“Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)”
This was by God’s great providence, who turneth the joy of the wicked into sorrow, and the tears of the godly into gladness.
“And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. officers: Heb. those which did the business that belonged to the king”
Did them honor, and showed them friendship.
“Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them. what: Heb. according to their will”
Which had conspired their death by the permission of the wicked Haman.
“And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.”
Besides those three hundred, that they slew the second day, as verse 15.
“The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.”
Whereby they declared that this was God’s just judgment upon the enemies of his Church, forasmuch as they sought not their own gain, but to execute his vengeance.
“Then said Esther, If it please the king, let 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 upon the gallows. let Haman's: Heb. let men hang, etc”
This she requireth not for desire of vengeance, but with zeal to see God’s judgments executed against his enemies.
“But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,”
Read Esther 8:11 . Meaning, that they laid hands on none that were not this enemies of God.
“On 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. of the same: Heb. in it”
Meaning, in all places saving in Shushan.
“Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.”
As the Jews do even to this day, calling it in the Persian language Purim, that is, the day of lots.
“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,”
The Jews gather hereof that Mordecai wrote this story: but it seemeth that he wrote but only these letters and decrees that follow.
“As 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 good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.”
He setteth before our eyes the use of this feast, which was for the remembrance of God’s deliverance, the maintenance of mutual friendship and relief of the poor.
“But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his 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. when: Heb. when she came”
That is, Esther. These are the words of the king’s commandment to disannul Haman’s wicked enterprise.
“The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year ; fail: Heb. pass”
Or, transgress. Meaning, the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the month of Adar.
“And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,”
Which were letters declaring unto them quietness, and assurance and putting them out of doubt and fear.
“To 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 for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry. themselves: Heb. their souls”
Hebrew, souls. That they would observe this feast with fasting and earnest prayer, which in Hebrew is signified by this word (they cry).