6 Which is 1s off put for gladneſs, as 2 Sam. 22. 29. Job 18; 5,6: Pſal. 27. 1. becauſe light 1s pleaſant and diſpoſeth a man to joy whereas Dzrkneſs inelines a man to ſorrow. c This explains the former Metaphor by two words expreſſing the ſame thing, to note the greatneſs ofthe Joy. d Inſtead of that contempt under which they had lain,
17 Andin every province,and in every City, whither- fover the kings commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladnefs, a feaſt and a good day e: and many ofthe people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews f fell upon them.
ei. e. A time of feaſting, and rejoicing, and thankſgiving. f Whom poſlibly they had irritared by their former Threatnings and now gave this evidence of their Repentance that they were willing to ſubmit to that ſevere precept of Circumciſion,
CHA P, The Jews ſlay their Enemies, 1 — 9. with the ten ſonsof Haman,1 rt,
Ahaſuerus at the requeit of El'her, grantcth ancther day of faughter,
The days of Pur:m made feſtival. Ow in the tweifth month ( that is the month A-
Chap, IK. : $
dar ) on the thirteenth day ofthe ſame when the
kings commandment and his decree drew negr to be
' put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the
Jews hoped to have power over them a, ( though it was tu;ned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule o- ver them that hated them.
a In that day which was ſeleQed by Haman with great Induſtry and Art, as the moſt Ineky day, anu which thcir enemies had oft« tiacs tormerly thought of and no doubt thieaind the Jews with it.
2 The jews gather: d themicives together in their cities, throughout ali the Provinces of the king Aha- luerus, to lay hand on iuch as feught their hurt ; and no man could wittitand them b: forthe fear of them c fell upon ail people, |
b Their Enemies, though they did and were allowed to take up
Goiontheir fide who by ſuch nnuſual and prodigious Methcds (whereof doubtleſs they had been particularly informed) had brorghr avour iuch a mighty and unexpeged deliverance, |
2 Aud all rhe rulers of the provinces, and the lieute- nants,ar.d the depurties,and Þ cfficers of the king 4|| help- ed the Jews: becauſe the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.
4 Heb. andall them that did the King's buſineſs, i. e. Not only the chief perſons deſi: ned by the foregoing words, but all the other Muiſters or Ofticers of what quality ſocver. ;
4 For Mordecai was great & in the kings houſe, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.
e i, e. The greateſt in Place, and power, and Favour with the King, both to his near relation for his beloved Queen, and for his good ſervice done to him in preſcrving his Life, and managing his Afffairs; and for thoſe exce!lent Abiliries & Virtues which he diſco. eh in him ; and eſpecially by the diſpoſition of the heart-ruling
old.
5 Thus the Jews ſmote all their enemies with the
ſtroke of the {word, and ſlaughter, acd deſtruction, and did F whatthey would unto thoſe that hated them. | 6 And in Shuiban the palace f the Jews flew and de- ftroyed five hundred men g. . F 7. e. In theCity ſo called, as was noted before chap. 12 2: it not being probable either that they would make ſuch a ſlaughter in the King's Palace, or that they would be ſuffered foto do. g Whom by long experience they knew to be their conſtant and inveterate Enemies,and ſuch as would watch all opportunities to deſtroy them which alio they might poſlibly now attempt to do.Part of them al- {o'might be friends and Allies of Haman, and therefore the avowed | Enemies of Mordecasr.
7 And Parthandatha, and Dalphon,and Afapatha,
8 And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,
9 And Parmaſhta, and Ariſai, and Aridai, and Va- Jezatha,
10 The ten ſons of Haman, the fon of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, ſlew they ; burton the ſpoillaid they not cheir hand &,
þ Either becauſe they were deſirous .it ſhould come into the King's Treaſury : or becauſe they would leave it to their Children, that ir might appear that what they did that day was not done out oF malice to their Perſons and Families, or covetouſneſs of their Eſtates, bur out of meer neceſlity, and by that great and approved Law of Selt-preſervation, and that they were ready to mix Mer- cy with Judgement,and would not deal with their Enemies fo 1ll as it was apparent thar their Enemies intended to do againſt them.
11 On thatday thenumber of thoſe that were ſlainin Shuſhan the palace, | was brought before the king bh.
h Poſſibly with evil deſign to incenſe the King againit the Tews.
12 And the King ſaid unto Eſther the Queen, The Jews have' slain and deſtroyed five hundred men in
Shulhan the palace, and the ten fons of Haman ; what
- the
but with ſufficient diſtiaRtion from rhe King's Crown. 4 Not only Jews, but the greateſt number ofthe Citizens, who by the Law of Nature written upon their hearts,had an abhorrency from bloody Counſels and Deſigns, and a complacency in a&s of Benignity and Mercy : or for other reaſons; of witch fee on Chap. 3+ 15.
' 16 The Jews had light 5, and giadneſs, and joy c,and honour 4. :
have they done in the reſt of the kings provinces z * now what is thy petition? and itiball be granted thee: or what is thy requeſt further ? and it ſhall be done-
; In which doubtleſs many more were lain. So thatT have fully granted thy Petirion. And yet,if thou haſt any thing further to as, 1 am here ready to grant 18, En
x13 Then
partly for the greater illuſtration of God's glorious Power, and} Arms againlt reem, yet were eatily conqueied and deſtroyed by, Wiſdom, and goodneſs, in giving his people tuch an admiravle ; the Jews. c Who had ſuch potent Friends at Court, and fo great Yet God ſo ordered things, that a
THeb #lſe which ad the buſavſs that be. longed ts the king, [| Or,exte led, Gr. bi niured,
f Heb. «- cording td their will,
+ Heb.
(Ae
Fel
fled
I, IK.
-b. 6 ng td will,
= & #*
12 Then faid Eſther, Tf it pleaſe the king, let it be
granted to the Jews which are in Shuſhan, to do co
morrow alſo according to this days decree k, and þ let
Feb. lt Hlamans ten fons be hanged upon the gallows 7