Esther 9

Esther 9:1

THough it was turned to the contrary] This was Gods great providence, who turneth the joy of the wicked into sorrow, and the tears of the godly, into gladnesse, Psal. 30. 5, 11. and 126. 5.

Esther 9:3

officers of the king] Heb. those which did the businesse that belonged to the king.

helped the Jews] Did them honour, and shewed them friendship, and stood for them.

the fear of Mordocai fell upon them] Chap. 8. 17.

Esther 9:5

the Jews sinote all their enemies] Which had conspired their death, by the perswasion of wicked Haman.

what they would] Heb. according to their will.

Esther 9:6

in Shushan the peace] Where the palace was: for so many could not be slain in the kings house.

destroyed five hundred men] Besides those three hundred that they slew the second day, v. 15. and Hamans sons, as vers. 12. whom they slew, not as enemies barely, but as devoted to destruction by God, Exodus 17:24. Deuteronomy 25:17.

Esther 9:10

but on the spoil laid they not their hand] Shewing their moderation, in not taking so much as the kings decree allowed; and that it might appear they sought nothing, but to save their lives.

Esther 9:11

was brought] Heb. came.

Esther 9:13

to do to morrow also] For some enemies were left the day before, which might hurt the Jews hereafter.

let Hamans ten sons be hanged] Heb. let men hang Hamans ten sons; As they did their father, to terrifie other oppressors.

gallows] Heb. tree, chap. 7. 8. Deuteronomy 21:23.

Esther 9:15

For] Or, And.

Esther 9:16

gathered] Or, had gathered. To wit, the day before.

and stood for their lives] As the king gave them leave to do, chap. 8. 11.

and slew] Or, and when they had slain.

of their foes seventy and five thousand] Rather to secure their own lives, then to be revenged on their foes.

Esther 9:17

On the thirteenth day of the moneth Adar] On that day they killed their enemies, as v. 16.

on the fourteenth day] In all places, saving in Shushan, as v. 18.

of the same] Heb. in it.

Esther 9:19

made the fourteenth day of the moneth Adar] This yeer onely; for it was otherwise ordered afterwards, v. 21.

of sending portions] Of the cattell they killed. See 1 Samuel 1:4-5. Nehemiah 8:12.

Esther 9:20

And Mordecai wrote these things] Or, But Mordecai, &c. For he writ to them how the Jews in Shushan had slain their foes on the fourteenth day also, and so appointed the fourteenth day to be kept, because the countrey-Jews had rest then; and the fifteenth, because they of Shushan had not rest till then: so they must joy in one anothers peace.

Esther 9:21

that they should keep the fourteenth day of the moneth Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same yeerly] As the Jews do even to this day, calling them in the Persians language, Purim, that is, the dayes of lots.

Esther 9:22

As the dayes wherein the Jews rested from their enemies] He setteth before our eyes the use of this feast, which was for the remembrance of Gods deliverance, the maintenance of mutuall friendship, and relief of the poor, vers. 19.

Esther 9:23

And the Jews undertook] Or, And he caused the Jews to undertake.

Esther 9:24

had cast Pur] Read chap. 3. 7.

consume] Heb. crush.

Esther 9:25

when Esther came] Heb. when she came.

he commanded] That is, the king.

upon his own head] Chap. 7. 10. Psalms 7:16.

Esther 9:26

Pur] That is, lot.

and of that which] Or, and that which.

Esther 9:27

The Jews ordained, and took upon them] Or, They ordained, and caused the Jews to take upon them. To wit, Esther and Mordecai, vers. 21.

so as it] Or, that it.

fail] Heb. passe.

that they would keep these two dayes] Meaning the fourteenth, and the fifteenth day of the moneth Adar.

Esther 9:28

fail] Heb. passe.

perish] Heb. be ended.

Esther 9:29

all authority] Heb. all strength.

to confirm this second letter of Purim] Or, to confirm this letter of Purim by a second. That is, they writ both to confirm Mordecai’s former letter.

Esther 9:30

with words of peace and truth] Which were letters declaring unto them quietnesse, and assurance, and putting them out of doubt and fear.

Esther 9:31

and as they had decreed] As in their necessity, Esther and Mordecai had appointed a fast to pray for them and theirs, chap. 3. 16, 17. so they should now praise God for their deliverance. Their people are called their seed, chap. 10. 3.

for themselves] Heb. for their souls.

their cry] Their earnest prayer.