porh1Lps she wishes to prevent him from sus· ing requests beforehand is one common pecting th11t she looks on him o.s on enemy. 1Lmong Oriental monarchs. Sometimes no At the customary time, towards evening, the limit at all is placed to the petitioner's liberty of choice-seldom any leas wide limit banquet takes place ; and in the course of it than that of the present passage. According the king repeats his offer to grant her any to Herodotus (ix. 111), there was one day in boon she pleases, " even to the half of the the year on which the king was bound to kingdom" ( ver. 6). Still doubtful, still grant any request ma.de by a. guest at his hesitating, still unwilling to make the final table. To the half of the kingdom. Com- pare Mark vi. 23, where Herod Antipas makes cast that is life or death to her, she once the same limitation. more temporises, invites the pair to a second Ver. 4.-Let the king and Raman come banquet on the moITow, and promises that this day unto the banquet that I have pre- then at la.st she will unbosom herself and pared. Such an invitation as this was very say what it is which she desires (vers. 7, 8). unusual. Ordinarily the king and queen dined separately, ea.eh in their own apart- The king once more accedes to her wish, as ments; family gatherings, however, not be- we gather from the sequel (eh. vii. 1); and ing unknown (Plut., 'Vit. Artaxerx.,' ~ 5; so the final determination of the matter is Athen., 'Deipnsoph.,' iv. p. 145, A). But put off for another day. for the queen to invite not only the king, but also another male guest, not a relation, Ver. 1.-0n the third day. The third was a. remarkable innovation, and must have day from that on which Esther and Mordecai seemed to the fortunate recipient of the in- had communicated together through Hatach vitation a high act of favour. (eh. iv. 5-17). Esther put on her royal Ver. 6.-What is thy petition l Ahasu- apparel. This is certainly the meaning, erus has understood that it was not for the though the elliptical phrase used is uncom- mere plea.~ure of entertaining himself and his mon. Esther, while she fa.sted, had worn prime minister at a banquet that Esther some garb of woe ; now she laid it a.side, and adventured her life. He knows that she must appeared once more in all the splendour of still have a request-the real favour that she her royal robes. She took up her position wants him to grant-in the background. He directly in front of the king's apartment, therefore repeats the inquiry and the promise with the object of attracting his attention, that he had made previously (ver. 3). and perhaps with the knowledge that he was Ver. 7.-My petition and my request is. upon his throne, whence he could not fail Esther still hesitates to prefer her real re- to see her. The king sat upon his royal quest. We a.re not likely to be able in the throne, . . . . over against the gate. In a. nineteenth centurv to understand all the Persian pillared ha.11 the place for the throne motives tha.t actuated her, or all the work- would be at the further end, midway betweeu ings of her mind. Perhaps nothing kept her the side walls. The throne would be elevated b11ck but the natural fear of a repulse, and a on steps, and would command a view down desire to defer the evil day; perhaps she saw the midmost a.venue of columns to the ma.in some real advantage in putting off the deter- entrance, which would commonly occupy mination of the matter. At any rate, she that position. a.gain declined to declare herself, and merely Ver. 2. -Esther . .. touohed tne top of the gave her two guests a second invitation for sceptre. This wa.s, no doubt, the customary the ensuing evening. She concludes, how- act by which the king's grace was, as it ever, with a promise that she will ask no were, accepted and appropriated. It is analo- further respite. I will do to-morrow as the gous to that touch of the person or of the king bath said. I. e. I will prefer my real garments which secured the suppliant mercy request; I will ask the fa ,our which was iu among the Greeks. my thoughts when I aJ.ventured myself in Ver. 3.-What is thy request 1 It shall the inner court without having received n.u be even given thee. The practice of grant- invitation.
HOMILETICS. Ver. 1.-.A royal throne.-This verse is full of royalty. Esther put on "her royal apparel," and stood in the inner court of "the king's house." "The lcing sat upon his royal throne in the royal house." This royal throne may suggest to us some thoughts concerning the throne of "the King of kings." I. This royal throne must be approached with REVERENCE. The blessed and oll:y Potentate sits thereon. Before his seat it behoves the creatures of his power lo fail prostrate in reverential adorntion. 104 TRE BOOK OF ESTHER. (on. v. 1-8.
II. This royal t':irone must be approached with CONFIDENCE. "He that cometh unto G_od ~ust ~eheve that he_ is, and that he is a re~arder of them that diligently seek lum. It 1s not honounng God to come to 1nm doubtfully or distrustfully. On the contrary, it is to question his faithfulness and his truth. III. This royal throne must be approached by us in the attitude of SINNERS AND SUPPLIANTS. It is a throne of grace, and to it we come boldly, that we may II obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Let us draw near as those whose only claim is upon Divine mercy, whose only hope is in Divine condescension and bounty. Iv: Thie royal throne must be approached by the way of FAITH JN THE DIVINE MEDIATOR, JESUS CHRIST. The High Priest and Intercessor both removes every difficulty in our access, and inspires us with those sentiments of confidence and filial love which will animate us in laying our many petitions for urgent blessings at the very footstool of the throne. Asking through Christ, and in hie name, we cannot be refused and disappointed.