Now in the twelfth month, that [is], the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule ov... [ Continue Reading ]
The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people. Ver. 2. _The Jews gathered themselves together_] They were _laeti in Domino... [ Continue Reading ]
And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. Ver. 3. And all the rulers of the provinces … helped the Jews] Heb. Gave them a lift, sc. over the brook, the brake, or whatsoever lay... [ Continue Reading ]
For Mordecai [was] great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater. Ver. 4. For Mordecai was great in the king's house] So great a favourite, as that it was dangerous to displease him; and most men coveted his favour. It... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them. Ver. 5. _Thus the Jews smote all their enemies_] It was the Lord's work, and therefore to do it negligently, to keep back their swords from blood,... [ Continue Reading ]
And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men. Ver. 6. _And in Shushan the palace_] One would wonder that any here should offer to stir against the Jews, so much favoured by the king, patronized by Mordecai, and well appointed to withstand them. But they were mad with malic... [ Continue Reading ]
And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha, Ver. 7-9. And Parshandatha, and Dalphon … and Vajezatha] This Vajezatha was the youngest, but most malicious of them all against the Jews, as their doctors guess and gather from the little Zain and great Vau found in his name. _Hebrew Text Note_... [ Continue Reading ]
The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand. Ver. 10. _The ten sons of Haman_] Of whom he had so boasted, Esther 5:12, and bore himself bold, as believing that being so full of children, he should leave the rest of his sub... [ Continue Reading ]
On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king. Ver. 11. _On that day the number of those that were slain_] This was done, haply, by some malignants, that would thereby have incensed the king against the Jews. Or else the king (as became a good she... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? now what [is] thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what [is] thy request further? and it sh... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which [are] in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows. Ver. 13. _Then said Esther, If it please the king, &c._] See Esther 5:4; Esther 5:8 . _ Let it be... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons. Ver. 14. _And the king commanded it so to be done_] He feared not that thereupon the people would rise and call him tyrant to his teeth; as when Bajazet II had cast Achmetes Bassa into pr... [ Continue Reading ]
For the Jews that [were] in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand. Ver. 15. _For the Jews that were in Shushan_] They did not stand to cast perils or frame excuses, but with... [ Continue Reading ]
But the other Jews that [were] in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey, Ver. 16. _But the other Jews that were, &c._] Though they wer... [ Continue Reading ]
On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. Ver. 17. _On the thirteenth day of the month Adar_] On this day they stood for their lives, that they might rest from their enemies. And accordingly _ On the fourt... [ Continue Reading ]
But the Jews that [were] at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth [day] thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth [day] of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. Ver. 18. _On the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth_] What they could not... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar [a day of] gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another. Ver. 19. _Therefore the Jews of the villages, &c._] _Pagani._ This is expounded in the next words... [ Continue Reading ]
And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that [were] in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, [both] nigh and far, Ver. 20. _And Mordecai wrote these things_] He wrote with authority, as a magistrate (say some), that the Jews should keep these days with greatest solemn... [ Continue Reading ]
To stablish [this] among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, Ver. 21. _To establish this among them_] _sc._ By a law, that they should yearly on those two days rest, and repeat among themselves that signal deliverance, propaga... [ Continue Reading ]
As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. Ver. 22. _As the days wherein t... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them; Ver. 28. _And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun_] Which yet they could not do unless God gave them a heart to do it. Holy David understood this, and therefore when he found that heat and height of good a... [ Continue Reading ]
Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that [is], the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them; Ver. 24. _Because Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, &c._] In detestation of whose wicked plot... [ Continue Reading ]
But when [Esther] came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. Ver. 25. _But when Esther came_] Heb. when she came. This was the subject of the Jews... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and [of that] which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them, Ver. 26. _Wherefore they called these days Purim_] Thereby to perpetuate the memory of that mercy, worthy... [ Continue Reading ]
The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their [appointed] time every year; Ver. 27. _The Jews ordained, and took upon them... [ Continue Reading ]
And [that] these days [should be] remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and [that] these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed. Ver. 28. _And that these days should be remembered_]... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim. Ver. 29. _Then Esther the queen, &c._] See Esther 2:15. Mordecai had written thus before; now, for more authority' sake, and to show her forwardness to further so... [ Continue Reading ]
And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, [with] words of peace and truth, Ver. 30. _And he sent letters to all the Jews_] Tremellius readeth it, Which letters Mordecai sent to all the Jews, sc. as monitors and remembrancers.... [ Continue Reading ]
To confirm these days of Purim in their times [appointed], according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry. Ver. 31. _To confirm these days of Purim_] That they might by no man... [ Continue Reading ]
And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book. Ver. 32. _And the decree of Esther confirmed, &c._] _Dux femina facti._ Money was coined in the year 1588, in honour of Queen Elizabeth, with that posy inscribed. The like may be here said of Queen Esther, ye... [ Continue Reading ]