Esther 9:19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Esther 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. I. The enemies of the Jews were the aggressors. They hoped, notwithstanding the latter edict, to have power over them, by virtue of the former (Est. 9:1), and made... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 9:19

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 ,.... Jarchi observes that those in the villages, who are they that do not dwell in walled towns, observed the fourteenth, and they in towns surrounded with walls the fifteenth, as Shushan; and this circumvallation, he says, must be what was from the days of Joshua; according to the Jewish canons, every place that was walled from the days of Joshua... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 9:19

The Jews of the villages - They joined that to the preceding day, and made it a day of festivity, and of sending portions to each other; that is, the rich sent portions of the sacrifices slain on this occasion to the poor, that they also might be enabled to make the day a day of festivity; that as the sorrow was general, so also might the joy be. It is worthy of remark that the ancient Itala or Ante-hieronymian version of this book omits the whole of these nineteen verses. Query,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 9:1-32

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 9:17-23

FESTIVAL HELD , AND FEAST OF PURIM INSTITUTED ( Esther 9:17-32 ). A natural instinct led the Jews, so soon as their triumph was accomplished, to indulge themselves in a day of rest and rejoicing ( Esther 9:17 ). After toil there is need of repose; and escape from a great danger is followed, almost of necessity, by "gladness." The writer of the Book of Esther, practising his usual reticence, says nothing of the character of the "gladness;" but we can scarcely be wrong in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 9:17-32

The effects of deliverance. Our narrative closes with a bright picture, in which all clouds are scattered; it is as sunshine after rain. Among the results of Israel's triumph we notice— I. REST . All the Jews in the empire, except those in Shushan, rested on the 14th of Adar. The Jews in Shushan, after their two days' conflict, rested on the 15th of Adar. Then all had rest. So utterly broken was the power of their enemies that they had rest not only from a past fear, but from anxiety... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 9:19

The Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns . Rather, "the Jews of the country, who dwelt in the country towns." There are places where the word translated " unwalled " connotes that idea—e.g. Ezekiel 38:11 ; Zechariah 2:8 ; but the main notion which it expresses is always that of a "country region." Here walls are not at all in the thought of the writer, who intends a contrast between the Jews of the metropolis and those of the provinces. Ecbatana and Babylon are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 9:19-22

The elements of perfect joy. "A good day, and of sending portions one to another:.; days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor." Twice then, among the other particulars of the people's glad celebration of their deliverance from a savage massacre, is this detail included, that they sent "portions one to another;" and once it is added that they sent "gifts to the poor." This was no ancient prescription of the law, so far as literal command is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 9:19

The Jews of the villages ... - Rather, “the Jews of the country districts, that dwelt in the country towns,” as distinguished from those who dwelt in the metropolis. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 9:19

Esther 9:19 . The Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns Hebrew, in the cities of the villages; that is, in the lesser cities and villages, which are here opposed to the great city Shushan, and those who dwelt in it. Made the fourteenth day a day of gladness, &c. Namely, because they did their whole work upon the thirteenth day, as was observed Esther 9:17, to which this manifestly relates, the 18th verse coming in by way of parenthesis. And a good day, and of... read more

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