John Trapp on Esther 1:13

Verſe 13. Then the King ſaid to the wiſe-men] What a ſudden change is here? Ex conviviis fiunt comitia, imò & convitia, ſaith an Interpreter: The enraged King forgets all his old love to Vaſthi, and breaths nothing elſe but reparation of his own loſt honour, and revenge upon his peereleſſe paragon. Howbeit herein He is to be commended, that he ſent not for her forthwith by force, that he might diſpatch her with his own hands; as Alexander did his friend Clitus and others in his cups and choler: neither ran he raging into her chamber,Sueton. Ner. and kickt her out of the world, as Nero did his wife Octavia, for a leſſe matter. He knew that anger is an evil counſellour: — qui non moderabitur irae,Horat. Inf[illegible: 1 letter]ctum velit eſſe dolor quod ſuaſerit & mens.

He that reineth not in his anger ſhall do that in his haſte, whereof it ſhall repent him by leiſure, and could eate his nailes to have it undone again. Ahaſhuerus therefore calleth for his Judges and Counſellours, skilful in ſtatematters.

Which knew the times] And what was beſt to be done in them. This skill they had gotten by much reading of Politicks, and Hiſtories, and long obſervation. The men of Iſſachar were ſuch, 1 Chronicles 12.32. Such a one was Croeſus to Cyrus, Polybius to Scipio, Agrippa to Auguſtus, Anaxagoras to Themiſtocles, &c. Xerxes here had ſeven ſuch to adviſe with as his Privy-Counſellours, Judices Regios; the Kings Judges Herodotus calleth them, and further ſaith,Lib. 3. that they held their places for their lives, unleſſe they very much misbehaved themſelves.

For ſo was the manner] Sc. to adviſe with them in matters of moment, but not alwayes to take their adviſe. The manner was, and the fundamental Lawes of the Land took order, for prevention of tyranny, that the Kings of Perſia ſhould be ruled by this grave Senate of the Kingdome, and not bring in an arbitrary government. But Xerxes, (who is this Ahaſhuerus) once at leſt, (if not oftner) viz. in his expedition againſt Greece, which was not long after this great feaſt, called his ſeven Princes together, and ſpake to them after this manner: Leſt, ſaid he, I ſhould ſeeme to follow mine owne counſel,Val. Max, lib! 9. cap. 5.[illegible: 1 letter] I have aſſembled you and now do you remember, that it becomes you rather to obey then adviſe.

Towards all that knew law and judgement] Of theſe Perſian Privy-Counſellours it is ſaid, 1. That they were wiſe-men: now thoſe only are wiſe quibus res ſapiunt prout ſunt. 2. They were skilful in the times, that is, well verſed in hiſtories, and well furniſhed with experiences. 3. That they knew the Lawes, which they had ready, and at their fingers ends, as we ſay. They knew alſo judgement, that is, equity and moderation, without which utmoſt right might be utmoſt wrong; as indeed it proved in the caſe in hand. Memucan not only accuſeth the Queen, but aggravateth her offence, and inſtead of healing the wound, maketh it farre wider. This might become a mercenary Oratour, but not a grave Counſellour. The buſineſſe was this: The King was angry, and he meant to ſet him going: the Queene was an eye-ſore, and ſhe muſt be removed. Such ſlaves are ambitious ſtatiſts to their own, and their Princes luſts, but eſpecially when their own plough is driven forward withal.