_Land. He conquered many countries on the continent, and several to which he could not come but by water, which the Jews call islands, whether they were surrounded on all sides by the sea or not. Hebrew has not the word all: but as the expressions are indefinite, they are usually taken in this sense... [ Continue Reading ]
_Second year, the same when Darius gave an edict for building the temple, (1 Esdras iv.; Tirinus) and the year before the great feast, (chap. i. 3.) when the Jews little thought of such danger hanging over them. (Calmet) (Worthington) --- Benjamin. Chap. ii. 5., we read Jemini, which shews that they... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seed. Benjamin (Itin.) informs us, that both he and the queen were buried in the chief city of the Medes, which he calls "the great Hamda;" perhaps the province Mardochæa, (or Greek: Amordakai. Ptol. v. 20.) near the Persian gulf, may have been called after this statesman. (Tirinus)_ _ Court, afte... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Mardochai, &c. Here St. Jerome advertiseth the reader, that what follows is not in the Hebrew; but is found in the Septuagint Greek edition, which the 72 interpreters translated out of the Hebrew, or added by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. (Challoner) --- He says, "What is extant in Hebrew... [ Continue Reading ]
_A dream. This dream was prophetical and extraordinary, otherwise the general rule is, not to observe them. (Challoner)_ _ Palace, as an officer. --- Presents, of small value. (Calmet) --- The king had inquired, (Greek, chap. vi. 3.) "What glory or favour have we done to Mardochai? and the minister... [ Continue Reading ]
_And was. Septuagint, "and there was light, and the sun and much water." The light enabled him to discern the progress of the little fountain. Yet it was not absurd that the water should appear luminous, like the sun, as it was intended to shew the wonderful exaltation of Esther. (Haydock) --- She e... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cry. While Aman was full of indignation against Mardochai, and the latter would not submit to adore him, the various nations of the empire were instigated to fall upon the Jews. (Haydock)_ _ Hell. Protestants, "grave." The king only wanted to send them out of this world. At the end of this verse,... [ Continue Reading ]
_But. Greek (Complutensian), "Yea, thou hast placed (or rather as the Alexandrian manuscript reads, they have placed) their hands upon the hands of their idols, (Haydock; making league together. Calmet) to tear away the decree of thy mouth," (Haydock) and to put in execution the projects of (Menochi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lots. Alluding to the Purim of Aman; (Calmet; Capellus) or rather these are only mentioned, ver. 13. (Haydock) --- Greek, "He had therefore made two lots....and the two lots came to the hour and time and day of judgment before God, and for all nations." (Haydock)_ _ Waters. Esther, by her tears, e... [ Continue Reading ]
_Time. From all eternity (Tirinus) God had ordained to save his people; and this he declared to his servants, by shewing him two lots. (Haydock) --- This became more intelligible after the event, (Tirinus) like other predictions. (Haydock)_ _ Rose up. A bright sun (Tirinus) represented God, (Calmet... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mercy. Greek, "justified." But this often means, shewed mercy, Exodus xxxiv. 7. (Calmet) --- The book concludes in Greek with the first verse, which we have in the following chapter, though some editions seem (Haydock) to have had that remark (Du Hamel) of the Alexandrian Jews, (Calmet) at the head... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lion. This expression seems not sufficiently respectful. (Capellus) --- But why might not Esther use it with regard to one, who was raging against her people more than any lion, as St. Paul applies it to Nero, probably after her example? (Houbigant) (2 Timothy iv. 17.) --- David also thus styles Sa... [ Continue Reading ]
_To a man; "as if," says Capellus, "the salutation and civil honour be not quite different from adoration and religious worship, which must be given to God alone. Neither did Haman demand religious adoration, but only salutation and civil honour.... To bend the knee is frequently used in civil honou... [ Continue Reading ]
_Stranger. Only those near Chanaan were forbidden to marry; and St. Paul commends Eunice, who had espoused an infidel. (Capellus) --- But this was not the reason of his commendation; for he ordains, Bear not the yoke with infidels. A pious woman might, therefore, very well refrain from such contract... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sign. The diadem. It was no sin to wear it. (Capellus) --- What then? May not a pious prince despise such ornaments, raising his mind above them? (Houbigant) --- Silence, when I am alone. Nothing could give us a higher idea of Esther's virtue and greatness of soul, as her elevation did not make her... [ Continue Reading ]
_Inheritance. Literally, "line," (Haydock) as it was usual to measure land with lines. (Menochius)_ ESTHER 14 CHAPTER XIV. _ Me. Ought she to have been thus affected towards her husband? (Capellus) --- Undoubtedly: as the meats and the wine had been offered to idols. (Houbigant)_ ESTHER 15 CHAP... [ Continue Reading ]
_Almost. Literally, "almost dead." Greek, "she fell in a fainting fit."_ ESTHER 16 CHAPTER XVI. _ Gibbets. Aman was thus treated, several months before his ten sons, chap. vii. 10., and ix. 6. Yet all the family might still be seen hanging, when this edict was dispatched. Houbigant suspects that... [ Continue Reading ]
_Laws. This was privilege often desired. (Josephus, [Antiquities?] xiii.4.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Kill. Greek, "take revenge on those who in the day of distress shall fall upon them, on the 13th."_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sadness. Greek, "destruction of his chosen race, into," &c. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Days. A festival was kept in memory of the destruction of the maji, in which this king was a principal actor. (Herodotus iii. 79.) --- The Persians were ordered to keep the 13th of Adar, on account of the preservation of the royal family, and the ruin of a great enemy. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_All. Greek, "Salvation is to us, and to all well-affected Persians: but a memorial of destruction to all who are traitors to us."_... [ Continue Reading ]
And. Greek, "But every country or city throughout the kingdom, which shall not comply, shall be consumed with the spear and fire in wrath." --- Beasts. Greek adds hyperbolically, "and birds, and also be accounted most abominable for ever." (Haydock) --- Similar expressions occur in the prophets, to... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER X.... [ Continue Reading ]