John Trapp on Esther 2:22

Verſe 22. And the thing was known to Mordecai] How he came to know it, is uncertain. Joſephas ſaith, that it was revealed to him by one Barnabazus a Jew, who was ſervant to one of the Conſpiratours. R. Solomon ſaith, that the Eunuches talked of the plot before Mordecai in the language of Tarſus, [illegible: 4 letters]ing that he had not underſtood them; and ſo it came forth. Others conceive, that [illegible: 1 word] ſollicited him, being one of the Keepers of the Kings door alſo to joyne with them. Howſoever it was that he got inkling and intelligence of their bloody purpoſe; God was in it, and good men are of his privy counſel; The ſecret of the Lord is with them that feare him, Pſal. 25.11. Their apprehenſions of things are deep, and their obſervations right, their knowledge rare to boult out miſchiefes, their experience lead them o[illegible: 1 letter] to gueſſe ſhrewdly at mens purpoſes by their looks and geſtures. I wiſdome dwell with prudence (or ſubtilty) and finde out knowledge of witty inventions. Prov. 8.12.

Who told it unto Eſther the Queen] Haply, as holding himſelf (a mean man) unworthy and unfit to ſpeak to the King. Or, as fearing leſt he ſhould not be believed, or ſhould be out-faced by the Traitour, or as conceiving that it would be better taken from Eſther, whom the King ſo dearly loved; and might prove a good meanes to infeoffe her farther into his favour. Yea M[illegible: 1 letter]rdec[illegible: 1 letter]i himſelfe (ſaith an Interpreter) might ſafely have alſo a further reach herein namely, to try the ſincere affection of Eſther towards him, whether ſhe would make this an occaſion to his good and preferment, or rather take the glory thereof unto her ſelfe.

And Eſther certified the King thereof in Mordecais name] She doth not conceal the treaſon, or further it, as ſome ambitious Semiramis would have done, or adulterous Livia. For although ſhe was wont to boaſt that ſhe ruled her husband Auguſtus by obeying him, yet Pliny and Tacitus tell us, that ſhe was over-familiar with Eudemus her Phyſician. And whereas Auguſtus his laſt words to her were, O Livia, remember our marriage, and Adieu. She did ſo, and 'tis thought had [illegible: 1 letter] finger in ſetting him going. And the like i[illegible: 1 letter] reported of Clytemneſtra, Olympia[illegible: 1 letter], Queen Iſabel, wife to our Edward the ſecond. But holy Eſther was none ſuch; She, as a loyal and faithful wife, diſcovereth to the King the danger he was in, and ſo ſaveth his life, ſo did Michal Davids wife, though ſhe hall no great goodneſſe in her. The like is reported of Cleopatra, daughter to Antiochus the great, who gave her in marriage to Ptolem[illegible: 2 letters] Epiphant[illegible: 1 letter], thinking by her to deſtroy him, but he was deceived, according to Dan. 11.17. Valerius Maximus and Fulgeſius ſpeak much in the commendation of Thuria, Sulpitia, Chilonia, Antonia, Egnatia, &c. for loving and faithful wives Val[illegible: 4 letters] Maximus Chriſtianus alſo for like cauſe, celebrateth [illegible: 1 word], wife to Philip the Emperour and Mary, wife to Sigiſm[illegible: 2 letters]d, King of Bohemia and Hungary, &c. lib 2. cap 16.

Verùm hac (Eſther) tantùm alias inter capat extulit omnes, Quantum lenta ſolent inter viburna cupreſſi.