John Trapp on Esther 2:10

Verſe 10. Eſther had not ſhewed her people] Becauſe the Jewes were ſlighted as captives, and forlorn (how dear to the gods that Nation is, faith Cicero, it appeareth, quòd eſt victa, quòd elocata, O at. pro L. Hac. quòd ſervata, in that they are conquered, captivated, and not utterly deſtroyed by us) they were alſo generally hated, as different in Religion, and would not ſo much as drink with Heathens, leſt they ſhould drink things ſacrificed to Idols. They held it meritorious (in after-times) to kill an idolater, as Tacitus teſtifieth: and at this day they ſay, Optimus inter gentes, &c. The very beſt among the Gentiles is worthy to have his head bruiſed as a Serpent. A naſty people they are ſtill, and bloodthirſty, odious and ſordid. An hiſtorian telleth us of an Emperour travelling into Egypt, and there meeting with certaine Jews, he was ſo annoyed with the ſtench of them, that he cryed out, O Marcomanut, ô Quadi, ô Surmaetae, tandem alios vobis deteriores inveni. Ammian. lib. 2. This is the baſeſt and moſt contemptible people that ever I light upon.Aug. in Pſal. 58 The Romanes would not own them (when they had conquered them) as they did other Nations, though they complied never ſo much, and were their ſervants. The Turks ſo hate them for crucifying Chriſt, that they uſe to ſay in deteſtation of a thing, Heyl. Geog. I would I might die a Jew then: as when they would aſſure any thing, in execrationibus dicunt Judeus ſim, ſi fallo, they curſe themſelves, Sanctrus in Zech 8.13. and ſay, Let me be held a Jew, if I deceive thee. This lyeth upon them as a puniſhment for their unexpiable guilt in putting to death the Lord of life. But in Eſthers time they were hated chiefly for their Religion. In prudence therefore ſhe concealeth her kindred, as being not called to give an account of her faith; and living private, might well performe her devotions, and yet not thruſt her ſelf into obſervation.

For Mordecai had charged be[illegible: 1 letter] that ſhe ſhould not ſhew it] Leſt ſhe ſhould be caſhiered the Court for a Jewe[illegible: 1 letter]ſe, which was then held crime enough, as afterwards it was in Nore's dayes, to be a Chriſtian; and this hand perinde in crimine, quàm odio humani generis, as Tavitus hath it, not for any great fault ſo much, as by the hatred of mankind, incenſed and ſet on work by the Devil (doubtleſſe) to root out the true Religion, and to ſet up himſelf in the hearts of men as god of this preſent world. Hence thoſe complaints of Tertullian and Juſtin Martyr in their Apologies for Chriſtians, that their name (and not their crimes) was hated and hiſſed out of all companies. Tert. Apo[illegible: 1 letter]. c 1. 2.3. Juſt. Apol. 2. Odio publico eſt confeſſio nòminis, non examinatio criminis. — Solius hominis crimen eſt, &c. Wiſely therefore did Mordecai charge Eſther to conceal her ſelf for preſent; ſo long as it might be done without prejudice to the truth, and ſcandal to her profeſſion. Worthily alſo did holy Eſther in obeying Mord[illegible: 1 letter]cai her faithful foſter-father, in ruling her tongue that unruly member: and in that although ſhe had changed her keeper, yet ſhe had not let go her integrity, but held with that good woman in Hierome, who cryed out, Non ideò fateri volo, ne peream: ſed ideò me[illegible: 1 letter]riri nelo, ne peccem.