The Pulpit Commentary — Esther — Section 64

carries the whisper to an Esther, and an Esther who carries it to the one most interested. Sometimes God directly thwarts wicked planning. Pharaoh said, "I will pursue,'' &c., but God "blew with his wind." "They sank as lead in the mighty waters." II. UNWORTHY PLANNIN0B ARE OFTEN SUBJECT TO THE KEENEST BEARCBINGS. The king made thorough investigation into the matter. He did not condemn on mere hearsoy or suspicion. Many, in the anxiety to protect self, are seized with prejudice which hinders just deliberation. A watch was set. Manners, companions, places of resort were marked. Inquisition was made. III. ALL WRON0-D0INO WILL SOONER OR LATER BE DISCOVERED. " The thing was found out." Bigthan and Teresh learned their folly when suffering impalement, the usual punishment of traitors in Persia. They might not have been discovered. Wickedness is sometimes successful in this world, and evades justice. That which may escape detection by men cannot pass the eye of God. Ahasuerus little knew what was in the hearts of those men, but God knew. Bigthan and Teresh would have served Ahasuerus as Ehud did Eglon, or Joab, Abner. Leam-1. That there will be inquiry into our lives, our acts and motives. 2. That none will be exempt from the searching. 3. That we should take warnings given in kindness. Suppose Ahaeuerue had paid no heed to Mordecai'e warning; he would have lost crown, throne, and life.-H. Ver. 23.-Written, but not remembered. "It was written in the book of the chronicles before the king." The king had been delivered from danger, but he seems to have overlooked the deliverer. Ahasuerue had at least one faithful subject, Mordecai. Thie man had proved his loyalty by his acts, while Bigthan and Teresh paid the penalty of disloyalty by being hung. Criminals and the righteous were alike spoken of, in the chronicles of the king. I. MAN, EVEN WHEN BE PROMISES TO REMEMBER BENEFITS, IS LIKELY TO FORGET. Ahasuerus commanded Mordecai's act to be recorded. He intended to reward him. Mordecai doubtless expected some recognition of his services, but he was for a long time disappointed. It is a " black blot II on the name of Ahasuerus that he forgot illll inde btednees. II. Goo NEVER FORGETS MAN'S GOOD ACTS OR EVEN KINDLY THOUGHTS. All are written in his book of remembrance (Mai. iii. 16). He, the King of kings, gives reward beyond our deserts. We should remember how much we owe to Christ, who is the good Mordecai who warns and saves us. We should write it in our memories that we owe everything to him for his grace and forbearance. Not until we reach the other world, and look over life's history, shall we know how much we owe to him.-H. EXPOSITION. § 4. has been set above those of all the other CHAPTER III. "princes" (ver. 1). He has in fact become MORDECAI, BY WANT 0.1!' RESPECT, OF• "grand vizier," or chief minister. In the ll'ENDS HAMAN, AHASUERUS' CHIEF MIN· East men are so servile that a. new favourite !STER, HAMAN, IN REVENGE, RESOLVES commonly receives the profoundest homaga TO DESTROY THE ENTIRE NATION OF THE and reverence from all classes, and royal lEws (eh. iii. 1-6). A break, probably of orders to bow down to such an one e.ni son.3 years, separates eh. ii. from Gh. iii. In superfluous. But on the occasion of Hama.n's the interval a new and important event has elevation, for some reason that is not stated, occurred-a. new character has made ap- a specie.I command to bow down before him pearance upon the scene. Haman, the son of was issued by Ahasuorus (ver. 2). All obeyed HammedathEI, EID Agagite (whatever thElt may as a matter of courso, excepting one man. mean), has risen high in the favour of Ahasu- This was Mordecai the Jew. Whether there oirus, Elnd been assigned by him the second WEIS anything extreme and unusual in the place in the kingdom. It has been grE1nted degree of honour required to be paid to the him to sit upoQ a throne ; ond his throue new favourite, or whether Mordeoui regurdeJ  62 THE BOOK OF ESTHER. [CH. III. 1-6,