If Haman intended this as a mere vain-glorious display—­an impressive pageant, designed to publish to the people the high dignity of royal favour which he personally enjoyed—­it would not be without meaning; but we cannot but think that, according to Eastern usage, there was a deeper significance in the ceremony.

The customs of the East are almost immutable, and there was much similarity between those of Egypt, Assyria and Persia.  When Joseph was exalted to be ruler of Egypt, he was clothed in royal vestments, and passed in triumphant procession through the city, while all were called upon to bow the knee before him.  Daniel was clothed in scarlet and in purple (the badges of royalty) while his honours were announced.  But Joseph rode in the second chariot of Pharaoh, and his distance from royal state was clearly defined, while Daniel was declared third in the empire of the Medes and Persians.

In appropriating all the badges of royalty—­the crown, the robes, the horse, the princely attendance—­Haman seems to have been preparing a claim to higher honour than those of Joseph or Daniel; to be even preparing to ascend the throne.  All the homage that could be shown the subject had long been exacted.  A nation was now under a dreadful doom because only one of their race withheld it; and now he would take to himself all the appendages of royal state!

A sudden tumult in the palace, a popular outbreak, so common with despotic governments, might easily be accomplished, and Haman might ascend the throne of Ahasuerus—­for the lines of descent seem to have been not unfrequently changed in the Persian empire; and in the convulsions of despotic states, even slaves have mounted the thrones of their masters.

Whether, in his designs, he merely sought the gratification of a present vain-glorious ambition or was preparing for a higher destiny, the revulsion must have been most overwhelming, the change and surprise inexpressible, when the announcement and command of the king fell upon his ear.

“Make haste!” said he, “take the apparel, and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, who sitteth at the king’s gate.  Let nothing fail that thou hast spoken.”  You have devised the very highest honour that I can render:  now confer it on the man I designate.

The Eastern despots are arbitrary; and Haman, confounded and petrified, ventured no remonstrance.  He bowed and obeyed.  He departed as the messenger of honour to Mordecai the Jew.  Whatever the malignant and bitter feelings of his heart, he dared not give expression to them.  He was compelled to serve the man he hated, to confer the highest honour on the man he had doomed to the deepest obloquy, publicly to bow before one whom he hoped to trample beneath his feet!  With what contending feelings must he have delivered the mandate of the king to Mordecai!  What strong emotion must have convulsed his soul!  Yet the most powerful feelings are seldom displayed.  The green sod covers the pent volcano, and a slight trembling alone denotes the action of the devouring element.  It is all repose and calmness on the surface while the billows of flame are raging beneath.