Teks -- Esther 9:1-6 (NET)

The Jews Prevail over Their Enemies

9:1 In the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar), on its thirteenth day, the edict of the king and his law were to be executed. It was on this day that the enemies of the Jews had supposed that they would gain power over them. But contrary to expectations, the Jews gained power over their enemies. 9:2 The Jews assembled themselves in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to strike out against those who were seeking their harm. No one was able to stand before them, for dread of them fell on all the peoples. 9:3 All the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and those who performed the king’s business were assisting the Jews, for the dread of Mordecai had fallen on them. 9:4 Mordecai was of high rank in the king’s palace, and word about him was spreading throughout all the provinces. His influence continued to become greater and greater. 9:5 The Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, bringing death and destruction, and they did as they pleased with their enemies. 9:6 In Susa the citadel the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men.

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

Wesley: Est 9:2 - No man

Their enemies, though they did take up arms against them, yet were easily conquered and destroyed by them.

Wesley: Est 9:6 - Shushan

In the city so called.

Wesley: Est 9:6 - Slew

Whom they knew to be such as would watch all opportunities to destroy them; which also they might possibly now attempt to do.

JFB: Est 9:1 - in the twelfth month, . . . on the thirteenth day of the same

This was the day which Haman's superstitious advisers had led him to select as the most fortunate for the execution of his exterminating scheme against the Jews [Est 3:7].

JFB: Est 9:2 - The Jews gathered themselves . . . no man could withstand them

The tables were now turned in their favor; and though their enemies made their long meditated attack, the Jews were not only at liberty to act on the defensive, but through the powerful influence enlisted on their side at court together with the blessing of God, they were everywhere victorious.

JFB: Est 9:2 - the fear of them fell upon all people

This impression arose not alone from the consciousness of the all-powerful vizier being their countryman, but from the hand of God appearing so visibly interposed to effect their strange and unexpected deliverance.|| 12840||1||12||0||@Thus the Jews smote all their enemies==--The effect of the two antagonistic decrees was, in the meantime, to raise a fierce and bloody war between the Jews and their enemies throughout the Persian empire; but through the dread of Esther and Mordecai, the provincial governors universally favored their cause, so that their enemies fell in great numbers.

Clarke: Est 9:1 - Now in the twelfth month

Now in the twelfth month - What a number of providences, and none of them apparently of an extraordinary nature, concurred to preserve a people so signally, and to all human appearance so inevitably, doomed to destruction! None are ever too low for God to lift up, or too high for God to cast down. Must not these heathens have observed that the uncontrollable hand of an Almighty Being had worked in behalf of the Jews? And must not this have had a powerful tendency to discredit the idolatry of the country?

Clarke: Est 9:3 - And all the rulers of the provinces

And all the rulers of the provinces - Mordecai being raised to the highest confidence of the king, and to have authority over the whole realm, these officers assisted the Jews, no doubt, with the troops under their command, to overthrow those who availed themselves of the former decree to molest the Jews. For it does not appear that the Jews slew any person who did not rise up to destroy them. See Est 9:5.

Clarke: Est 9:6 - And in Shushan

And in Shushan - It is strange that in this city, where the king’ s mind must have been so well known, there should be found five hundred persons to rise up in hostility against those whom they knew the king befriended!

Defender: Est 9:3 - fear of Mordecai

Two contradictory, but irrevocable, decrees had been issued, one sponsored by Haman, bent on annihilating the Jews, the other sponsored by Mordecai, authorizing protection for the Jews and destruction of those who would attack them. The Persian military was thus faced with choosing which decree to help implement. Since Mordecai had now become second to the king in place of Haman (Est 8:2; Est 10:3), most decided the wisest choice would be to favor Esther, Mordecai, and the Jews. One tradition relates that it was only the Amalekites, or Agagites, of the same lineage of Haman, who actually tried to slay the Jews as Haman had planned."

TSK: Est 9:1 - in the twelfth // hoped // though it was turned

am 3552, bc 452

in the twelfth : Est 3:7, Est 3:13, Est 8:12

hoped : Act 12:11

though it was turned : Deu 32:36; 2Sa 22:41; Psa 30:11; Isa 14:1, Isa 14:2, Isa 60:14-16; Rev 11:18

TSK: Est 9:2 - gathered // as sought // the fear

gathered : Est 9:10, Est 9:16, Est 8:11

as sought : Deu 2:30; Jos 11:20; Psa 71:13, Psa 71:24; Isa 8:9

the fear : Est 8:17; Gen 35:5; Exo 23:27; Jos 2:9

TSK: Est 9:3 - the rulers // officers of the king // the fear

the rulers : Est 3:12, Est 8:9; Ezr 8:36; Dan 3:2, Dan 6:1, Dan 6:2

officers of the king : Heb. those which did the business that belonged to the king

the fear : Est 3:2-6, Est 8:5

TSK: Est 9:4 - was great // his fame // waxed

was great : Psa 18:43

his fame : Jos 6:27; 1Sa 2:30; 1Ch 14:17; Zep 3:19; Mat 4:24

waxed : 2Sa 3:1; 1Ch 11:9; Psa 1:3; Pro 4:18; Isa 9:7

TSK: Est 9:5 - smote // the stroke // what they would

smote : Psa 18:34-40, Psa 18:47, Psa 18:48, Psa 20:7, Psa 20:8, Psa 149:6-9; 2Th 1:6

the stroke : Jer 18:21

what they would : Heb. according to their will, The Chaldee paraphrast says that none appeared against the Jews but Amalekites only, who were infatuated, and had their hearts hardened, as Pharaoh’ s against Israel, to take up arms to their own destruction. Some had such an inveterate, implacable malice against the Jews, that Haman’ s fall and Mordecai’ s advancement, instead of convincing, seemed only to exasperate them the more. How have the most dreadful scourges ravaged a country, and yet the inhabitants are unmindful of the Almighty Disposer of events, and that the cause of his righteous displeasure is their continual provocation! Forty years long was he grieved with one generation, who learned not his ways, although daily fed and clothed by a miracle.

TSK: Est 9:6 - Shushan

Shushan : Est 3:15

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

Poole: Est 9:2 - No man could withstand them // The fear of them

No man could withstand them their enemies, though they did and were allowed to take up arms against them, yet were easily conquered and destroyed by the Jews.

The fear of them who had such potent friends at court, and so great a God on their side, who by such unusual and prodigious methods (whereof doubtless they had been particularly informed) had brought about such a mighty and unexpected deliverance.

Poole: Est 9:3 - And officers of the king

And officers of the king Heb. and all them that did the king’ s business , i.e. not only the chief persons designed by the foregoing words, but all his other ministers or officers, of what quality soever.

Poole: Est 9:4 - Mordecai was great

Mordecai was great i.e. the greatest in place, and power, and favour with the king, both for his near relation to his beloved queen, and for his good service done to him in preserving his life and managing his affairs, and for those excellent abilities and virtues which he discovered in him, and especially by the disposition of the heart-ruling God.

Poole: Est 9:6 - In Shushan the palace // Five hundred men

In Shushan the palace i.e. in the city so called, as was noted before, Est 1:2 ; it not being probable either that they would make such a slaughter in the king’ s palace, or that they would be suffered so to do.

Five hundred men whom by long experience they knew to be their constant and inveterate enemies, and such as would watch all opportunities to destroy them; which also they might possibly now attempt to do. Part of them also might be friends and allies of Haman, and therefore the avowed enemies of Mordecai.

Haydock: Est 9:1 - As // To revenge

As. Hebrew, "(which is the month of Adar) when the king's command and edict drew near to be executed, in that day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it turned out that the Jews had dominion over those who hated them)" (Haydock) ---

To revenge, &c. The Jews, on this occasion, by authority from the king, were made executioners of the public justice, for punishing by death a crime worthy of death, viz., a malicious conspiracy for extripating their whole nation; (Challoner) so inscrutable are the judgments of God, who never wholly abandoned his people! The old Vulgate passes over the first 19 verses, with the 24th, 25th, and 28th. (Calmet) ---

In this whole history we cannot but admire the Providence of God. (Worthington)

Haydock: Est 9:3 - Extolled

Extolled. Protestants, "helped." Septuagint, "the king's secretaries honoured the Jews." (Haydock)

Haydock: Est 9:6 - Sons

Sons. It seems as if they had been slain with their father, ver. 10. See chap. vii. 9. (Calmet) ---

Yet, as the contrary would appear from chap. xvi. 18, we may suppose that they were at least (Haydock) imprisoned till this time, for a more exemplary punishment, while all the rest of the family perished with Aman. (Serarius) (Salien) (Menochius) ---

These are the kindred, specified nine months before, chap. xvi. (Tirinus) ---

Some Masorets childishly (Haydock) write these ten names one over another, and with greater and lesser letters, to shew that they were hung one above another, and that the guilt of all was not the same, but the youngest son was the most malicious. (Kennicott)

Gill: Est 9:1 - Now in the twelfth month, that 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 // in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them // though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them

Now in the twelfth month, that is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same,.... Of which see Est 3:13,

when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution; even both his commandments and decrees, the one empowering the enemies of the Jews on that day to destroy them, and the other empowering the Jews to act both defensively and offensively against their enemies:

in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them; by virtue of the first decree of the king; and notwithstanding the second, they might hope to have it because of their superior numbers:

though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them; it proved the reverse, partly through the second decree in favour of the Jews, and partly through the fear of them that fell upon their enemies; because the court was on their side, and the officers everywhere, and especially their God filled them with courage, and their enemies with terror.

Gill: Est 9:2 - The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities, throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus // to lay hand on such as sought their hurt // and no man could withstand them, for the fear of them fell upon all people

The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities, throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus,.... Wherever they lived:

to lay hand on such as sought their hurt; who not only threatened them what they would do on this day, but were risen up in arms in quest of them:

and no man could withstand them, for the fear of them fell upon all people; when they understood that Haman was hanged, and Mordecai the Jew advanced, and that the queen herself was a Jew, and that the Jews had the royal grant to act both defensively and offensively; and no doubt but the panic was of God.

Gill: Est 9:3 - And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, blessed the Jews // because the fear of Mordecai was upon them

And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, blessed the Jews,.... Countenanced them and encouraged them, and gave them all assistance in their power; extolled them, as the word signifies, lifted them up, and spoke well of them, or praised them, as the Targum:

because the fear of Mordecai was upon them; he being now chief minister, they might fear, if they took part with the enemies of the Jews against them, they might be turned out of their places.

Gill: Est 9:4 - For Mordecai was great in the king's house // and his fame went out throughout all the provinces // for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater

For Mordecai was great in the king's house,.... Not only over Esther's affairs, but was one of the king's counsellors, and was the chief minister of state:

and his fame went out throughout all the provinces; what a favourite he was of the king, as well as a relation of the queen, and how wise and just his administrations were:

for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater, was more and more in the king's favour, and had offices of honour and trust heaped upon him, and increased both in wealth and power.

Gill: Est 9:5 - Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction // and did what they would unto those that hated them

Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction,.... Some with swords, and others with clubs, and staves; as the Targum; and such like slaughtering weapons of destruction:

and did what they would unto those that hated them; being then entirely at their will, and under their power.

Gill: Est 9:6 - And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.

And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men. Not in the royal palace, where it cannot be thought the Jews had so many enemies, or such a bloody slaughter of them should be made there; but in the city, where the palace was: and this may seem somewhat wonderful, that there should so many rise there against the Jews, so near the court, now altogether in the interest of the Jews; but these were men no doubt of Haman's faction, and enraged at his disgrace and death, and headed by his ten sons, who took the advantage of the decree to avenge his death; the Targum says, these were princes of the house of Amalek.