Aman means, "a disturber." (Haydock) --- Who. Septuagint add, "Bougaios, or Gogaios." Gog designates Scythia, where Aman might have been born. Pliny ([Natural History?] iv. 12.) places there the lake and river Ruges. But the Bugean, in Greek, may mean, "greatly puffed up:" or it may stand for Bagoas... [ Continue Reading ]
_Worship him, with divine honours, as he required, in imitation of the kings, Judith iii. 13. On certain solemn occasions, the latter at least exacted this respect from their subjects. But the pious Jews avoided appearing at such times, or the kings dispensed with them. The mere bending the knee, ou... [ Continue Reading ]
_Resolution. The did not mean to injure Mardochai, who had an employment at court, chap. xii. 5. (Calmet) --- Jew, and of course hindered by his religion from giving divine worship to any man. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Counted. Septuagint, "consulted how to exterminate all the Jews in the kingdom." --- Assuerus. Hebrew adds, "the people of Mardochai."_... [ Continue Reading ]
Lot. The Persians were much addicted to divination. The superstitious Aman, though he would appear a deity, was to be regulated by lots! Providence caused almost a whole year to intervene, before the cruel execution was to commence. (Calmet) --- Reason began to shew the futility of divination, (Cice... [ Continue Reading ]
_Another, as the ten tribes were from Juda, or rather (Haydock) they were scattered about the empire. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "and dispersed; and their laws are different from all other people's; neither do they observe the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to tolerate them." (Hayd... [ Continue Reading ]
_Talents. Hebrew, &c., add, "of silver." (Menochius) --- If the Hebrew talent be meant, this sum would be immense for an individual; (Calmet) though Aman might expect to raise it by the confiscation of the Jews' effects, ver. 13. Some think he speaks of the Babylonian talent, on which supposition th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ring, to transfer his power to him, for the time, Genesis xli. 42. Alexander gave his ring to Periccas, and was generally supposed thus to designate him for his successor. (Justin. xii.) See 1 Machabees vi. 14, 15._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lieutenants. Literally, "satraps." Hebrew achashdarpene, "courtiers," (Haydock) or those who are int he presence of his majesty, or porters. (Calmet) --- They were entrusted with the care of the different provinces. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Messengers. Literally, "runners." (Haydock) --- Posts were first established in Persia, and were the admiration of other nations, though nothing compared with ours, as they were not regular, nor for the people. They called these messengers Astandæ, or Angari, Matthew v. 41. Darius Condomanus was on... [ Continue Reading ]
_Letter. It should appear here, as it is in Greek, but the Hebrew, &c., omitting it, the Vulgate give it, chap. xiii. 1._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jews. Hebrew, "but the city of Susan was in perplexity." Greek, "troubled." (Calmet) --- Even the pagans could not view such a cruel decree, without horror. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER III.... [ Continue Reading ]