“So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. to banquet: Heb. to drink”
Drink. Wine was only used at great feasts, Ecclesiasticus xxxi. 17. Water was served up first, from the river Choaspes only. The king and his eldest son were allowed to drink of “the golden waters,” of which they alone had 70 fountains. (Athen. xii. 2.) — Their wine was brought from Chelbon, near Damascus. (Ibid.[Athen.?] i. 22.) (Ezechiel xxvii. 18.) (Calmet)
“Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:”
People. She was more concerned for these than for half of the kingdom. Hence all fasted and prayed, and Esther obtained their deliverance. (Worthington)
“For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. to be destroyed: Heb. that they should destroy, and kill, and cause to perish”
Perish. Three terms of the same import express the greatness of the misery. (Haydock) — King. Whose revenue will be greatly impaired, (Calmet) and character injured, for having given such power to a monster. (Haydock) — The kings of Persia had taken many precautions not to be thus deluded, having appointed officers, who were styled “the eyes and ears” of the king, purposely to obtain all necessary information. But these eyes were often darkened; these ears were often deaf, (Calmet) and unwilling to act with fidelity; (Haydock) though their diligence in make secret transactions known, caused the people to look upon their kings as gods. (Apul. Mund. Cyrop. viii.) (Calmet)
“Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? that: Heb. whose heart hath filled him”
What. Hebrew, “where, who durst entertain this design?” (Haydock)
“And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. The adversary: Heb. The man adversary before: or, at the presence of”
Astonished. Horror of a guilty conscience is the first punishment. (St. Chrysostom) (Worthington)
“And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.”
Set. Hebrew, “of the palace,” (Haydock) belonging to the queen. (Calmet)
“Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. before me: Heb. with me”
My own. Hebrew, “will he force….in the house?” (Haydock) — Those who know with what jealousy the Persians treated their wives, so as to punish with death those who crossed the road before the queens, (Plut. Artax.) or touched them, will not wonder at the indignation of Assuerus, (Calmet) though his suspicions were groundless. (Haydock) — Aman wished to incline the queen to shew clemency, (Menochius) and intercede for him. He threw himself as a suppliant at her feet, as she lay on the bed at table. (Haydock) — Face. His crime was notorious; no trial was requisite, and the kings could treat their subjects as slaves. It was customary to cover the faces of those who were led to execution. Philotas was thus conducted into the presence of Alexander. (Curtius vi.)
“And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. gallows: Heb. tree”
Harbona. Cr.[Greek?], “Bougathan.” (Haydock) — He had been to call Aman to the feast. (Jos.[Josephus?]) — Little dependance is to be had on false friendship, when a man is disgraced. (Worthington) — Upon it. His body was perhaps afterwards exposed in the street, chap. xvi. 18. It is not clear that he was nailed to the cross, though this custom prevailed in the country, 1 Esdras vi. 11. Alexander crucified many satraps. (Curtius ix.) — The old Vulgate observes that the wife and ten children of Aman suffered with him, chap. ix. 6. (Calmet)