Esther 6:13 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Then said his wise men The magicians, whom, after the Persian manner, he had called together, to consult upon this strange emergency. If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews Which they were told, and it was generally supposed he was, but of which they were not infallibly sure; before whom thou hast begun to fall Though but in a point of honour; thou shalt not prevail against him They had observed, it is probable, how the Jews had been wonderfully raised from under great oppressions, since the time of Cyrus, and in how many remarkable instances God had appeared for them, and against their enemies, in this very court and kingdom, and thence concluded there was a particular providence that took care of them. Or perhaps they only formed their judgment from the omen, in Haman having been obliged to pay such honours himself to one of that nation which he had purposed, and even got the king's edict, entirely to destroy. But shalt surely fall before him This they concluded, either, 1st, By rules of policy, because Haman's reputation and interest were sinking, and Mordecai, whom they understood to be a man of great wisdom and courage, had now got into the king's favour, and therefore was likely to gain an opportunity of moving him to a dislike, if not revocation, of his own bloody decree, and consequently to a detestation of that person who had procured it. Or, 2d, By an instinct or impression from God upon their minds, who might suggest this to them, as he did other things to other wicked men, for his own great glory, and the good of his people.