c.] Though the crown royall whereof Haman spake also, vers. 8. be not here expressed by the king; yet it is implyed in the following words, where Haman is enjoyned to do to Mordecai just as he had said, Let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken, if afterwards he wore a crown of gold, chap. 8.15. And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royall apparell of blew and white, and with a great crown of gold, much more when he was carried in such pomp through the city.

Vers. 11. And proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.] That is, by Heraulds he caused it to be proclaimed.

Vers. 12. And Mordecai came again to the kings gate.] That is, having received that honour related in the former verse, he returned to his ordinary office (as it see∣meth) and attendance at the kings gate, as not being puffed up herewith, nor yet rid of his fears, concerning that cruell decree for the massacre of the Jews, nor know∣ing how Esther had sped in her suit against Haman (though by this sudden change he might hope that something was done) and therefore desirous still to hearken what should be the event of Esthers petition to Ahasuerus.

But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.] To wit, for shame and grief, because that honour, which he was so confident should have been conferred upon himself, was conferred upon his enemy, and himself was forced to be a chief actour therein. See 2. Sam. 15.30.

Vers. 13. If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast be∣gun to fall, thou shalt not prevail, &c.] This they conclude for certain, both because they might well think, that Mordecai having thus gotten the start of him, and being exalted above him, would be revenged on him (as favourites use to seek the ruine of those that were favourites before them) because he had plotted to destroy both him and all his people: and also because what they had observed formerly concerning Gods miraculous pleading for his people against all their enemies, they saw now confirmed in this unexpected advancement of Mordecai, and might thence well guesse that God was now making way to the mine of Haman.

Vers. 14. And while they were yet talking with him, came the kings cham∣berlains, and hasted to bring Haman, &c.] If Harbonah mentioned, chap. 1.10, was one of these, no marvell though afterwards he told Ahasuerus of the gallows that Haman had set up for Mordecai, since he might perhaps then see them at this his going to fetch Haman to Esthers banquet.