Esther 6:13 - Homilies By F. Hastings

Conjugal confidences.

"And Haman told Zeresh his wife." The first indication of Haman's falling from power was when he was commanded by the king to array Mordecai in the royal robes and lead him through the city. His mortification was great. Directly he could escape from his hateful duty he hastened home and told his wife.

I. THERE SHOULD BE NO SECRETS BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE . Where there are secrets there is always a danger of an outbreak of passion or jealousy. Happiness is endangered.

II. HAMAN TOLD OF HIS CHECKS AS WELL AS HIS ADVANCES ; HIS DISAPPOINTMENTS AS WELL AS HONOURS . Sometimes men tell their good fortune and hide the bad; and, on the other hand, some husbands make their wives miserable from fear of approaching disaster.

III. HUMAN HAD A FAITHFUL WARNING , BUT LITTLE CONSOLATION , IN HIS CONJUGAL CONFIDENCE . Zeresh told him that "if Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him," etc. She was a candid friend and a true prophet. Wives should, however, seek to comfort the bread-winner under his trials.

IV. HAMAN HAD TO INVOLVE HIS WIFE IN HIS OVERTHROW , AND RIGHTLY LETS HER KNOW ALL THAT BEFALLS HIM . No man can suffer alone. As Achan "perished not alone in his iniquity," so Haman. His bitterest regrets must have been that he had to involve wife and family in ruin.—H.