Esther 5:13

Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(13) Availeth me nothing.—Better, suiteth, contenteth me not.

Benson Commentary

Esther 5:13. Yet this availeth me nothing — It gives me no content. Such torment did his envy and malice bring upon him. So long as I see Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate — Enjoying that honour and privilege without disturbance, and denying me the worship due to me by the king’s command. Thus though proud men have much to their mind, if they have not all, it is nothing. The thousandth part of what Haman had, would give a modest, humble man, as much happiness as he expects to receive from any thing under the sun. And Haman as passionately complains as if he was in the lowest depth of poverty.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

5:9-14 This account of Haman is a comment upon Pr 21:24. Self-admirers and self-flatterers are really self-deceivers. Haman, the higher he is lifted up, the more impatient he is of contempt, and the more enraged at it. The affront from Mordecai spoiled all. A slight affront, which a humble man would scarcely notice, will torment a proud man, even to madness, and will mar all his comforts. Those disposed to be uneasy, will never want something to be uneasy at. Such are proud men; though they have much to their mind, if they have not all to their mind, it is as nothing to them. Many call the proud happy, who display pomp and make a show; but this is a mistaken thought. Many poor cottagers feel far less uneasiness than the rich, with all their fancied advantages around them. The man who knows not Christ, is poor though he be rich, because he is utterly destitute of that which alone is true riches.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The multitude of his children - Herodotus tells us that, next to prowess in arms, it was regarded as the greatest proof of manly excellence in Persia to be the father of many sons." Haman had ten sons (see the margin reference).

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

8. let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare—The king ate alone, and his guests in an adjoining hall; but they were admitted to sit with him at wine. Haman being the only invited guest with the king and queen, it was natural that he should have been elated with the honor.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Availeth me nothing, i.e. gives me no content. Such torment did his envy and malice bring upon him.

Sitting at the king’s gate; enjoying that honour and privilege without disturbance, and denying me the worship due to me by my place, and by the king’s command; though this last and the chief cause of his rage he was somewhat ashamed to express. Either Mordecai was come, having laid by his sackcloth for this time, that he might be in a capacity of coming thither, and so of understanding how matters proceeded. Besides, this was a private fast, and so he was not obliged always to wear his sackcloth in public, during the whole time of the fast, though he did once come abroad with it, that the cause of it might be publicly known, and so come to Esther’s ears.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Yet all this availeth me nothing,.... Is not equal or sufficient for me; it gives me no satisfaction and contentment:

so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate: not rising up to bow unto him; this single circumstance spoiled all his joy and pleasure.

Geneva Study Bible

Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 13. All this availeth me nothing. The bitter drop in his cup deprived Haman's life of all sweetness. He had not learned the wisdom of setting pleasure against pain, joy against sorrow, satisfaction against annoyance. Much less had he taught himself to look upon the vexations and trials of life as blessings in disguise. His was a coarse and undisciplined nature, little better than that of a savage, albeit he was the chief minister of the first monarch in the world. So little proof is worldly greatness of either greatness or goodness of soul Esther 5:13

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

And yet all his good fortune is embittered to him as often as he sees the hated Jew Mordochai. "And all this availeth me not at every time when I see the Jew Mordochai sitting in the king's gate." לי שׁוה is, not being equalled to me, i.e., not answering my desires, not affording me satisfaction.אשׁר בּכל־עת, at all time when equals as often as. The fortune and honour he enjoys fail to satisfy him, when he sees the Jew Mordochai refuse to show him the reverence which he claims.