“On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.”
House, and furniture. Septuagint, “all the possessions of Aman, the devil,” (accuser, &c.; Haydock) which were confiscated for treason; and no one had a better title than the queen, whose life had been is such danger. Yet she did not touch the estates of the children, ver. 13., and chap. ix. 10. — King. In the place of Aman, chap. ix. 4., and x. 3. — Uncle, or cousin. (Calmet)
“And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.”
Aman. It seems the traitor had hitherto kept possession of it, and sealed the king’s edicts, as Mardochai was now to do, ver. 8. — House. Hebrew, &c., “of Aman,” to whom it had belonged. (Calmet)
“And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. and besought: Heb. and she wept, and besought him”
Down. Such reverence is due to God’s representatives, whatever heretics may say. (Jude 8.)
“And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces: devised: Heb. the device which he: or, who wrote”
To him. Hebrew adds, “and I be pleasing in his eyes,” which had been expressed just before. Yet she might insist on this point, as it shewed a greater regard for the king’s pleasure. — I beseech. Hebrew, “let it be written, to reverse the device of Aman, the son,” &c. (Haydock) — When the edict was not sealed by the nobles, it might be altered; (chap. i. 19.) and at any rate, when the king had been to[too?] visibly imposed upon, in an affair of such consequence, justice dictated that it should not be enforced. (Calmet)
“Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.”
Durst. Hebrew, “laid.” He had sufficiently manifested his intention to destroy them, though he had not been able to injure any one. (Haydock)
“Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.”
This. Hebrew, “no one may reverse the letter,” &c.
“Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.”
Third. Roman Septuagint, “first….Nisan,” ten days after Aman’s decree, who seems to have been presently brought to judgment. Yet two whole months might easily elapse, (Calmet) and ten days more, before this contrary edict was dispatched. (Haydock) — The day of slaughter was still remote. (Menochius)
“And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:”
Posts, who had a right to make use of any person’s horse, &c. (Menochius) — Who. Protestants, “on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries.” (Haydock) — The original terms greatly embarrass interpreters. (Calmet) — Septuagint have simply, “he sent the writings by letter-carriers, ordering them to follow their own laws in every city, to help themselves, and treat their adversaries and opponents as they pleased, on one day….the 13th….of Adar. This is a copy,” &c., chap. xvi. (Haydock)
“Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,”
Spoil. This was retaliating, as they were to have been treated in like manner. (Calmet) — Such were the barbarous customs of the country. (Haydock) — It might not still be lawful thus to involve the innocent with the guilty, though the king did not ill in allowing the Jews to stand up in their own defence, 2 Kings xxi. 6. Some think that they were only to prevent the execution of the former edict, which could not be revoked. See chap. iii. (Calmet) — A form of trial was observed, chap. xvi. 20. (Menochius)
“And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. blue: or, violet”
Cloak. The kings wore one of purple, over their purple and white tunic. (Cyrop. viii.) — Greek have “diadem.” (Calmet)
“And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.”
Ceremonies. Becoming acquainted with the sanctity of the law, and the protection which God gave to his people. (Menochius) — Hebrew, “the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast, and a good day, and many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews,” &c. (Protestants) (Haydock)