EXPOSITION. § 19. CH.APTER X. the Ahasuerus of this book with Darius, the CoNCLUSION.-TB:E GREATNESS OF ARAsu- son of Hyste.spes. But it is not necessary ERUS, Al,"D OF MORDECAI UNDER llIM ( eh. to suppose that the .forat laying of a. tribute x. ). The Book of Esther might have been on the provinces of the Persian empire is expected to terminate with the institution of here intended ; and Xerxes, after the Grecian the Purim feast. All thet has gone before is expedition, which seriously altered the bounds subordinate to this, and the reader would be of his dominions, may well have ma.de a satisfied, and require no more; if the book new assessment, in which the islands of the stopped at the end of eh. ix. But the writer, .lEgean, or some of them, and certain other perhaps from persoirB.l attachment to Mor- maritime tracts, were included. For the decai, perhaps from mere patriotic pride in rest of Aha.suerus' "power and hie might," him, cannot bring himself to lay down the the writer is content to refer hie readers to pen until he has put on record the full " the book of the chronicles of the kinge greatness of his hero, and the strength and of Media and Persia" (ver. 2), which con- support that he we.a to the Jews of his da.y. tained also an e.ccount of " the greatness of He has already told us that "this man Mor- Mordecai, whereto the king advanced him." decai waxed greater and greater" (eh. ix. 4). This greatness forms the sole subject of the He now expands this statement. The essence concluding verse, which declares Mordecai's of Mordecai' s greatness consisted in bis being poeition-(1) with respect to the Persian- "next unto king Ahasnerue" (ver. 3), his " next to the king;" and, (2) with respect to chief minister and alter ego. Thus the great- the Jews-" great among them," " e.ccepted," neee of Ahasuerue is involved in hie. So and their protector and bencfe.ctor, "seeking the chapter commences with a few words on their wealth," or welfare, and "speaking A.hasuerue' greatness. It has already been peace," or insuring tranquillity, to all the noticed more than once (eh. i. 1; viii 9) whole race or people. that he "roled from India to Ethiopia, over Ver. 1.-Xing Aha1nert11 laid a tribute an hundred and twenty-seven provinces." It on the land. Darius, the son of Hyetaepes, was the first to do this (Herod., iii. 89); but, is now added that he "laid a tribute upon as the tribute had to be rearranged from the land, and upon the isles of the sea." (ver. time to time (ibid., vi. 42), any subsequent 1). This mention of "laying a tribute" Persian monsrch who mede a fresh arrange- wa.s the cbisf reason why in former days so ment might be said to "lay a tribute on the m.a.ny writers, including Hooker, identified land." Xerxes is not unlikely to have done OH. X. 1-3.] THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 171
Bo oJter his roturn from Greece, as he had ii. 23 ; vi. i ; ix. 32. The kings of Media lost portions of his territories. And on the and Persia. It is indicative of the intimate ialands of the sea. The Hobrew expression connection of the two Iranian empires that tranelCLted by "Manda of the sea" mcludes one "book" contained the records of botn. maritime tracts. Xerxes by the Greek expe- The fact of the connection is fully estab- dition lost the islands of thl' lEgean, but lished by profane history. Its exact nature still held certain tracts upon the coast of is not perhaps even yet fully understood. Europe, which were occupied for a consider- "Media" seems to be placed before " Persia" able time by Persian garrisons (Herod., vii. in this place on chronological grounds, be- 106, 107). These would necessarily be in- cause the Median history p~eceded the Per- cluded in any assessment tha.t he may have sian history, and was therefore recorded first made, and it is even not unlikely that in the " book." Xerxes would lay his assessment on the Ver. 3.-Next unto king Ahasuerne. Com• lEgean islands, though he might not be able pare Gen. xii. 40 ; Dan. v. 7 ; vi. 3. Pro• to collect it. fane history neither confirms this nor con- Ver. 2.-All the acts of his power and of tradicts it. We know almost nothing of hie might. These are unknown to us. After Xerxes from profane sources after his return the failure of the .Grecian expedition Xerxes to Susa in B.C. 479. Accepted of. Or, "be- attempted nothing further on that side of loved by." The wealth of hie people. J. e. his empire, and the Greeks consequently their welfare. Speaking peace to all his record nothing more concerning him. He seed. It is generally allowed that by "his may have made expeditions in other direc- seed" we must understand those of the same tions. But the chief evidences that we have stock with himself-" the seed of Israel." of his activity point to his having sought to "Speaking peace" to them seems to mea.n gratify his ambition and give vent to his "promoting their peace and safety "-in• grand ideas by erecting magnificent build- suring them, so long as he lived and rnled, a ings. The book of the chronicles. See eh. quiet and peaceful existence.
HOMILETICS. Ver. 1.-A. king's tribute and power. Abasuerus is certainly not brought before us in this book as a model king. He was careless of the lives of his subjects, in- different to justice, callous to suffering, capricious in his likings, and fond of his own pleasure and ease. If Xerxes be the Ahasuerus of this book, it would be hard to light in history upon a character less worthy of respect. Yet be was, if not a great king, king of a great empire-an embodiment of the idea of sovereignty and monarchy. I. Observe THE CHARACTER OF· HIS DOMINION. He levied taxes upon the land and upon the isles of the sea. He exercised power and might over his subjects. He was responsible to no earthly authority. II. Observe THE EXTENT OF HIS 'DOMINION. Not only in this verse, but throughout the book, the vastness of the Persian empire and the might of the Persian sceptre appear as a great fact in the world's history. III. Observe THE LIMITS OF HIS POWER. The Most High ruled, as be ever does rule, and turned the heart of the subject king as he would. We feel that the moving power in the great transaction was Divine. Man rules, but God overrules. IV. THE POWER OF AHASUERUS SUGGESTS TIIE AUTHORITY AND EMPIRE OF Gen HIMSELF. Not only by similitude, but also by contrast. This earthly king was defeated by the Greeks, despised by his subjects, assassinated by bis servants, and bis kingdom passed away to be no more seen. But "the Lord reigneth." " His dominion is an everlasting dominion." "Of his glory there is no end." He demands the submission of our will and the tribute of our praise.