THE JEWS SLAY THEIR ENEMIES. INSTITUTION OF PURIM 3. All the rulers, etc.] The great massacre described in href='190 9:16'>Est 9:16 is thus represented as being in part the work of the Persian authorities with the forces at their disposal.... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THE SPOIL, etc.] In this respect they did not carry out the king's decree (href='190 8:11'>Est 8:11); their vengeance was not sullied by sordid motives.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT HAVE THEY DONE, etc.] An exclamation, not a question. WHAT _is_ THY PETITION? etc.] The king was willing to gratify Esther further, perhaps to make amends for having been unable to grant her earlier request (href='190 8:5-8'>Est 8:5-8).... [ Continue Reading ]
BE HANGED] i.e. let their dead bodies be exposed, such exposure being a mark of infamy.... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD REST] This anticipates what took place on the 'fourteenth' of Adar (href='190 9:17'>Est 9:17). SEVENTY AND FIVE THOUSAND] LXX has 'fifteen thousand.'... [ Continue Reading ]
THE JEWS OF THE VILLAGES] better, 'the Jews of the country districts.' SENDING PORTIONS] i.e. to the poor among them: cp. Nehemiah 8:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
MORDECAI WROTE THESE THINGS] This refers not to the existing book of Esther, but to an account contained in the letters sent to effect the purpose indicated in Esther 9:21; Esther 9:22. This was the establishment as yearly festivals for all Jews throughout the empire both the fourteenth and fifteent... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THEY HAD BEGUN.. WRITTEN UNTO THEM] i.e. they undertook to celebrate both the day observed at first (href='190 9:17-18'>Est 9:17-18) and also the additional day suggested by Mordecai.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN _Esther_ CAME] The name 'Esther' does not occur in the Heb., so that the correct rendering may be 'when it' (i.e. Haman's device) 'came before the king.'... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ALL] RV 'because of all.' THIS LETTER] the 'letters' of Esther 9:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
SUCH AS JOINED THEMSELVES UNTO THEM] i.e. religious proselytes: cp. Esther 8:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS SECOND LETTER] 'second' in relation to the letter mentioned in Esther 9:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MATTERS OF THE FASTINGS AND THEIR CRY] Seemingly it was directed that there should be a commemoration not only of the deliverance granted to the Jews, but also of the distress that preceded it: see Esther 4:3. No account is here given of the day thus appointed for fasting and lamentation; but in... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE BOOK] probably a book, not now extant, dealing with the PURIM festival; but some authorities think that 'the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia' (href='190 10:2'>Est 10:2) is meant.... [ Continue Reading ]