WRs again invited on the moITOw to bRnquet his friends around him es to be companione with her and the king" (ver. 12). He in his grief. It is true that his speech to added, however, Mordecai's insult remaining them was chiefly occupied with boasts ; but fre~h in his recollection, that all his glory, the true intention of the discourse is seen in its close-" All this ave.Heth me nothing,' all his honours, availed him nothing-were as &c. nothing in his eyes-o long as he was con- Ver. 11.-The multitude of his ohildren. demned t-0 see Mordecai the Jew every time Literally, "of his sons." Of those we see that he passed though the pale.ce gate, and by eh. ix. 7-10 that he had ten. To be to he treated by him with contempt and the father of me.ny sons was e.ccounted highly honourable by the Persie.ns (Herod., rontumely (ver. 18). Upon this Zeresh i. 136). Jlow he had adnnoed him above made, and He.man's friends approved, a pro- the prinoea. See above, eh. iii. 1. posnl that a lofty cross should be at once Ver. 13. All this availeth me nothin!f, erected in the court of Haman's house, on The bitter drop in his cup deprived Haman s which Mordecai should be impaled, with the life of all sweetness. He he.d not lee.mad the wisdom of setting pleasure against pain, king's consent, as soon as it was finished. joy a,,"Binst sorrow, satisfaction age.inst e.n- Haman agreed to this, recovered his spirits, noyance. Much less he.d he taught himself and gave orders for the cross to be ma.de (ver. to look upon the vexe.tions and trials of life 14). as blessings in disguise. His was a coarse and undisciplined nature, little better than , er. 9. -][ordeoai . . . stood not up, nor that of a savage, albeit he was the chief moved for him. Originally Mordecai had minister of the first monarch in the world. merely declined to prostrate himself before So little proof is worldly greatness of either Haman on religious grounds. Now he greatness or goodness of soul looked upon Haman as bis personal enemy, Ver. 14.-Let a gallows be made. Rather, and would not even acknowledge his pre- '' a pale " or '' cross." The Persians did not sence. There is nothing more galling than hang men, as we do, but ordinarily executed such utter contempt shown openly in the them by impalement (see the comment on presence of others. eh. ii. 23). Fifty oubits high. This is a Ver. 10. -Raman refrained himse~ That very improbable height, and we may suspect is to say, eo far as speech and act went. He a corruption of the number. It occurs, how- said nothing ; he did not strike his insulter ; ever, again in eh. vii 9. Speak thou unto he did not order his servants to drag the the king. Haman's wife and friends assume fellow outside the gate and give him the that so trifling a matter as the immediate bastinado. But he did not "refrain his execution of one Jew will be of course al- heart." He allowed the affront that he had lowed at the request of the chtef minister, received to remain in his mind and rankle who has already obtained an edict for the there. It poisoned his happiness, marred all early destruction of the entire people. It his enjoyment, filled him with hatred and certainly would seem to be highly probable rage. When he ea.me home, he sent and that Xerxes would have granted Haman's called for hill friends. It was not so much petition but for the accident of bis sleepless• to be partners in his joy that He.man called ness, as narrated in the next chapter.
HOMILETICS. Vers. 11, 12.-Prosperity and sdf-gratulatwn. In Oriental courts, where pro- motion depends upon the favour of the sovereign, it is sometimes as rapid as it is undeserved, and as insecure as it is rapid. So was it with the worthless, vain, arro- gant Haman. His career is full of instruction, especially as an instance of the effects and perils of prosperity. I. Observe THE ELEMENTS of worldly prosperity. 1. Riches. The minister's position gave him the opportunity of acquiring vast wealth, especially by means of extortion, and oppression, and bribes. And the king gave his favourite large sums of money, in that lavish and insane capriciousness which distinguished him. 2. Family. We are told that Haman had ten sons, and we know that a large number of sons was counted in Persia the highest blessing of fortune. 3. Promotion and power. What Haman's origin W!IJ! we are not told, but that be was raised by royal favour to a station be could never have anticipated is clear enough. He was the first of subjects, and bad the ear of the king, who delegated to him his authority, handing him his signet to use as he thought fit. 4. Pre-eminence over rivals. This, OH, V. 9-14.] THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 111