Esther 4:4--9:19
eunuchs <05631> [chamberlains. Heb. eunuchs.]
accept <06901> [but he received it not.]
at ... service <06440 05975> [appointed to attend upon her. Heb. set before her.]
<03045> [to know.]
[the king said.]
happened <07136> [all that had.]
copy <06572> [the copy.]
instructions <06680> [to charge.]
<02603> [to make supplication.]
implore <01245> [request.]
comes ...................................... come <0935> [shall come.]
Herodotus informs us, that ever since the reign of Deioces, king of Media, for the security of the king's person, it was enacted that no one should be admitted into his presence; but that if any one had business with him, he should transact it through the medium of his ministers.
inner court <02691 06442> [the inner court.]
one law <01881 0259> [one law.]
king ....... king's ..................... king ............... king extends ...................... king <04428 03447> [the king shall.]
gold scepter <02091 08275> [the golden sceptre.]
That the kings of Persia carried a golden sceptre, we have the following proof in Xenophon: [Hoti ou tode to chrysoun skeptron to men basileian diasozon estin, all hoi pistoi philoi skeptron basileusin alethestaton kai asphalestaton.] "It is not (said Cyrus to his son Cambyses) the golden sceptre that saves the kingdom; but faithful friends are the truest and best sceptre of the kingdom."
uninvited ................................... invited <07121> [but I.]
liberation <07305> [then shall.]
liberation <07305> [enlargement. Heb. respiration.]
father's <01> [but thou.]
achieved <05060> [whether.]
time .................................. time <06256> [for such a time.]
The fact related in this verse was unquestionably the reason why Esther was raised to regal honours, by the overruling providence of God: she was therefore bound in gratitude to do this service for God, else she would not have answered the end of her elevation: and she need not fear the miscarriage of the enterprise, for if God designed her for it, he would surely bear her through and give success. It appeared by the event that Mordecai spoke prophetically, when he modestly conjectured that Esther came to the kingdom that she might be the instrument of the Jews' deliverance. Mordecai thoroughly believed that it was a cause which one way or other would certainly be carried, and which, therefore, she might safely venture upon. Instruments might fail, but God's covenant cannot. There is a wise design in all the providences of God, which is unknown to us till it is accomplished; but it will prove in the issue that all is intended for and centre in the good of those who trust in Him.
found <04672> [present. Heb. found. fast.]
eat .... drink <08354 0398> [eat nor drink.]
female attendants <05291> [I also.]
perish ... perish <06> [if I perish.]
If I lose my life in the attempt to save my people, I shall lose it cheerfully. I see it is my duty to make the attempt; and, come what will, I am resolved to do it.
<05674> [went. Heb. passed.]
third <07992> [on the.]
royal attire ..................... royal ..... palace <04438> [royal.]
inner <06442> [inner.]
sitting <03427> [sat.]
met <05375> [she.]
gold scepter ................ scepter <08275 02091> [golden sceptre.]
Queen ...... request <04436 01246> [What.]
half <02677> [to.]
inclined <02895> [If it seem.]
banquet <04960> [the banquet. {Mishteh,} from {shathah,} "to drink," a compotation. feast, or banquet accompanied with drinking; the drinking in the East being at the beginning, and not at the end of the entertainment.]
Olearius, describing an entertainment at the Persian court, says, "The floor of the hall was covered with cotton cloth, which was covered with all sorts of fruits and sweetmeats in basons of gold. With them was served up excellent Shiraz wine. After an hour's time, the sweetmeats were removed, to make way for the more substantial part of the entertainment, such as rice, boiled and roast mutton, etc. When the company had been at table an hour and a half, warm water was brought, in a ewer of gold, for washing; and grace being said, they began to retire without speaking a word, according to the custom of the country."
Haman ............... Haman <02001> [Cause Haman.]
king said <0559 04428> [the king said.]
perform ................. prepare ......... do <06213> [perform. Heb. do. let the king.]
Esther probably wished another interview, that she might ingratiate herself more fully into the king's favour, and thus secure the success of her design. But Providence disposed of things thus, to give time for the important event mentioned in the following chapter.
tomorrow <04279> [to-morrow.]
pleased ... very <08056> [joyful.]
rise <06965> [he stood not up.]
Haman ............. Haman .................. Haman ... filled <04390 02001> [he was full.]
restrained <0662> [refrained.]
went ........... friends ... join ... along <0157 0935> [called for his friends. Heb. caused his friends to come.]
Zeresh.
fabulous <03519> [the glory.]
many <07230> [the multitude.]
exalted <05375> [and how he had.]
Esther <0635> [Yea, Esther.]
Plutarch, in his life of Artaxerxes, informs us, that none but the king's mother, and his real wife, were permitted to sit at his table; and therefore he mentions it as a condescension in that prince, that he sometimes invited his brothers. Haman, therefore, had some reason to be proud of this favour.
tomorrow <04279> [to-morrow.]
fails <07737> [Yet all this.]
Pride will ever render its possessor unhappy. Haman, though possessed of immense riches, glory, and honour, and the prime favourite of his king, is wretched, because he could not have the homage of that man whom his heart even despised! Oh, how distressing are the inquietudes of pride and vanity.
Zeresh ...... said ............... tell <02238 0559> [said Zeresh.]
gallows ......................................... gallows <06086> [Let a gallows. Heb. Let a tree.]
said ............... tell ... king ............. king <0559 04428> [speak thou.]
go ........ contented <0935 08056> [go thou in.]
idea <01697> [the thing.]
built <06213> [he caused.]
night <03915> [that night.]
king ... unable ... sleep ....................... king's <05074 04428 08142> [could not the king sleep. Heb. the king's sleep fled away.]
book ..... records <05612 02146> [the book of records.]
As chronicles were composed among the Persians, a more instructive and interesting work could not be brought before the king; because they were all written in verse, and were generally the work of the most eminent poets of the empire.
Bigthana <0904> [Bigthana.]
[Bigthan. door. Heb. threshold.]
honor <03366> [What honour.]
thing <01697> [There is nothing.]
courtyard ......... courtyard <02691> [Who is in the court.]
outer <02435> [the outward.]
said <0559> [to speak.]
king .............. king .............. king <04428> [whom the king, etc. Heb. in whose honour the king delighteth.]
king .............. king .............. king <04428> [To whom.]
king ....... king <04428> [whom the king, etc. Heb. in whose honour the king delighteth.]
royal ...................... royal <04438> [Let the royal, etc. Heb. Let them bring the royal apparel, wherewith the king clotheth himself.]
horse <05483> [the horse.]
Herodotus relates, that the kings of Persia had horses peculiar to themselves, which were brought from Armenia, and were remarkable for their beauty; and if the same law prevailed in Persia as in Judea, no man, under the penalty of death, might ride on the king's horse, any more than sit on his throne, wear his crown, or hold his sceptre.
horse .......................... lead ............ horse <07392 05483> [bring him. Heb. cause him to ride. proclaim.]
quickly <04116> [Make haste.]
single thing <01697 05307> [let nothing fail. Heb. suffer not a whit to fall.]
So ... took <03947> [took Hamon.]
clothed <03847> [and arrayed.]
plaza <07339> [the street.]
Pitts gives a similar account of the mode of honouring a person who turns a Mohammedan, at Algiers: "The apostate is to get on a stately steed, with a rich saddle and fine trappings: he is also richly habited, and has a turban on his head, but nothing of this is to be called his own; only there are given him about two or three yards of broad cloth, which is laid before him on the saddle. The horse, with him on his back, is led all round the city, which he is several hours in doing. The apostate is attended with drums and other music, and twenty or thirty serjeants. They march in order on each side of the horse, with naked swords in their hands. The crier goes before, with a loud voice giving thanks to God for the proselyte that is made."
again <07725> [came again.]
hurried ..... home <01765 01004> [hasted to his house.]
head <07218> [having.]
Zeresh .................... Zeresh <02238> [Zeresh.]
wise men ....... said <0559 02450> [said his wise.]
Mordecai <04782> [If Mordecai.]
fall ............. surely fall <05307> [but shalt surely.]
quickly brought <0935 0926> [hasted to bring.]
dine <08354> [banquet. Heb. drink.]
king <0559 04428> [the king said.]
life <05315> [let my life.]
people <05971> [my people.]
sold .................... sold <04376> [we are sold.]
destruction <08045> [to be destroyed, etc. Heb. that they should destroy, and kill, and cause to perish.]
sold ............... If ...... sold <0432 04376> [But if we.]
distress <06862> [the enemy.]
presumptuous <04390> [Who is he.]
presumptuous <04390> [that durst, etc. Heb. whose heart hath filled him.]
oppressor <0376> [The adversary. Heb. The man adversary. this wicked.]
terrified <01204> [was afraid.]
presence <06440> [before. or, at the presence of.]
rage <02534> [in his wrath.]
Haman <02001> [Haman.]
realized <07200> [for he saw.]
couch <04296> [the bed.]
<01004> [before me. Heb. with me. they covered Haman's.]
When a criminal was condemned by a Roman judge, he was delivered to the serjeant with these words: {I, lictor, caput obnubito arbori infelici suspendito,} "Go, sergeant, cover his head, and hang him on the accursed tree."
Harbona <02726> [Harbonah.]
[Harbona. one of the chamberlains.]
gallows <06086> [Behold.]
gallows <06086> [gallows. Heb. tree. who had spoken.]
Hang <08518> [Hang him thereon.]
king's <04428> [Then was the king's.]
gave ... estate <05414 01004> [give the house.]
come before <0935 06440> [came before.]
signet ring <02885> [his ring.]
it ..... Esther designated <07760 0635> [Esther set.]
falling <05307> [fell.]
wept ...... mercy <01058 02603> [besought him with tears. Heb. she wept and besought him.]
evil <07451> [mischief.]
extended <03447> [held out.]
[and, if I.]
<02896> [I be pleasing.]
<05612> [letters. Heb. device.]
written .... recorded ............. wrote <03789> [which he wrote. or, who wrote.]
how ............. how <0349> [For how.]
can ... watch ........... can ... watch <07200 03201> [endure to see. Heb. be able that I may see. the evil.]
given <05414> [Behold.]
hanged <08518> [him they have hanged.]
king's name ................ king's ........... king's name ...... king's <04428 08034> [in the king's name.]
rescinded <07725> [may no man reverse.]
No, not the king himself; and this was the reason that the king was forced not to reverse, but to give a contradictory decree; that if the Jews, pursuant to the first decree, were assaulted, they might legitimately, by virtue of the second, defend themselves, slay their enemies, and even take the spoil.
king's <04428> [the king's.]
satraps <0323> [and to the lieutenants.]
India <01912> [India.]
The Hebrew word {Hoddo,} in Syriac, {Hendoo,} and in Arabic, {Hind,} is rendered India by all the versions. India, or Hindostan, is a large country of the south of Asia, extending from north to south about 2,400 miles, and from east to west 1,800, between 8 degrees and 35 degrees N. lat. and 68 degrees and 92 degrees E. long.; being bounded on the west by the Indus, east by the Birman empire and Thibet, north by the Indian Caucasus, and south by the Indian Ocean. It is probable, however, that all the country east of the Indus was anciently called India.
language .............. language <03956> [and according.]
King ........ king's <04428> [in the king.]
couriers <03027 07323> [by posts.]
horses <07409> [mules.]
{Rechesh,} in Syriac, {rechesha,} probably denotes a swift horse.
royal <0327> [camels.]
{Achashteranim,} from the Persian {akhash,} large, and {aster,} a mule, probably, as Bochart supposes, denotes a large mule.
<07424 01121> [young dromedaries.]
{Beney harammachim,} "the sons of mares," as the word {ramakat} denotes in Arabic; probably an expletive of the preceeding word.
assemble <06950> [to gather.]
destroy <08045> [to destroy.]
confiscate <07998> [and to take the spoil.]
This ........ certain day <03117 0259> [one day.]
thirteenth <07969> [upon the thirteenth.]
known <01540> [published. Heb. revealed. avenge themselves.]
without delay <0926> [being hastened.]
Susa <07800> [Shushan.]
royal attire <03830 04438> [royal apparel.]
purple <08504> [blue. or, violet.]
large ... crown <01419 05850> [and with a great crown.]
Mordecai was now made the chief minister, or vizier, instead of Haman; and was accordingly invested with the "royal apparel," in conformity to the custom of the East. So we are informed, in the History of the Revolt of Ali Bey, that on the election of a new {sheikh bellet,} or chief of the country, in Egypt, the {pasha} who approves of him invests him with a robe of valuable fur. Perhaps the crown was one of the insignia of the office of vizier. Concerning the blue, fine linen, and purple, see the Notes on Ex 25:4; 39:27.
city <05892> [the city.]
Haman was too proud to be popular: few lamented his fall.
Jews <03064> [Jews.]
radiant <0219> [had light.]
That is, prosperity and hope. The dark cloud which had so long hung over them was dispelled; and again the sunshine of prosperity beamed upon them.
banquets <04960> [a feast.]
Many ..... peoples <05971 07227> [many of the people.]
fear <06343> [for the fear.]
<08147> [A.M. 3552. B.C. 452. in the twelfth.]
supposed <07663> [hoped.]
<02015> [though it was turned.]
assembled <06950> [gathered.]
seeking <01245> [as sought.]
dread <06343> [the fear.]
officials <08269> [the rulers.]
performed ... king's <04428 06213> [officers of the king. Heb. those which did the business that belonged to the king. the fear.]
high rank ....................... greater <01419> [was great.]
word about him <08089> [his fame.]
spreading .......... become greater <01980> [waxed.]
struck <05221> [smote.]
bringing death <04347> [the stroke.]
pleased <07522> [what they would. Heb. according to their will.]
The Chaldee paraphrast 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, seemed only to exasperate them the more. How have the most dreadful scourges ravaged a country, and yet the inhabitants are unmindful of the Almighty Disposer of events, and that the cause of his righteous displeasure is their continual provocation! Forty years long was he grieved with one generation, who learned not his ways, although daily fed and clothed by a miracle.
Susa <07800> [Shushan.]
ten sons .... son <01121 06235> [ten sons.]
enemy <06887> [enemy.]
property <0961> [but on the spoil.]
It does not appear that the Jews slew any person who did not rise up to destroy them: they stood for their lives; and gave full proof that they sought their own personal safety, and not the property of their enemies: though the decree in their favour gave them authority to take the property of all their adversaries.
brought <0935> [was brought. Heb. came.]
request <07596> [what is thy petition.]
king is ... inclined <02896 04428> [If it please the king.]
Esther had probably been informed by Mordecai, that there were still many enemies of the Jews who sought their destruction, who had escaped the preceding day; and therefore begged that the second day might be added to the former permission; and that the sons of Haman, who had already been slain, might be suspended on gibbets, as a terror to those who sought the destruction of the Jews.
<03117> [according unto.]
hang ... ten sons ... Haman <06235 01121 08518 02001> [let Haman's ten sons be hanged. Heb. let men hang Haman's ten sons.]
assembled <06950> [gathered themselves.]
property <0961> [but on the prey.]
assembled <06950> [gathered themselves.]
stand up <05975> [stood.]
<05118> [of the same. Heb. in it.]
thirteenth <07969> [on the thirteenth.]
happiness <08057> [gladness.]
sending gifts <04490 04916> [sending portions.]
The eastern princes and people not only invite their friends to feasts, but it is their custom to send a portion of the banquet to those that cannot well attend, especially their relations, and those in a state of mourning. Thus, when the Grand Emir found that it incommoded M. D'Arvieux to eat with him, he desired him to take his own time for eating, and sent him from his kitchen what he liked best.
