HAMAN'S REVENGEFUL DESIGN AGAINST THE JEWS 1. The Agagite] It has been suggested that the name is an epithet meant to recall the Amalekite Agag hewn in pieces by Samuel (1 Samuel 15:33), and intended to indicate contempt and abhorrence.... [ Continue Reading ]
MORDECAI BOWED NOT, etc.] In the apocryphal 'Rest of Esther' Mordecai explains in a prayer to the Almighty that he refused to bow down to Haman, 'that he might not prefer the glory of man above the glory of God.' Amongst many heathen peoples divine honours were paid to human beings.... [ Continue Reading ]
NISAN] i.e. March-April. The TWELFTH YEAR of Xerxes would be 474 b.c. THEY CAST PUR, etc.] i.e. early in the first month they cast lots for every day of the year to find out which day would be the most favourable for the success of Haman's design. In the Assyrian calendars there are lucky and unluck... [ Continue Reading ]
TEN THOUSAND TALENTS] The Persian talent weighed 66 lb. THAT HAVE THE CHARGE OF THE BUSINESS] i.e. those whose business it is to receive money paid into the king's treasury.... [ Continue Reading ]
TOOK HIS RING] For the significance of this see Esther 8:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SILVER] The money which Haman had pledged himself to pay into the treasury the king confers upon him for his services in pointing out a serious danger to the kingdom (href='190 3:8'>Est 3:8).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF THE FIRST MONTH] Eleven months were thus to elapse between the issue of the decree and its execution. LIEUTENANTS] lit. 'satraps,' of whom, according to Herodotus, there were twenty.... [ Continue Reading ]
POSTS] Horsemen (cp. href='190 8:10'>Est 8:10) were posted at regular intervals of a day's journey along the main roads to transmit in succession the messages they received until they reached their destination.... [ Continue Reading ]
Was perplexed] i.e. at the magnitude and arbitrary character of the contemplated massacre.... [ Continue Reading ]