Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. House, and furniture. Septuagint “all the possessions of Aman, the devil,” (accuser, and so forth Bible.) which were confiscated for treason; and no one had a better title than the queen, whose life had been is such danger. Yet she did not touch the estates of the children, verse 13. Calmet. 9:10.—King. in the place of Aman. Calmet. 9:4 and 10:3.—Uncle, or cousin. Calmet.
Verse 2. Aman. It seems the traitor had hitherto kept possession of it, and sealed the king’s edicts, as Mardochai was now to do, verse 8.—House. Hebrew and so forth “of Aman,” to whom it had belonged. Calmet.
Verse 3. Down. such reverence is due to God’s representatives, whatever heretics may say. Jude 8.
Verse 5. To him. Hebrew adds, “and I be pleasing in his eyes,” which had been expressed just before. Yet she might insist on this point, as it shewed a greater regard for the king’s pleasure.—I beseech. Hebrew “let it be written, to reverse the device of Aman, the son,” and so forth Bible.—When the edict was not sealed by the nobles, it might be altered; (Calmet. 1:19) and at any rate, when the king had been to visibly imposed upon, in an affair of such consequence, justice dictated that it should not be enforced. Calmet.
Verse 7. Durst. Hebrew “laid.” He had sufficiently manifested his intention to destroy them, though he had not been able to injure any one. Bible.
Verse 8. This. Hebrew “no one may reverse the letter,” and so forth
Verse 9. Third. Rom. Septuagint “first … Nisan,” ten days after Aman’s decree, who seems to have been presently brought to judgment. Yet two whole months might easily elapse, ( Calmet.) and ten days more, before this contrary edict was dispatched. Bible.—The day of slaughter was still remote. Menochius.
Verse 10. Posts, who had a right to make use of any person’s horse, and so forth Menochius.—Who. Prot. “on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries.” Bible.—The original terms greatly embarrass interpreters. Calmet.—Septuagint have simply, “he sent the writings by letter-carriers, ordering them to follow their own laws in every city, to help themselves, and treat their adversaries and opponents as they pleased, on one day … the 13th … of Adar. This is a copy,” and so forth Calmet. 16. Bible.
Verse 11. Spoil. This was retaliating, as they were to have been treated in like manner. Calmet.—Such were the barbarous customs of the country. Bible.—It might not still be lawful thus to involve the innocent with the guilty, though the king did not ill in allowing the Jews to stand up in their own defence. 2 Kennicott. 21:6. Some think that they were only to prevent the execution of the former edict, which could not be revoked. See Calmet. 3. Calmet.—A form of trial was observed. Calmet. 16:20. Menochius.
Verse 15. Cloak. The kings wore one of purple, over their purple and white tunic. Cyrop. viii.—Greek have “diadem.” Calmet.
Verse 17. Ceremonies. Becoming acquainted with the sanctity of the law, and the protection which God gave to his people. Menochius.—Hebrew “the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast, and a good day, and many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews,” and so forth Prot. Bible.
Greek country.
Greek stewards.
the passages in brackets are not in the Hebrew.
perhaps rulers, see Luke 22. 25.
Greek contrived.
Greek not having borne.
Greek spirit.
Greek thrice guilty.
Greek greatest.