The Book of Esther

Esther 10

Chapter X · Vol. II, p. 935

1 Ahasuerus' greatness. 3 Mordecai's advancement.

Margin referencesNotes ↓

1 And the king Ahasuerus ^alaid a tribute upon the land, and upon the ^bisles of the sea.

b Lesser Asia and its isles, Da.11.18. Ge.10.5.

2 And ^call the acts of his power, and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king ^dadvanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?¹

c 1 Ki.11.41; 14.19,29; 15.7,23.

d Heb. made him great, Ps.18.35. Job 29.8,9.

1 The Persian empire extended from the Hellespont to the Indus, 2500 miles; and from Pontus to the Arabian Sea, about 2000 miles; including several isles of the Mediterranean and Ægean Seas.—C.

3 For Mordecai the Jew was ^enext unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and ^faccepted of the multitude of his brethren, ^gseeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.

e Ge.41.40-44. 2 Ch.28.7. 1 Sa.23.17.

f ch.3.1. Lu.2.52.

g Ne.2.10. Ps.137.5,6. Ro.9.2,3; 10.1.

Notes

Reflections.—It is a great mercy in an arbitrary government, when the weakness or wickedness of the monarch is balanced by the good qualities of the minister of state. They only are truly great whose power and dignity are employed for the public good. But, alas! how unsubstantial the whole pomp, grandeur, and wealth of this world, which so soon pass away!