3 And all the rulers H8269 of the provinces, H4082 and the lieutenants, H323 and the deputies, H6346 and officers H6213 H4399 of the king, H4428 helped H5375 the Jews; H3064 because the fear H6343 of Mordecai H4782 fell H5307 upon them.
And they delivered H5414 the king's H4428 commissions H1881 unto the king's H4428 lieutenants, H323 and to the governors H6346 on this side H5676 the river: H5104 and they furthered H5375 the people, H5971 and the house H1004 of God. H430
And all the king's H4428 servants, H5650 that were in the king's H4428 gate, H8179 bowed, H3766 and reverenced H7812 Haman: H2001 for the king H4428 had so commanded H6680 concerning him. But Mordecai H4782 bowed H3766 not, nor did him reverence. H7812 Then the king's H4428 servants, H5650 which were in the king's H4428 gate, H8179 said H559 unto Mordecai, H4782 Why transgressest H5674 thou the king's H4428 commandment? H4687 Now it came to pass, when they spake H559 daily H3117 H3117 unto him, and he hearkened H8085 not unto them, that they told H5046 Haman, H2001 to see H7200 whether Mordecai's H4782 matters H1697 would stand: H5975 for he had told H5046 them that he was a Jew. H3064 And when Haman H2001 saw H7200 that Mordecai H4782 bowed H3766 not, nor did him reverence, H7812 then was Haman H2001 full H4390 of wrath. H2534 And he thought H5869 scorn H959 to lay H7971 hands H3027 on Mordecai H4782 alone; for they had shewed H5046 him the people H5971 of Mordecai: H4782 wherefore Haman H2001 sought H1245 to destroy H8045 all the Jews H3064 that were throughout the whole kingdom H4438 of Ahasuerus, H325 even the people H5971 of Mordecai. H4782
Then were the king's H4428 scribes H5608 called H7121 on the thirteenth H7969 H6240 day H3117 of the first H7223 month, H2320 and there was written H3789 according to all that Haman H2001 had commanded H6680 unto the king's H4428 lieutenants, H323 and to the governors H6346 that were over every province, H4082 and to the rulers H8269 of every people H5971 of every province H4082 according to the writing H3791 thereof, and to every people H5971 after their language; H3956 in the name H8034 of king H4428 Ahasuerus H325 was it written, H3789 and sealed H2856 with the king's H4428 ring. H2885
And said, H559 If it please H2896 the king, H4428 and if I have found H4672 favour H2580 in his sight, H6440 and the thing H1697 seem right H3787 before H6440 the king, H4428 and I be pleasing H2896 in his eyes, H5869 let it be written H3789 to reverse H7725 the letters H5612 devised H4284 by Haman H2001 the son H1121 of Hammedatha H4099 the Agagite, H91 which he wrote H3789 to destroy H6 the Jews H3064 which are in all the king's H4428 provinces: H4082
Then were the king's H4428 scribes H5608 called H7121 at that time H6256 in the third H7992 month, H2320 that is, the month H2320 Sivan, H5510 on the three H7969 and twentieth H6242 day thereof; and it was written H3789 according to all that Mordecai H4782 commanded H6680 unto the Jews, H3064 and to the lieutenants, H323 and the deputies H6346 and rulers H8269 of the provinces H4082 which are from India H1912 unto Ethiopia, H3568 an hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and seven H7651 provinces, H4082 unto every province H4082 according to the writing H3791 thereof, and unto every people H5971 after their language, H3956 and to the Jews H3064 according to their writing, H3791 and according to their language. H3956
Then Nebuchadnezzar H5020 the king H4430 sent H7972 to gather together H3673 the princes, H324 the governors, H5460 and the captains, H6347 the judges, H148 the treasurers, H1411 the counsellors, H1884 the sheriffs, H8614 and all H3606 the rulers H7984 of the provinces, H4083 to come H858 to the dedication H2597 of the image H6755 which Nebuchadnezzar H5020 the king H4430 had set up. H6966
It pleased H6925 H8232 Darius H1868 to set H6966 over H5922 the kingdom H4437 an hundred H3969 and twenty H6243 princes, H324 which should be H1934 over the whole H3606 kingdom; H4437 And over H5924 these H4481 three H8532 presidents; H5632 of whom H4481 Daniel H1841 was first: H2298 that H459 the princes H324 might H1934 give H3052 accounts H2941 unto them, and the king H4430 should have H1934 no H3809 damage. H5142
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Esther 9
Commentary on Esther 9 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 9
We left two royal edicts in force, both given at the court of Shushan, one bearing date the thirteenth day of the first month, appointing that on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month then next ensuing all the Jews should be killed; another bearing date the twenty-third day of the third month, empowering the Jews, on the day appointed for their slaughter, to draw the sword in their own defence and make their part good against their enemies as well as they could. Great expectation there was, no doubt, of this day, and the issue of it. The Jews' cause was to be tried by battle and the day was fixed for the combat by authority. Their enemies resolved not to lose the advantages given them by the first edict, in hope to overpower them by numbers; the Jews relied on the goodness of their God and the justice of their cause, and resolved to make their utmost efforts against their enemies. The day comes at length; and here we are told,
Est 9:1-19
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.
Est 9:20-32
We may well imagine how much affected Mordecai and Esther were with the triumphs of the Jews over their enemies, and how they saw the issue of that decisive day with a satisfaction proportionable to the care and concern with which they expected it. How were their hearts enlarged with joy in God and his salvation, and what new songs of praise were put into their mouths! But here we are told what course they took to spread the knowledge of it among their people, and to perpetuate the remembrance of it to posterity, for the honour of God and the encouragement of his people to trust in him at all times.