Est. 9 The Jews slay their enemies, Est. 9:1–9, with the ten sons of Haman, Est. 9:10. Ahasuerus, at the request of Esther, granteth another day of slaughter, Est. 9:12–19. The days of Purim made festival, Est. 9:20–32.

In that day which was selected by Haman with great industry and art, as the most lucky day, and which their enemies had ofttimes formerly thought of, and no doubt threatened the Jews with it.

No man could withstand them; their enemies, though they did and were allowed to take up arms against them, yet were easily conquered and destroyed by the Jews.

And officers of the king, Heb. and all them that did the king’s business, i.e. not only the chief persons designed by the foregoing words, but all his other ministers or officers, of what quality soever.

Mordecai was great, i.e. the greatest in place, and power, and favour with the king, both for his near relation to his beloved queen, and for his good service done to him in preserving his life and managing his affairs, and for those excellent abilities and virtues which he discovered in him, and…

In Shushan the palace, i.e. in the city so called, as was noted before, Est. 1:2; it not being probable either that they would make such a slaughter in the king’s palace, or that they would be suffered so to do.

Either because they were desirous it should come into the king’s treasury; or because they would leave it to their children, that it might appear that what they did that day was not done out of malice to their persons and families, or covetousness of their estates, but out of mere necessity, and by…

Possibly with evil design to incense thee king against the Jews.

What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? in which doubtless many more were slain. So that I have fully granted thy petition. And yet, if thou hast any thing further to ask, I am here ready to grant it.

According to this day’s decree, i.e. to kill their implacable enemies. For it is not improbable that the greatest and worst of them had politicly withdrawn or hidden themselves for that day; after which, the commission granted to the Jews being expired, they confidently returned to their homes,…

On the thirteenth day: this belongs not to the feast, but to the work done before it. The meaning is, This they did, i.e. they slew their foes, as was now said, Est. 9:16, upon the thirteenth day.

Therefore, to wit, because they did their whole work upon the thirteenth day, as was noted Est. 9:17, to which this manifestly relates, the 18th verse coming in as it were by way of parenthesis. In the unwalled towns, Heb. in the cities of the villages, i.e.

Mordecai wrote these things; either, 1. The letters here following. But that is distinctly mentioned in the next words. Or, 2. The history of these things, which was the ground of the feast; which Mordecai knew very well ought to be had in remembrance, and to be told to their children and…

Because both these days had been set apart this year, the latter at Shushan, the former in other parts; and because that great work of God, which was the ground of this solemnity, had been done both upon the thirteenth and the fourteenth day.

Which they used to give upon days of thanksgiving; of which see Neh. 8:10.

Having by this means opportunity to gather themselves together upon any occasion, the chief of them assembled together, and freely and unanimously consented to Mordecai’s desire in this matter, and bound it upon themselves and posterity.

i.e. Both for the respect which they justly bore to Mordecai’s letter, and because they themselves had seen and felt this wonderful work of God on their behalf.

All such as joined themselves unto them, i.e. Gentile proselytes; who were obliged to submit to other of the Jewish laws, and therefore to this also; the rather, because they enjoyed the benefit of this day’s deliverance; without which the Jewish nation and religion had been in a great measure, if…

Wrote with all authority: the former letter, Est. 9:20, did only recommend, but this enjoins the observation of this solemnity; because this was not only Mordecai’s act, who yet had by the king’s grant a great power and authority over the subjects of that kingdom, and consequently over the Jews,…

Or, even words of peace and truth; which may respect either, 1. The form of the writing, wherein after the custom he saluted them with hearty wishes of their true peace or prosperity, or of the continuance of those two great blessings of God, truth, i.e.

For or about those great and overwhelming calamities which were decreed to all the Jews, and for the removing of which, not only Esther, and the Jews in Shushan, but all other Jews in all places, as soon as they heard those dismal tidings, did doubtless according to the precepts of Scripture, and…

Esther had received authority and commission from the king to impose this upon all the Jews. In the book; either in the public registers of that kingdom; or rather, in the records which the Jews kept of their most memorable passages.