_As. Hebrew, "(which is the month of Adar) when the king's command and edict drew near to be executed, in that day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it turned out that the Jews had dominion over those who hated them)" (Haydock) --- To revenge, &c. The Jews, on this... [ Continue Reading ]
_Extolled. Protestants, "helped." Septuagint, "the king's secretaries honoured the Jews." (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sons. It seems as if they had been slain with their father, ver. 10. See chap. vii. 9. (Calmet) --- Yet, as the contrary would appear from chap. xvi. 18, we may suppose that they were at least (Haydock) imprisoned till this time, for a more exemplary punishment, while all the rest of the family per... [ Continue Reading ]
_Goods, in any place, (Tirinus) that they might not appear to be actuated by the desire of riches, (Calmet) to fall upon the innocent. How often does this fatal cause blind Christian conquerors! The sons of Aman were married, and had separate establishments, chap. viii. 1._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Susan. Aman's influence had been the greatest there, and had stirred up many enemies of the Jews, who were to be carefully sought out. (Haydock) --- If we should consider only the dictates of clemency, we should think that the Jews were too eager in their revenge. But when we reflect, that their en... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lives. In many cases they would probably be attacked, as Aman's edict was perhaps still in force, as well as that of Mardochai. Hence both parties would be upon the watch. (Haydock) --- Seventy-five. Roman Septuagint has only 15,000. Complutensian, 10,035. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER IX.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Meats, not only to the poor, but to all their friends, ver. 22., and 2 Esdras viii. 10. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Receive. Protestants, "establish this among them, that they should keep the 14th....yearly," 2 Machabees xv. 37. (Haydock) --- None were obliged to keep more than one of these days, according to their respective dwellings. The 14th was for the provinces, the 15th for the Jews of Susan, ver. 18. (Tir... [ Continue Reading ]
_And. Hebrew, "But when she came." Septuagint, "and how he came to the king, asking leave to hang Mardochai. But his machinations against the Jews, turned upon his own head; and so," &c. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ceremonies. The king also enjoined (chap. xvi. 22.) all his subjects (Tirinus) to keep a day of rejoicing, (Haydock) as the death of Aman was deemed a public benefit. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Second. The first might be the edict, (chap. viii. 9.) or else the provisional establishment of the festival, as it could not have general authority till it was ratified by the high priest; after which, this second letter was dispatched. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "and queen Esther, daughter of Amina... [ Continue Reading ]
_Peace: receive these glad tidings, and faithfully observe the injunctions. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fasts and cries. See ver. 21. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "the matters of their fastings and their cry: and the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim, and it was written in the book." (Haydock) --- This feast, instituted by Mardochai, was accepted and observed by the Jews as a constitutio... [ Continue Reading ]