Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that [is], the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;
Ver. 24. Because Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, &c.] In detestation of whose wicked plot, the Jews at this day, when, at this feast of Purim, they read the Book of Esther in their synagogues, as oft as they hear mention of Haman they do with their fists and hammers beat upon the benches and boards, as if they did knock upon Haman's head (Anton. Meraanta. lib. de Jud. Cerem.). Lavater saith the Papists in some countries do the like on Good Friday, when, in reading the Gospel, mention is made of Judas the traitor. But as for Fawkes, Digby, Piercy, Catesby, and the rest of that hellish crew of Popish Hamans, treacherous Judases, these they have crowned with fresh eulogies, and little less than sainted. Garnet (that boute-feu) has his picture set among the rest of Rome's saints, in the Jesuits' Church at Rome, with this inscription, Voluisse sat est. To have been willing is enough. Prodigious impudency (Cornel. a Lapide in Apoc. vii. 8).
And had cast Pur] But found, to his cost, that "there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither any divination against Israel," but that, "according to this time it should be said of Jacob and Israel" (said by way of wonder at God's doing on their behalf), "What hath God wrought!" Numbers 23:23 .
To consume them] Heb. to crush them, ut contereret eos, as a thing crushed to pieces, as the lesser beasts are crushed by the lion, or as things are broken with a wooden hammer.