2 The Jews H3064 gathered themselves together H6950 in their cities H5892 throughout all the provinces H4082 of the king H4428 Ahasuerus, H325 to lay H7971 hand H3027 on such as sought H1245 their hurt: H7451 and no man H376 could withstand H5975 them; H6440 for the fear H6343 of them fell H5307 upon all people. H5971
3 And all the rulers H8269 of the provinces, H4082 and the lieutenants, H323 and the deputies, H6346 and officers H6213 H4399 of the king, H4428 helped H5375 the Jews; H3064 because the fear H6343 of Mordecai H4782 fell H5307 upon them.
4 For Mordecai H4782 was great H1419 in the king's H4428 house, H1004 and his fame H8089 went out H1980 throughout all the provinces: H4082 for this man H376 Mordecai H4782 waxed H1980 greater and greater. H1419
5 Thus the Jews H3064 smote H5221 all their enemies H341 with the stroke H4347 of the sword, H2719 and slaughter, H2027 and destruction, H12 and did H6213 what they would H7522 unto those that hated H8130 them.
6 And in Shushan H7800 the palace H1002 the Jews H3064 slew H2026 and destroyed H6 five H2568 hundred H3967 men. H376
7 And Parshandatha, H6577 and Dalphon, H1813 and Aspatha, H630
8 And Poratha, H6334 and Adalia, H118 and Aridatha, H743
9 And Parmashta, H6534 and Arisai, H747 and Aridai, H742 and Vajezatha, H2055
10 The ten H6235 sons H1121 of Haman H2001 the son H1121 of Hammedatha, H4099 the enemy H6887 of the Jews, H3064 slew H2026 they; but on the spoil H961 laid H7971 they not their hand. H3027
11 On that day H3117 the number H4557 of those that were slain H2026 in Shushan H7800 the palace H1002 was brought H935 before H6440 the king. H4428
12 And the king H4428 said H559 unto Esther H635 the queen, H4436 The Jews H3064 have slain H2026 and destroyed H6 five H2568 hundred H3967 men H376 in Shushan H7800 the palace, H1002 and the ten H6235 sons H1121 of Haman; H2001 what have they done H6213 in the rest H7605 of the king's H4428 provinces? H4082 now what is thy petition? H7596 and it shall be granted H5414 thee: or what is thy request H1246 further? H5750 and it shall be done. H6213
13 Then said H559 Esther, H635 If it please H2896 the king, H4428 let it be granted H5414 to the Jews H3064 which are in Shushan H7800 to do H6213 to morrow H4279 also according unto this day's H3117 decree, H1881 and let Haman's H2001 ten H6235 sons H1121 be hanged H8518 upon the gallows. H6086
14 And the king H4428 commanded H559 it so to be done: H6213 and the decree H1881 was given H5414 at Shushan; H7800 and they hanged H8518 Haman's H2001 ten H6235 sons. H1121
15 For the Jews H3064 that were in Shushan H7800 gathered themselves together H6950 on the fourteenth H702 H6240 day H3117 also of the month H2320 Adar, H143 and slew H2026 three H7969 hundred H3967 men H376 at Shushan; H7800 but on the prey H961 they laid H7971 not their hand. H3027
16 But the other H7605 Jews H3064 that were in the king's H4428 provinces H4082 gathered themselves together, H6950 and stood H5975 for their lives, H5315 and had rest H5118 from their enemies, H341 and slew H2026 of their foes H8130 seventy H7657 and five H2568 thousand, H505 but they laid H7971 not their hands H3027 on the prey, H961
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Esther 9
Commentary on Esther 9 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 9
We left two royal edicts in force, both given at the court of Shushan, one bearing date the thirteenth day of the first month, appointing that on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month then next ensuing all the Jews should be killed; another bearing date the twenty-third day of the third month, empowering the Jews, on the day appointed for their slaughter, to draw the sword in their own defence and make their part good against their enemies as well as they could. Great expectation there was, no doubt, of this day, and the issue of it. The Jews' cause was to be tried by battle and the day was fixed for the combat by authority. Their enemies resolved not to lose the advantages given them by the first edict, in hope to overpower them by numbers; the Jews relied on the goodness of their God and the justice of their cause, and resolved to make their utmost efforts against their enemies. The day comes at length; and here we are told,
Est 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.
Est 9:20-32
We may well imagine how much affected Mordecai and Esther were with the triumphs of the Jews over their enemies, and how they saw the issue of that decisive day with a satisfaction proportionable to the care and concern with which they expected it. How were their hearts enlarged with joy in God and his salvation, and what new songs of praise were put into their mouths! But here we are told what course they took to spread the knowledge of it among their people, and to perpetuate the remembrance of it to posterity, for the honour of God and the encouragement of his people to trust in him at all times.