Jews. Hebrew, "but the city of Susan was in perplexity." Greek, "troubled." (Calmet) --- Even the pagans could not view such a cruel decree, without horror. (Haydock) CHAPTER III. Shewing. Septuagint, old Vulgate, and Josephus, "a nation which has done no wrong, is to be cut off." The eastern nations were accustomed to such marks of sorrow, Jonas ii. 6. The citizens of Susa tore their garments, and cried aloud, for many days after the defeat of Xerxes. (Herodotus viii. 98.) --- The domestics of Darius and Alexander tore also their hair, &c., after their masters' death. (Curtius iii., and xi.) Sackcloth. Greek adds, "and ashes." Such an appearance was deemed disrespectful. God forbids his priests to act thus, Leviticus xxi.. 1. See Genesis xli. 14. Yet the miserable ought not to be entirely excluded from the king's presence, as he ought to be their protector. Edict. Literally, "dogma;: (Haydock) a word used in this sense, (Acts xv. 16.) and by Demosthenes, &c. (Tirinus) --- Mourning. The most effectual means of redress, is to do works of penance for past transgressions, 1 Corinthians xi. 31. (Worthington) Her, concerning the unusual distress of one of the courtiers. They knew not, (Menochius) perhaps, that he was related to her. (Haydock) Money. Hebrew, "the sum of money." Septuagint, "then thousand talents." Entreat. Septuagint, "to put in a counter-petition, and entreat," &c. --- People. Septuagint add, "and country, remembering the days of thy lowly state, how thou wast fed by my hand; for Aman, the second after the king, has spoken against us, to have us destroyed. Call then upon the Lord, and speak to the king for us, and rescue us from death." (Haydock) --- This servant must have been very trusty, as the secret was confided to him, respecting the nation to which the queen belonged. (Menochius) Inner court, with regard to many others around, though there was one still more retired, (Tirinus) where the king alone could enter. This admitted the light only by the door, before which hung a curtain, so that the king could see (Calmet) who came into the hall of audience, (Haydock) without being seen. None durst come even to this antichamber, without being called. It was also death to appear with their hands out of their sleeves, (Cyrop. ii.) or to sit down, (Diod. xvii.) or look at any of the king's wives in the face, &c. (Plut. Artax.) --- This gloomy retirement was intended to keep up the idea of his majesty being something more than man. (Haydock) --- Apud Persas persona regis, sub specie majestatis, occulitur. (Justin. i.) --- The king's secret cabinet (Calmet) resembled, in magnificence (chap. xv. 9.) the description which Ovid has given us of the palace of the sun. (Tirinus) --- It was covered with gold and precious stones. Here he continued, almost inaccessible, and business was despatched slowly. (Calmet) --- Agesilaus, king of Sparta, shewed how ridiculous these customs were, by acting quite the reverse, appearing frequently among his subjects, and granting their just requests without delay. (Xenophon) --- Thirty. She might apprehend that the king's affection was beginning to cool. God was pleased thus to try her the more. (Haydock) Only. Aman would contrive to effect her ruin with the rest. Occasion. Wonderful confidence! Greek, "if thou wilt not hearken (Calmet; to me; (Haydock) or, if thou obstinately despise) at this time, the Jews shall be assisted and protected by some," &c. (Haydock) --- As this. So Joseph was raised up in Egypt, (Calmet) that he might save all his family. (Haydock) CHAPTER IV. Pray. Hebrew, "fast." They might take some refreshment in the evening, (Lyranus) of dried meats. (Josephus) (Grotius) --- Few constitutions could have done without any thing. Yet after two nights and one full day were elapsed, Esther ventured to go to the king, chap. v. 1. We have here another instance of places for prayer, Judith vi. 21. The old Vulgate has, "publish a fast, and tell the ancients to fast. Let the infants be kept from the breast during the night, and let no food be given to the oxen and other animals, while I and my maids shall fast," &c. Then at the end of this chapter, in the Septuagint, follow the prayers of Mardochai and of Esther, (chap. xiii. 8., and chap. xiv.; Haydock) which is their proper place. (Calmet) And. Instead of these two verses, the Septuagint place (Haydock) what we have [in] chap. xv., with some small variation from the present account in Hebrew. But there is nothing incompatible with the truth. (Calmet) --- The king might be at first displeased; but, seeing the effect which it had upon Esther, he might feel his former sentiments of love rekindle. (Calmet) (Tirinus) --- House, or inner apartment, chap. iv. 11. The throne was surprizingly magnificent, yet inferior to that of Solomon, 3 Kings x. 18. (Calmet) --- It was formed of gold and precious stones, with a curtain over it of purple and other colours. (Atheneus xi. 2.) Golden. "It is not this golden sceptre which saves the kingdom," said Cyrus, "but faithful friends are the most true and secure sceptre for kings." (Cyrop. viii.) (Calmet) --- Kissed. Hebrew, "touched." (Haydock) Kingdom. Chap. vii. 2. This compliment only (Calmet) meant, that every rational (Haydock) request should be granted, Mark. vi. 23. Prepared. It was not prudent to declare her request, when many improper persons were present; and Aman was not there. (Menochius) --- She thought that the hilarity, occasioned by innocent feasting, (Haydock) might be a means of obtaining more effectually what she wanted. (Menochius) --- If the prudence of this world suggest much address, why may not virtue employ the same arts for good purposes? Esther had to obtain two great points; to make the king retract his edict, andto abandon his favourite. She is afraid therefore of being too hasty, (Calmet) and invites the king again, to increase by this delay his desire to of knowing her request, and that he might bind himself to grant it more effectually. (Worthington) --- She invites Aman alone, who would thus be more envied by the other courtiers; (Lyranus) while she manifested an open dispostion, and disdained to accuse the absent. (Tirinus) Wine. The Persians did not drink till the end of the feast, (as the Turks are said to do at present. Tavernier) when they fall upon wine without any moderation. (\'c6lian, Hist. xii. 1.) Children. After military glory, this was deemed the greatest. The king sent presents yearly to those who had most children. (Herodotus i. 136.) But me. It was thought very singular, when Artaxerxes invited his own brothers. (Plutarch) --- But when he also admitted a foreigner, the nobility became jealous, as that honour was reserved for the king's relations. (Atheneus i.) --- Dine, or feast. Only one meal was taken, (Herodotus vii. 120.) and that in the evening. (Calmet) Whereas. Septuagint, "all these things do not satisfy me, while I behold," &c. Such is the insatiable nature of ambition! (Haydock) --- Gate. He does not clearly mention that he wanted to be adored. (Menochius) High. This was to increase the shame. Hence Galba condemned a Roman citizen to be hung on a high white cross. (Suetonius ix.) --- The Jews formerly burned a man in effigy with a cross, pretending to do it in detestation of Aman, but in reality to deride our Saviour, till the emperors forbade the custom, chap. ix. 21. (Calmet) (Just. and Theodos.) (Calmet)