11 Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
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).
The multitude of his children - The Asiatic sovereigns delight in the number of their children; and this is one cause why they take so many wives and concubines.
And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all [the things] wherein the king had (f) promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
(f) Thus the wicked when they are promoted instead of acknowledging their charge and humbling themselves, wax ambitious, disdainful and cruel.
And Haman told them of the glory of his riches,.... Of the multitude of them; which he did partly in a way of ostentation, and partly, if he could, to make his mind easy under the mortification he received from Mordecai; and, it may be, chiefly to aggravate his rudeness and ill behaviour towards him, a man of so much wealth: and the multitude of his children; he had ten, as we learn from Esther 9:10, but the former Targum enlarges them, beyond credit, to the number of two hundred and eight, besides his ten sons, and Shimshai the scribe; such were had in great esteem with the Persians who had many children; to such the king used to send gifts annually (k):
and all the things wherein the king had promoted him; the high offices of honour and trust he had put him into:
and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. See Esther 3:1.
(k) Herodot, Clio, sive, l. 1. c. 136. Strabo. Geograph. l. 15. p. 504.
*More commentary available at chapter level.