Albert Barnes Commentary Esther 9
Albert Barnes Commentary
Esther 9
Albert Barnes Commentary
Esther 9
"Now in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king`s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have rule over them, (whereas it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them,)" — Esther 9:1 (ASV)
Drew near - Or, “arrived,” or “reached the time” specified (Esther 3:13); (Esther 8:12).
"And all the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and they that did the king`s business, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai was fallen upon them." — Esther 9:3 (ASV)
All the rulers ... helped the Jews—that is, the Persians, who formed the standing army which kept the Empire in subjection, and were at the disposal of the various governors of provinces, took the Jews’ side. The enemies of the Jews (for example, Esther 9:16) were almost entirely found among the idolatrous people of the subject nations. Neither the Persians generally, nor their monarchs, cared greatly for the lives of these people.
"And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men." — Esther 9:6 (ASV)
“Shushan the palace (or the fort)” probably refers to the entire upper town, which occupied an area of more than 100 acres and contained many residences besides the actual palace. The Jews would not have ventured to shed blood within the palace precincts.
"And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha, and Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha, and Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vaizatha, the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jew`s enemy, slew they; but on the spoil they laid not their hand." — Esther 9:7-10 (ASV)
Most of these names are Persian, and readily traceable to Old Persian roots.
On the spoil laid they not their hand (Esther 9:10) — as they might have done (see the margin reference).
"And the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men in Shushan; but on the spoil they laid not their hand." — Esther 9:15 (ASV)
Shushan - Here probably the lower town, which lay east of the upper one, and was of about the same size (compare the Esther 9:6 note).
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