The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-10-04
THE SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR OCTOBER 8.

Esther ILL.,, 1-2-Golden Text: Rom.
Will, 31-Commentary on the Day's
Lesson.
iast quarter We left the people at Jerusalem
still at work on the temple. "When It wss
| finished there came pause Of nearly sixty
| years In the history Of the Jews. During
this time the Medo-Persian empire became
larger than any previous kingdom in the
world, 80 that its ruler was surrounded
with splendor and wealth almost beyond
Imagination. Its ambition was to conquer
Greece, and extend Its sway over the known
world. This empire In Its whole extent
| from India to Ethiopia, must have con.
tatned population OF at least 100 900 900" :"
| When Cyrus was king, and his edict was
issued to the Jews, fifty thousand returned
to Jerusalem; hese rebuilt the temple, and
were planting the renewed kingdom of
| God again In P Palestine. But there were
large numbers still remaining In the lands
OF their captivity. These were engaged In
business, had homes, and must have at.
tained considerable wealth. 1t was those
| jews who were scattered throughout the
Medo.Perslan empire whose lives were In
danger at the time Of our lesson, though II
HamRn's plot had been carried out he
would most likely have sought to destroy
even these at Jerusalem.
| 1. "Ahasuerus," A royal title common
to several Medo-PersIan kings This was
Xerxes the son OF darius Hystaspes.. Xerxea
Is the shortened word for Ahasuerus.
"Haman." The kings OF the Amelekites
were called Agag. 1t is likely that Haman
was the descendant OF that Agag spared
by Saul but destroyed by Samuel, and on
the ground might have hatred for the
Jews. Advanced him." Made him his
prime minister and put all the officers OF
state under his direction. Such q distinc-
ton In seats was counted OF vast Impor-
tance In the formal court of Persia.
! 2. kings servants reverenced him."
These were higher class OF officers than
| porters, who were in attendance at tho
| gate to receive the commands Of the king.
Most probably the homage required by Ha-
man was idolatrous. "Gave him divine
honors," as to a deity, for such were given
| to the kings OF Persia, and might be to
| their favorites, "the king had 80 com.
manded him." To bow the knee and give
reverence to all great persons was COM
mon respect due to them, and there needed
not particular command from the. king.
There was therefore more implied in the
reverence commanded than what proceeded
| from mere civil respect.
4. "They told Hnman." They desired to
know whether he and the Jews would be
| allowed to observe their singular customs.
"He had told them that he WIS a jew"
/ This proves that he vindicated himself on
the ground Of bis religion, and 1t implies
that he expected the king would admit this
plea, which favors the supposltion that
Persian kings used to excuse their Jewish
! servants from such obeisance as they could
| not conscientiously render.
5. "Then was Haman full Of WRATH" It
made his proud spirit rage and fret and
| boil within him. He was u man Of q weak
and vainglorious mind and intoxicated with
prosperity.
6. HE thought scorn to lay hands on
Mordecal alone" It Is penal Ia this court
not to worship Haman, as 1t was IN Ne
buchodnezzar's not to worship the golden
image; but his single life Is nothing toward
satisfaction. Thousands OF innocent and
In appear Haman's intolerable pride and
unsettled cruelty and the ancient hatred OF
an Amaleklte to the Israel OF God. Nero's
barbarous wish was his that they had all
out one neck.
7. "They cast Pur." They cast lots to
and which OF the twelve months would be
the most favorable for the execution OF Ha-
mans design, and the month Adar was
taken-the last month OF their year-the
same as our February. Then the lot was
east for the Date, and the thirteenth day
vas chosen. It was the first month Of the
year when Haman began to cast lots. and
the time for the execution OF the Jews was
delayed until the last month, which plainly
shows that though "the lot be cast into the
lap, yet the whole dlsposing thereof Is from
the Lord" Prov. 1888. A year intervened
between the design and Its execution, which
gave time for Mordecai to acqusint Queen
Esther With 1t, and for her to intercede
With the king and thereby prevent the con-
'plracy.
and contemplate, not worthy to be named.
Scattered abroad and dispersed. :. In all
the provinces" Who therefore, II tolerated,
may poison all thy subjects with their
principles. "Their laws are diverse from
Ill people," Such they certainly were, for
they worshlped the true God according to
His own laws; and this was not done BY any
other people then on the face OF the earth.
One great purpose OF many OF their rites
and customs was to keep the Jews separate
kings profit" A pretense OF interest In the
kings prosperity and authority. He would
represent the Jews as fugitives and vaga-
bonds, disaffected to the government and
likely to stir up rebellion. He will offer
his advice and service to bring about the
destruction OF these people.
9. "Let 1t be written" By this he would
throw all the odium of himself and put 1t
On the king and his counselors; for he
wished the thing to pass into law In
which be could have but small share OF
the blame. II will pay ten thousand talents
Of silver" He lids high for leave to de.
stroy all OF them. This shows how he was
bent on the destruction OF the Jews, but
undoubtedly Haman expected to set that
sum and much more by selling on all their
goods. He had said before that It was not
for the kings profit to spare the Jews; but
mere he Is obliged to acknowledge that
there will be loss to the revenue.
10. "The king took his ring. gave It
into Haman." Without any examination
into the condition OF the people he con-
,ented to their destruction. By the delir-
cry OF his signet ring he delegated to
Haman the power Of life and death.
II. "The silver Is given to thee. tho
people also" If the people wore detri-
inent to the nation, as Haman had said,
then 1t would be worth something to the
king to have them destroyed; and II Haman
would undertake the business he shouldbe
rewarded In the same measure that he
offered to enrich the king. Blind was the
King to see In this no personal scheme
against the Jews. "Do with them as 1t
seemeth good" What inhumanity was
shis-to give so many people unneard to
death to please favorlte! We see IN the
sxaltation OF Haman, and In his subse-
uuent fall, that God sometimes permits
men TO arrive ut the highest degree of honor
and power, but that He soon brings them
low and exposes them to shame and
misery. Here Is seen also the sin and folly
Of Ahasuerus in giving credit too easily to
Which well-nigh led many millions OF inno-
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