Esther 10:3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Esther 10:1-3

We are here told, I. How great and powerful king Ahasuerus was. He had a vast dominion, both in the continent and among the islands, from which he raised a vast revenue. Besides the usual customs which the kings of Persia exacted (Ezra 4:13), he laid an additional tribute upon his subjects, to serve for some great occasion he had for money (Est. 10:1): The king laid a tribute. Happy is our island, that pays no tribute but what is laid upon it by its representatives, and those of its own... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 10:3

For Mordecai the Jew was next unto Ahasuerus ,.... The second man in the kingdom, the principal of the counsellors, and prime minister of state: and great among the Jews ; highly respected by them, in great honour and esteem with them, for which there was great reason: and accepted of the multitude of his brethren ; or of many, of most, of the greatest part of them; for, let a man be ever so deserving, there are some that will envy his greatness, cavil at everything done by him, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 10:3

Was next unto king Ahasuerus - He was his prime minister; and, under him, was the governor of the whole empire. The Targum is extravagant in its encomiums upon Mordecai: "All the kings of the earth feared and trembled before him: he was as resplendent as the evening star among the stars; and was as bright as Aurora beaming forth in the morning; and he was chief of the kings." Seeking the wealth of his people - Studying to promote the Jewish interest to the utmost of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 10:1-3

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 10:1-3

Wisdom at the helm. These concluding verses give a brief and comprehensive view of the results of Mordecai's advancement to power. The influence of the great Jew soon made itself felt to the utmost boundaries of the wide empire. I. A UNIVERSAL TAXING . The laying of "a tribute on the land and the isles of the sea" may seem very arbitrary, but it was probably in the manner of a notable reform. It is to be attributed to Mordecai, and is given as a special instance of his wisdom and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 10:3

Next unto king Ahasuerus . Compare Genesis 41:40 ; Daniel 5:7 ; Daniel 6:3 . Profane history neither confirms this nor contradicts it. We know almost nothing of Xerxes from profane sources after his return to Susa in B.C. 479. Accepted of. Or, "beloved by." The wealth of his people. i.e. their welfare. Speaking peace to all his seed. It is generally allowed that by "his seed", we must understand those of the same stock with himself—"the seed of Israel." "Speaking peace" to them... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 10:3

The wealth and peace of a people the patriot's aim. It is a fine description of the aim of Mordecai's public life with which this book closes. What more could be said of the patriotic statesman in any kingdom than this: that he was ever found "seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed"? I. WEALTH . Under this we include not simply riches, but welfare in every sense: prosperity, security, progress, happiness—all that can truly enrich and bless a nation.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 10:3

The beneficent statesman. It is reserved for the very last sentences of this book to give to one of the chiefest of its characters, perhaps the chiefest, the place and testimony he had well earned. For a time these seemed withheld, and both the name of Mordecai and himself also seemed kept somewhat unduly in the background. But when we come to the end, it looks rather as though all the book had been in deep reality about him, and as though all had hinged on him. We are left at the close of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 10:3

A life summed up. "For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great." Gather from Mordecai's history something to stimulate our spirits in the baffle of life. I. We might remark upon THE WAY IN WHICH HE EARNED HIS ELEVATION . Perhaps as a Jew, he was a little revengeful towards aliens; but he filled well a lowly position, and so was prepared better for a higher. Shall we desire rather to reap rewards than to sow the seed which will produce them? II. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 10:3

Moral work. Integrity must prosper sooner or later. Were it not so, we should lose faith in eternal righteousness. Appearances may be unfavourable for a time, wrong, sorrow, suffering may precede, but either here or hereafter a distinction will most assuredly be made between the true and the false. Joseph, though consigned to prison, was subsequently raised to power; Daniel, though cast into the lions' den, eventually sat with princes; Mordecai, though threatened with death, finally became... read more

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