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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Esther 3:7-15

Haman values himself upon that bold and daring thought, which he fancied well became his great spirit, of destroying all the Jews?an undertaking worthy of its author, and which he promised himself would perpetuate his memory. He doubts not but to find desperate and bloody hands enough to cut all their throats if the king will but give him leave. How he obtained leave, and commission to do it, we are here told. He had the king's ear, let him alone to manage him. I. He makes a false and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 3:7

In the first month, that is the month Nisan ,.... Which was the first month of the sacred year of the Jews, by divine appointment, Exodus 12:2 , and there called Abib, and answers to part of February and part of March; from hence it is clear this book was written by a Jew, and very probably by Mordecai: in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus ; four years and near two months after his marriage of Esther, Esther 2:16 , they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman ; being a Persian... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 3:8

And Haman said unto King Ahasuerus , Or "had said" F18 ויאמר "dixerat enim", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius, so Patrick. , as some choose to render it; nor indeed is it likely that Haman should cast lots to know when would be a proper time to destroy the Jews, until he had got leave of the king to do it: there is a certain people scattered abroad, and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom ; for, though many of the Jews returned to their own... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 3:9

If it please the king, let it be written, that they may be destroyed ,.... That is, a law made, signed and sealed, for their destruction, and letters written and sent everywhere, ordering it to be put in execution: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those who have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasury ; this he proposed, to prevent any objection that might be made from the loss of tribute paid by this people to the king; and this was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 3:10

And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. As a token of his affection for him, and a mark of honour to him; with the Persians F23 Alex. ab. Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 1. c. 26. & l. 2. c. 19. for a king to give a ring to anyone was a token and bond of the greatest love and friendship imaginable; and it may be this was given to Haman, to seal with it the letters that were or should be written, giving order for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 3:11

And the king said unto Haman, the silver is given unto thee ,.... The 10,000 talents of silver Haman proposed to pay into the treasury were returned to him, or the king out of his great munificence refused to take them: the people also, to do with them as seemeth good unto thee ; that is, the people of the Jews; he gave him full power to do with them as he thought fit, and who breathing revenge upon them, would not spare them. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 3:12

Then were the king's scribes called, on the thirteenth day of the first month ,.... The month Nisan, Esther 3:7 , after Haman had leave and power from the king to destroy the Jews, and his ring given him in token of it; the king's scribes or secretaries of state were called together on that day, to write the letters for that purpose: and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded ; whatever he would have done; he had an unlimited power to do what he pleased, and he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 3:13

And the letters were sent by post into all the king's provinces ,.... Or by the runners F24 ביד הרצים "in manu cursorum", Montanus; so the Tigurine version, Drusius, V. L. Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ; by which it seems as if these letters were carried by running footmen, men swift of foot; or rather they were running horses, on which men rode post with letters, and which the Persians called Angari; a scheme invented by Cyrus, for the quick dispatch of letters from place to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 3:14

The copy of the writing, for a commandment to be given in every province, was published unto all people ,.... Not only letters were sent to the governors, but a copy, or the sum of the contents of them, was published by heralds, or stuck up as with us, in various places, that it might be publicly known by the common people everywhere: that they should be ready against that day ; and fall upon the people of the Jews, and slay them, and seize on their goods as a prey. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 3:15

The post went out, being hastened by the king's command ,.... Both to set out and make as much dispatch as possible: and the decree was given in Shushan the palace ; by the king, and with the advice of his courtiers: and the king and Haman sat down to drink ; at a banquet which perhaps Haman had prepared, in gratitude to the king for what he had granted him, both being highly delighted with what had been done: but the city Shushan was perplexed ; the court was agreed, but the... read more

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