Esther 9
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Commentaries
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Now in the twelfth month - What a number of providences, and none of them apparently of an extraordinary nature, concurred to preserve a people so signally, and to all human appearance so inevitably, doomed to destruction! None are ever too low for God to lift up, or too high for God to cast down. Must not these heathens have observed that the uncontrollable hand of an Almighty Being had worked in behalf of the Jews? And must not this have had a powerful tendency to discredit the idolatry of the country?
Open source ↗THE JEWS SLAY THEIR ENEMIES WITH THE TEN SONS OF HAMAN. (Est. 9:1-19) in the twelfth month, . . . on the thirteenth day of the same--This was the day which Haman's superstitious advisers had led him to select as the most fortunate for the execution of his exterminating scheme against the Jews [Est 3:7].
Open source ↗Now in the twelfth month, that is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same,.... Of which see Est 3:13, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution; even both his commandments and decrees, the one empowering the enemies of the Jews on that day to destroy them, and the other empowering the Jews to act both defensively and offensively against their enemies: in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them; by virtue of the first decree of the king; and notwithstanding the second, they might hope to have it because of their superior numbers: though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them; it proved the reverse, partly through the second decree in favour of the Jews, and partly through the fear of them that fell upon their enemies; because the court was on their side, and the officers everywhere, and especially their God filled them with courage, and their enemies with terror.
Open source ↗The Jews avenged of their enemies. - Est 9:1. In the twelfth month, on the thirteenth day of the same - the Jews gathered themselves together in their cities, etc. Several parenthetical clauses succeed this definition of time, so that the statement of what then took place does not follow till נקהלוּ, Est 9:2. These parenthetical clauses state not only the meaning of the day just named, but also give a general notice of the conflict between the Jews and their enemies. The first runs: "when the word of the king drew nigh and his decree to be done," i.e., when the execution of the royal decree approached. The second is: "on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have the mastery of them, and it was changed (i.e., the contrary occurred), that the Jews had the mastery over them that hated them." בּ שׁלט, to rule, to have the mastery over. נהפוך is infin. abs., used instead of the imperf. הוּא is referred by Bertheau to יום: the day was changed from a day of misfortune to a day of prosperity for the Jews, alluding to Est 9:22; but it is not a change of the day which is here spoken of, but a change of the hope of the enemies into its opposite; hence we must regard הוּא as neuter: it was changed, i.e., the contrary occurred. The pronoun המּה serves to emphasize the subject; comp. Ewald, 314, a, who in this and similar cases takes הוּא המּה in the sense of ipse, ipsi. Est 9:2-3 בּעריהם, in their cities, i.e., the cities in which they dwelt in all the dominions of the king. יד לשׁלח, to stretch out the hand (as also in Est 2:21; Est 3:6, for the purpose of killing) against those who sought their hurt, i.e., sought to destroy them. "And no one stood before them (בּפני עמד, like Jos 10:8; Jos 21:42, and elsewhere), because the fear of them fell upon all people (see rem. on E…
Open source ↗We have here a decisive battle fought between the Jews and their enemies, in which the Jews were victorious. Neither side was surprised; for both had notice of it long enough before, so that it was a fair trial of skill between them. Nor could either side call the other rebels, for they were both supported by the royal authority. I. The enemies of the Jews were the aggressors. They hoped, notwithstanding the latter edict, to have power over them, by virtue of the former (Est 9:1), and made assaults upon them accordingly; they formed themselves into bodies, and joined in confederacy against them, to seek their hurt, Est 9:2. The Chaldee paraphrase says that none appeared against the Jews but Amalekites only, who were infatuated, and had their hearts hardened, as Pharaoh's against Israel, to take up arms to their own destruction. Some had such an inveterate implacable malice against the Jews that Haman's fall and Mordecai's advancement, instead of convincing them, did but exasperate them, and make them the more outrageous and resolute to cut all their throats. The sons of Haman, particularly, vowed to avenge their father's death, and pursue his designs, which they call noble and brave, whatever hazards they run; and a strong party they had formed both in Shushan and in the provinces in order hereunto. Fight they would, though they plainly saw Providence fight against them; and thus they were infatuated to their own destruction. If they would have sat still, and attempted nothing against the people of God, not a hair of their head would have fallen to the ground: but they cannot persuade themselves to do that; they must be meddling, though it prove to their own ruin, and roll a burdensome stone, which will return upon them. II. But the Jews were the conquerors. That very d…
Open source ↗9:1 on March 7: When that fateful day arrived, there were many enemies of the Jews who wanted to carry out Haman’s wishes.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold עָשָׂר (ʻâsâr, H6240) — ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth חֹדֶשׁ (chôdesh, H2320) — the new moon; by implication, a month אֲדָר (ʼĂdâr, H143) — Adar, the 12th Hebrew month שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause דָּת (dâth, H1881) — a royal edict or statute נָגַע (nâgaʻ, H5060) — properly, to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary יְהוּדִי (Yᵉhûwdîy, H3064) — a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah) שָׂבַר (sâbar, H7663) — to scrutinize; by implication (of watching) to expect (with hope and patience)
Open source ↗יְהוּדִי (Yᵉhûwdîy, H3064) — a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah) קָהַל (qâhal, H6950) — to convoke עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… מְדִינָה (mᵉdîynâh, H4082) — properly, a judgeship, i.e. jurisdiction; by implication, a district (as ruled by a… מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ (ʼĂchashvêrôwsh, H325) — Achashverosh (i.e. Ahasuerus or Artaxerxes, but in this case Xerxes), the title (rather… שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), בָּקַשׁ (bâqash, H1245) — to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to… רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… פַּחַד (pachad, H6343) — a (sudden) alarm (properly, the object feared, by implication, the feeling)
Open source ↗שַׂר (sar, H8269) — a head person (of any rank or class) מְדִינָה (mᵉdîynâh, H4082) — properly, a judgeship, i.e. jurisdiction; by implication, a district (as ruled by a… אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפַּן (ʼăchashdarpan, H323) — a satrap or governorof amain province (of Persia) פֶּחָה (pechâh, H6346) — a prefect (of a city or small district) עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application מְלָאכָה (mᵉlâʼkâh, H4399) — properly, deputyship, i.e. ministry; generally, employment (never servile) or work… מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative יְהוּדִי (Yᵉhûwdîy, H3064) — a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah) פַּחַד (pachad, H6343) — a (sudden) alarm (properly, the object feared, by implication, the feeling) מׇרְדְּכַי (Mordᵉkay, H4782) — Mordecai, an Israelite נָפַל (nâphal, H5307) — to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or…
Open source ↗מׇרְדְּכַי (Mordᵉkay, H4782) — Mordecai, an Israelite גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) שֹׁמַע (shômaʻ, H8089) — a report הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) מְדִינָה (mᵉdîynâh, H4082) — properly, a judgeship, i.e. jurisdiction; by implication, a district (as ruled by a… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term…
Open source ↗יְהוּדִי (Yᵉhûwdîy, H3064) — a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah) נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively) אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary מַכָּה (makkâh, H4347) — a wound; figuratively, carnage, also pestilence חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or… הֶרֶג (hereg, H2027) — slaughter אַבְדָן (ʼabdân, H12) — a perishing עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application רָצוֹן (râtsôwn, H7522) — delight (especially as shown) שָׂנֵא (sânêʼ, H8130) — to hate (personally)
Open source ↗שׁוּשַׁן (Shûwshan, H7800) — Shushan, a place in Persia בִּירָה (bîyrâh, H1002) — a castle or palace יְהוּדִי (Yᵉhûwdîy, H3064) — a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah) הָרַג (hârag, H2026) — to smite with deadly intent אָבַד (ʼâbad, H6) — properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy) חָמֵשׁ (châmêsh, H2568) — five מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term…
Open source ↗פַּרְשַׁנְדָּתָא (Parshandâthâʼ, H6577) — Parshandatha, a son of Haman דַּלְפוֹן (Dalphôwn, H1813) — Dalphon, a son of Haman אַסְפָּתָא (ʼAçpâthâʼ, H630) — Aspatha, a son of Haman
Open source ↗פּוֹרָתָא (Pôwrâthâʼ, H6334) — Poratha, a son of Haman אֲדַלְיָא (ʼĂdalyâʼ, H118) — Adalja, a son of Haman אֲרִידָתָא (ʼĂrîydâthâʼ, H743) — Aridatha, a son of Haman
Open source ↗פַּרְמַשְׁתָּא (Parmashtâʼ, H6534) — Parmashta, a son of Haman אֲרִיסַי (ʼĂrîyçay, H747) — Arisai, a son of Haman אֲרִידַי (ʼĂrîyday, H742) — Aridai, a son of Haman וַיְזָתָא (Vayzâthâʼ, H2055) — Vajezatha, a son of Haman
Open source ↗עֶשֶׂר (ʻeser, H6235) — ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… הָמָן (Hâmân, H2001) — Haman, a Persian vizier מְדָתָא (Mᵉdâthâʼ, H4099) — Medatha, the father of Haman צָרַר (tsârar, H6887) — to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive יְהוּדִי (Yᵉhûwdîy, H3064) — a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah) הָרַג (hârag, H2026) — to smite with deadly intent בִּזָּה (bizzâh, H961) — booty שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
Open source ↗יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… מִסְפָּר (miçpâr, H4557) — a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also… הָרַג (hârag, H2026) — to smite with deadly intent שׁוּשַׁן (Shûwshan, H7800) — Shushan, a place in Persia בִּירָה (bîyrâh, H1002) — a castle or palace בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king
Open source ↗מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אֶסְתֵּר (ʼEçtêr, H635) — Ester, the Jewish heroine מַלְכָּה (malkâh, H4436) — a queen יְהוּדִי (Yᵉhûwdîy, H3064) — a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah) הָרַג (hârag, H2026) — to smite with deadly intent אָבַד (ʼâbad, H6) — properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy) חָמֵשׁ (châmêsh, H2568) — five מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… שׁוּשַׁן (Shûwshan, H7800) — Shushan, a place in Persia בִּירָה (bîyrâh, H1002) — a castle or palace עֶשֶׂר (ʻeser, H6235) — ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative…
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אֶסְתֵּר (ʼEçtêr, H635) — Ester, the Jewish heroine טוֹב (ṭôwb, H2896) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the… מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) יְהוּדִי (Yᵉhûwdîy, H3064) — a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah) שׁוּשַׁן (Shûwshan, H7800) — Shushan, a place in Persia עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application מָחָר (mâchâr, H4279) — properly, deferred, i.e. the morrow; usually (adverbially) tomorrow; indefinitely,… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… דָּת (dâth, H1881) — a royal edict or statute הָמָן (Hâmân, H2001) — Haman, a Persian vizier עֶשֶׂר (ʻeser, H6235) — ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative…
Open source ↗מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application דָּת (dâth, H1881) — a royal edict or statute נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) שׁוּשַׁן (Shûwshan, H7800) — Shushan, a place in Persia תָּלָה (tâlâh, H8518) — to suspend (especially to gibbet) הָמָן (Hâmân, H2001) — Haman, a Persian vizier עֶשֶׂר (ʻeser, H6235) — ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative…
Open source ↗Cross-references
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And the letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces with the order to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—and to plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.
The single day appointed throughout all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar.
You turned my mourning into dancing; You peeled off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
The nations were enraged, and Your wrath has come. The time has come to judge the dead and to reward Your servants the prophets, as well as the saints and those who fear Your name, both small and great— and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”
You have made my enemies retreat before me; I put an end to those who hated me.
For the LORD will vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants when He sees that their strength is gone and no one remains, slave or free.
This was done on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested, making it a day of feasting and joy.
In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the Pur (that is, the lot) was cast before Haman to determine a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.
Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.”