John Trapp on Esther 10:3

Verſe 3. For Mordecai the Jew was next unto King Ahaſhuerus] Proximus à primo, the Kings ſecond, as 2 Chron. 28.11. having the next chief ſeat to him, as Joſephus expoundeth it, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. and ſet over all the Princes of that Monarchy; ſo that he might well cry out with that noble General Iphicrates, [non-Latin text not transcribed], from what mean beginnings to how great an eſtate and dignity am I raiſed! How long he held it is not recorded; all the dayes of his life it is likely, for the good and comfort of the Church, though not without the envy of many of the Courtiers, which he overcame more by patience then pertinacy.

And great among the Jewes] A kinde of King in Jeſhurun, as Moſes, as great among them, as if he had been their proper King. There is mention made of one Mordecai, Ezra 2.2. who was of the firſt that went up with Zorobabel. Aben-Ezra ſaith, that this Mordecai was he: and that when he ſaw that the building of the City and Temple went not on as was to be wiſhed, he returned again out of Judea to Shuſhan, and lived about the Kings Court, being not known to be a Jew, till Haman was in his greatneſſe; ſoon after which himſelf became much greater then Haman.

And accepted of the multitude of his brethren] He was their Corculum, (as Scipio:) their darling,Orbis deliciae Melancth, Chron. as Titus; Mundi Mirabilia, as otho the third Emperour of Germany was called. Of Mordecai it might be ſung, as Cardanus did of our Edward the ſixth.

Deliciae ſaecli & gloria gentis erat.

Seeking the wealth of his people] Farre more then his own private profit, glory and dignity, labouring their good both of ſoule and body by all meanes poſſible, that they might have Gaius's proſperity, and be as happy as heart could wiſh.

And ſpeaking peace] He was gentle and courteous to all, not like Polyphemus, who was Nec viſu facilis, nec dictu affabilis ulli.

Now affability and courteſie in high degree eaſily draweth mens mindes, as faire flowers in the Spring do Paſſengers eyes; Queen Elizabeth for inſtance, of whom before. Moreover he ſpoke good of them, and for them to the King, and promoted their proſperity to the utmoſt.

To all his ſeed] i. e. to all his Countreymen, as if they had been his own children. And here that ſweet Promiſe of God made to the good figges, was fulfiled. Jeremy had perſwaded Jehoiakim, and many others with him, to yield themſelves up into the hands of the King of Aſſyria, aſſuring them, that ſo doing they ſhould fare farre better then thoſe that ſtood out. They did ſo, and Mordecai among the reſt, as ſome will have it; and now ſee how well they ſpeed, ſee the faithfulneſſe of God in fulfilling his Promiſes; the reward of the righteous, the triumph of truſt.

Again, to all his ſeed] That is, poſteris ſuis, ſo ſome ſenſe it; he ſpoke peace to all his ſeed, [illegible: 1 letter]olocut[illegible: 1 letter]s eſt [illegible: 1 letter]ſperitatem [illegible: 1 letter]du Judaeo [illegible: 2 letters] poſterita. Merlin. that is, proſperity to all the Jewes poſterity: providing for their future happineſſe alſo, and taking courſe, that after his death too, the welfare of the Church might be continued. This was dying Davids care, 1 Chronicles 28.1, 2, &c. and Pauls, Acts 20.29. and Peters, 2 epiſt. 1.15. and Ambroſes, of whom Theodoſius ſpeaking, ſaid, Dilexi virum, I could not but love the man exceedingly for this, that when he died he was more ſolicitous of the Churches then of his own dangers. So was Calvin as is teſtified in his life. Nay, Cicero, as he could confidently ſing.

O fortunatam natam me conſule Romam.

So he elſwehere profeſſeth, that he was in no leſſe care what the Common-wealth would do when he was dead, then whiles he was yet alive.Cic. de amici

Soli Deo Gloria in aeternum.