_laid a tribute_ The word rendered -tribute" means everywhere else in Biblical Hebrew a body of forced labourers, or serfdom. We should therefore render here, _imposed forced labour_. The thought in the author's mind was that now, Haman having fallen, and Mordecai ruling as vizier in his stead, the... [ Continue Reading ]
Esther 10:1-3. Mordecai's greatness The connexion of this short chapter with the rest of the Book is obscure. It may be a fragment of some other work, which, owing to its subject-matter, came to be attached to the preceding narrative. On the other hand it may be nothing more than the closing paragr... [ Continue Reading ]
_in the book of the chronicles_ the official records. See on Esther 2:23. The formula may be imitated from the phraseology in 1 Kings 14:19; 1 Kings 14:29 etc. 3 _was next unto king Ahasuerus_ i.e. was second only to him in point of rank. The same expression is used of a certain Elkanah's position... [ Continue Reading ]