John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 8. And Haman said unto King Ahasuerus , Or “had said” f115 , as some choose to render it; nor indeed is it likely that Haman should cast lots to know when would be a proper time to destroy the Jews, until he had got leave of the king to do it: there is a certain people scattered abroad, and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom ; for, though many of the Jews returned to their own land, on the proclamation of Cyrus, yet others remained, being well settled as to worldly things, and not having that zeal for God and his worship as became them, and not caring to be at the trouble and expense of such a journey, and especially those of the ten tribes; now Haman, through contempt of them, mentions them not by name, only describes them as a scattered insignificant people: and their laws are different from all people ; concerning their diet and observation of days, and other things; so Empedocles, an Heathen, observes of the Jews, that they were a separate people from all others in those things; for he says, “they separated not only from the Romans, but even from all men; for, having found out an unmixed way of living, they have nothing common with men, neither table nor libations, nor prayers, nor sacrifices, but are more separate from us than the Susians or Bactrians, or the more remote Indians:” neither keep they the king’s laws ; and, no doubt, he had a special respect to the non-observance of the king’s command to give him reverence; and in like manner the Jews are represented by Heathen writers, as by Tacitus f117 , Juvenal f118 , and others: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them ; that is, to dwell in his dominions; he got nothing by them, and they might be prejudicial to his subjects, and poison them with their notions; and since they were not obedient to the laws of the kingdom, it was not fit and equitable that they should be continued in it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-15 - Without some acquaintance with the human heart, and the history of mankind, we should not think that any prince could consent to dreadful proposal, so hurtful to himself. Let us be thankful for mil and just government. Haman inquires, according to his ow superstitions, how to find a lucky day for the designed massacre! God' wisdom serves its own purposes by men's folly. Haman has appealed to the lot, and the lot, by delaying the execution, gives judgment agains him. The event explains the doctrine of a particular providence ove all the affairs of men, and the care of God over his church. Haman wa afraid lest the king's conscience should smite him for what he ha done; to prevent which, he kept him drinking. This cursed method man often take to drown convictions, and to harden their own hearts, an the hearts of others, in sin. All appeared in a favourable train to accomplish the project. But though sinners are permitted to proceed to the point they aim at, an unseen but almighty Power turns them back How vain and contemptible are the strongest assaults against Jehovah Had Haman obtained his wish, and the Jewish nation perished, what mus have become of all the promises? How could the prophecies concernin the great Redeemer of the world have been fulfilled? Thus the everlasting covenant itself must have failed, before this diabolica project could take place _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 המן2001 למלך4428 אחשׁורושׁ325 ישׁנו3426 עם5971 אחד259 מפזר6340 ומפרד6504 בין996 העמים5971 בכל3605 מדינות4082 מלכותך4438 ודתיהם1881 שׁנות8138 מכל3605 עם5971 ואת853 דתי1881 המלך4428 אינם369 עשׂים6213 ולמלך4428 אין369 שׁוה7737 להניחם׃3240
