John Gill Commentary Esther 9:13

"Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews that are in Shushan to do to-morrow also according unto this day`s decree, and let Haman`s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows." — Esther 9:13 (ASV)

Then said Esther, if it please the king

For she was all submission to his will:

let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan ;

for no further did she desire the grant to be extended:

to do tomorrow also according to this day's decree ;

one Targum makes the request only that they might keep the morrow as a festival, but the other, more rightly, to do according to the decree of this day;

which was, to slay as many of their enemies as rose up against them; and whereas many might flee and hide themselves, who were implacable enemies of the Jews, Esther moves for a grant that the decree might be continued for the next day, that these might be found out and slain;

in which she sought the glory of divine justice, in their righteous destruction, and the peace of the people of God, and not private revenge, or to indulge malice:

and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows ;

on which their father was;

this was deferred, though they were already slain, for their greater reproach, and for a terror to others not to injure the people of God;

and it was usual with the Persians to hang persons on a gallows, or fix them to a cross, after they were dead; as Polycrates was by Oroites ^F9 , and Bagspates by Parysatis ^F11 .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F9: Herodot. Thalia, sive, l. 3. c. 125.
• F11: Ctesias in Persicis, c. 58.