1The Jews, assisted by the rulers through fear of Mordecai's power, slay their enemies, and the ten sons of Haman among the rest. 12Ahasuerus at the request of Esther granteth to the Jews at Shushan another day of slaughter, and causeth Haman's sons to be hanged. 20The two days of Purim are made anniversary festivals in commemoration of this deliverance.
1NOW in the twelfth month, that is, the month 1Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, 2when the king's commandment and 3his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though 4it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)
1 See Esther 3:7.
2 That is, when the time approached that the Jews would be destroyed.
3 That is, his edict.
4 Namely, by the righteous government of God, Who defeated and disappointed the bloody plot of Haman, and did unto the enemies of the people of God, as they intended to have done unto others.
2The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought 5their hurt: and no man could 6withstand them; for 7the fear of them fell upon all people.
5 Hebr. their evil.
6 Or, existed before them. Hebr. stood against their face.
7 Understand here a fear and terror whereby the Jews were feared by others. Also likewise verse 3.
3And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants,a and the deputies, and officers 8of the king, 9helped the Jews; because 10the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.
a provincial rulers
8 See Esther 3 on verse 9.
9 That is, they honored them, and afforded them all the help.
10 That is, they feared to provoke him, in regard they saw that he was in such favor and respect with the king.
4For Mordecai was 11great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai 12waxed greater and greater.
11 That is, in great respect and authority.
12 That is, he waxed greater and greater every day. See this phrase Gen. 26:13 with the annotation. Hebr. going and waxing great.
5Thus the Jews smote all their enemies 13with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.
13 That is, they smote and slew, and destroyed with the sword all their enemies.
6And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed 14five hundred men.
14 Some perceive that these five hundred men were friends and allies of Haman, wherefore the king regarded their deaths the less, as suspecting that they might attempt something against him to revenge Haman’s death.
7And 15Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,
15 See Exod. 17:14; Deut. 25:17, where command is given to destroy Amalek.
8And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,
9And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,
10The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, 16slew they; but on the spoil laid 17they not their hand.
16 Not only in regard of the wicked plot of their father, but also in regard of the commandment of God, Exod. 17:14.
17 That is, they took not the goods of the slain unto themselves (although the king had given them leave to do so). Why? Because they would not wrong or diminish the king’s treasury; as also that they might make it appear that they had not slain their enemies for filthy lucre’s sake, and for their own profit, but only to defend their life and estates, and because necessity required it; for, otherwise the king’s edict would not have been reversed.
11On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.
12¶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; 18what 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 shall be done.
18 As if he said: Seeing the number of those who were slain in the palace of Shushan is so large, how large must the number of all those who have been slain throughout all the provinces of my kingdom?
13Then said Esther, 19If it please the king, 20let 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 21upon the gallows.
19 Hebr. If it be good with the king.
20 That is, let them do tomorrow in the city of Shushan which has been done this day in the palace of Shushan. Others understand this thus, that there were yet some in Shushan who opposed the Jews, which of necessity were also to be destroyed.
21 Here is to be noted that Haman’s sons were hanged, after that they were slain or put to death. See verse 10.
14And the king commanded it so to be done: and 22the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.
22 That is, there came forth a command from the king whereby the Jews at Shushan were permitted to slay their enemies also the second day, as Esther has petitioned, verse 13.
15For 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.
16But the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces 23gathered themselves together, and stood for their 24lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but 25they laid not their hands on the prey,
23 He wants to say: They gathered themselves together to defend their life, and that they might live in peace without being afraid of their enemies.
24 Hebr. soul. Other, and stood for their lives, and had rest, etc.
25 See verse 10.
17On 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.
18But the Jews that were 26at Shushan assembled together 27on 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.
26 Namely, in the city of Shushan.
27 Namely, on the thirteenth day of the month Adar.
1928Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of 29gladness and feasting, and a 30good day, and of sending 31portions 32one to another.
28 Namely, because of the victory, which on that day they had obtained over their enemies.
29 See Deut. 16:11, 14; Neh. 8:10, 11.
30 Or, joyful. Hebr. good.
31 Or, messes, namely, table-messes, or messes from of the table to one another. See 1 Sam. 1:4, 5; Neh. 8:11, 13.
32 Hebr. the man to his neighbor.
20¶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,
21To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, 33yearly,
33 Hebr. in every year and year.
2234As 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 35good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.
34 Understand, he ordained that those feast days should be kept yearly with such joy and gladness, as they had in times past kept those days wherein they had obtained rest and peace and freedom from their enemies; and that they should do it in the same month which was turned unto them from sorrow into joy, and from mourning into gladness and rejoicing.
35 Or, joyful day. Hebr. good.
23And the Jews undertook to do 36as they had begun, and 37as Mordecai had written unto them;
36 Namely, to celebrate and keep every year the fourteenth day of the month Adar with joy.
37 Namely, that they should also keep the fifteenth day of the month Adar yearly.
24Because 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 38lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;
38 See Esther 3:7.
25But when 39Esther came 40before the king, 41he 42commanded byb letters that 43his 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.
39 Or, she, namely, Esther.
40 Understand herewith what Esther further did when she was come to the king.
41 Namely, the king.
42 Hebr. said.
b Esther 8:8
43 Namely, of Haman.
26Wherefore they called 44these days Purim after the name of 45Pur. Therefore for all the words of 46this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had 47come unto them,
44 Namely, the fourteenth and fifteenth of the month Adar.
45 Whereof mention was made in Esther 3:7.
46 Of which see verse 20 and 21.
47 Namely, either by rumor or by letters.
27The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and 48upon their seed, and upon all such as 49joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep 50these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time 51every year;
48 That is, upon their posterity
49 Namely, those of the Gentiles who would embrace the religion of the Jews. See Esther 8:17.
50 Namely, the fourteenth and fifteenth of the month Adar, verse 21.
51 Hebr. in every year and year, as verse 21.
28And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every fam-ily, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from 52among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish 53from their seed.
52 Hebr. out of the midst of. Other, should not perish out of the midst of the Jews.
53 That is, by their posterity.
2954Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote 55with all authority, to confirm 56this 57second letter of Purim.
54 Namely, the year following, as is perceived, which was the thirteenth year of the kingdom of Ahasuerus.
55 That is, they wrote letters so strong and with as earnest words and commands as ever they were able to do.
56 Of which is mentioned made in verses 20, 21 and 22.
57 First Mordecai had established the days of Purim, verse 20; but to prosecute the diligent observation thereof, Esther (whose authority was great with the Jews) did by her letters again renew and ratify the observation and keeping of these days, that the memorial of their deliverance would not in any wise come to be forgotten.
30And 58he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with 59words of peace and truth,
58 Namely, Mordecai.
59 That is, wishing them peace and truth.
31To 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 60for themselves and for 61their seed, the 62matters of the fastings and their cry.
60 Hebr. upon their soul.
61 That is, their posterity.
62 That is, the remembrance of their distress, fasts, prayers and the deliverance which followed.
32And the decree of Esther 63confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.
63 As verse 31.