So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which [is] the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
Ver. 16. So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus] And so that sweet promise was fulfilled and exemplified in her: "Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold," Psalms 68:13. God raised up this poor orphan, this despicable exile out of the dust, and lifted this needy one out of the dunghill, that he may set her with princes, even with the princes of the people, Psalms 113:7,8. Thus he raised Moses and Joseph, David and Daniel, &c.
Into his house royal] A place of rest and honour. Thus
Flebile principium melior fortuna secuta est.
In the tenth month] Not in the twelfth month, as Josephus hath it falsely; and yet the Papists tell us, that the common people may well want the historical part of the Bible, and for it read Josephus's Jewish Antiquities (Barclai).
In the seventh year of his reign] Four or five years before Haman's advancement. This was a sweet providence, that God should set up one to be a deliverer to his Church so long before the danger grew on. So Joseph was sent down to Egypt before; Moses was skilled in all the learning of the Egyptians, and afterwards sent to Midian, that he might be fitted to be king in Jeshurun, &c. Oh how unsearchable are God's judgments, and his ways past finding out Oh the depth, &c.! Latimer's three last petitions were granted.