Teks -- Esther 3:15 (NET)

3:15 The messengers scurried forth with the king’s order. The edict was issued in Susa the citadel. While the king and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa was in an uproar!

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Est 3:15 - The city

Not only the Jews, but a great number of the citizens, either because they were related to them, or engaged with them in worldly concerns; or out of humanity and compassion toward so vast a number of innocent people, appointed as sheep for the slaughter.

JFB: Est 3:12-15 - Then were the king's scribes called . . . and there was written

The government secretaries were employed in making out the proclamation authorizing a universal massacre of the Jews on one day. It was translated into the dialects of all the people throughout the vast empire, and swift messengers were sent to carry it into all the provinces. On the day appointed, all Jews were to be put to death and their property confiscated; doubtless, the means by which Haman hoped to pay his stipulated tribute into the royal treasury. To us it appears unaccountable how any sane monarch could have given his consent to the extirpation of a numerous class of his subjects. But such acts of frenzied barbarity have, alas! been not rarely authorized by careless and voluptuous despots, who have allowed their ears to be engrossed and their policy directed by haughty and selfish minions, who had their own passions to gratify, their own ends to serve.

JFB: Est 3:15 - the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed

The completeness of the word-painting in this verse is exquisite. The historian, by a simple stroke, has drawn a graphic picture of an Oriental despot, wallowing with his favorite in sensual enjoyments, while his tyrannical cruelties were rending the hearts and homes of thousands of his subjects.

Clarke: Est 3:15 - The posts

The posts - Literally, the couriers, the hircarrahs, those who carried the public despatches; a species of public functionaries, who have been in use in all nations of the world from the remotest antiquity

Clarke: Est 3:15 - The decree was given at Shushan

The decree was given at Shushan - It was dated from the royal Susa, where the king then was

Clarke: Est 3:15 - The city Shushan was perplexed

The city Shushan was perplexed - They saw that in a short time, by this wicked measure the whole city would be thrown into confusion; for, although the Jews were the only objects of this decree, yet, as it armed the populace against them, even the Persians could not hope to escape without being spoiled, when a desperate mob had begun to taste of human blood, and enrich themselves with the property of the murdered. Besides, many Persian families had, no doubt, become united by intermarriages with Jewish families, and in such a massacre they would necessarily share the same fate with the Jews. A more impolitic, disgraceful, and cruel measure was never formed by any government; and one would suppose that the king who ordered it must have been an idiot, and the counsellors who advised it must have been madmen. But a despotic government is ever capable of extravagance and cruelty; for as it is the bane of popular freedom and happiness, so is it the disgrace of political wisdom and of all civil institutions. Despotism and tyranny in the state are the most direct curses which insulted justice can well inflict upon a sinful nation.

TSK: Est 3:15 - hastened // sat down // the city

hastened : Pro 1:16, Pro 4:16

sat down : Hos 7:5; Amo 6:6; Joh 16:20; Rev 11:10

the city : Est 4:16, Est 8:15; Pro 29:2

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Est 3:15 - By the king’ s commandment // The city Shushan was perplexed

By the king’ s commandment either by this decree made in the king’ s name, or by some particular and succeeding command, which Haman could easily obtain from the king.

The city Shushan was perplexed not only the Jews, but a great number of the citizens, either because they were related to them, or engaged with them in worldly concerns; or out of humanity and compassion towards so vast a number of innocent people, now appointed as sheep for the slaughter; or out of a fear either of some sedition and disturbance which might arise by this means; or of some damage which might accrue to themselves or friends, who haply under this pretence might be exposed to rapine or slaughter; or of a public judgment of God upon them all for so bloody a decree.

Haydock: Est 3:15 - Jews

Jews. Hebrew, "but the city of Susan was in perplexity." Greek, "troubled." (Calmet) ---

Even the pagans could not view such a cruel decree, without horror. (Haydock)

Gill: Est 3:15 - The post went out, being hastened by the king's command // and the decree was given in Shushan the palace // and the king and Haman sat down to drink // but the city Shushan was perplexed

The post went out, being hastened by the king's command,.... Both to set out and make as much dispatch as possible:

and the decree was given in Shushan the palace; by the king, and with the advice of his courtiers:

and the king and Haman sat down to drink; at a banquet which perhaps Haman had prepared, in gratitude to the king for what he had granted him, both being highly delighted with what had been done:

but the city Shushan was perplexed; the court was agreed, but the city was divided, as the former Targum says, with the joy of strange nations, and the weeping of the people of Israel, there being many Jews in the city; with whom no doubt there were many in connection, through affinity or friendship, or commerce, that were concerned for them; or, however, were shocked at such a barbarous scheme; and which they knew not where it would end, and how far they themselves might be involved in it, when once a mob had such a power granted to them.