The Pulpit Commentary — Esther — Section 73

EXPOSITION. § 5. HAMAN CASTS LOTS TO OBTAIN A LUCKY Ver. 7.-In the first month, the month DAY FOR HIS ENTERPRISE, AND OBTAINS Nisan. See the co=ent on Neh. ii 1. A DAY IN THE MONTII ADAR, THE LAST This name was first given to the month by the Jews after the return from the captivity. MONTH OF THE YEAR (eh. iii. 7). Having It was the Babylonian name of the first determined on a general massacre of the month of the year, and superseded the ohl Jews on 11 given day, as the best mode of Jewish name, Abib. The twelfth year of ridding the empire of them, Haman thought . . . Ahasuerua-B.C. 474, if Ahasuerus be it of supreme importance to select for the Xerxes. They cast Pur, that is, the lot. The superstitious use of lots has al ways massacre a propitious and fortunate day. been prevalent in the East, and continues to Lucky and unlucky days are recognised the present day. Lots were drawn, or thrown, generally throughout the East ; and it is a in various ways: sometimes by means of dice, wide-spread practice, when any affair of con- sometimes by slips of wood, or strips of parch- sequence is t!lken in hand, to obtain e. ment or pa.per, and also in other manners. Even the Jews supposed a specie.I Providence determination of the time for commencing to preside over the ea.sting of lots (Prov. xvi. it, or carrying it in to effect, by calling in 33), and thought that matters decided in this the e.rbitrement of Che.nee. Haman had way were decided by God. Haman appears recourse to "the lot," and by means of it to have cast lots, first, as to the day of the obtained, as the right day for his purpose, month which he should fix for the massacre, and secondly as to the month in which it the 13th of Adar, which was more than ten should take place. Apparently the lot fell months distant, The long delay was no out for the thirteenth day (ver. 13), o.ud doubt unpe.le.teable, but he thought himself for the twelfth month, the last month in bound to submit to it, nnd took his further the year. The word "Pur" is not Hebrew; Dleasuros accordingly. it is supposed to be Old Persian, and to be  72 THE BOOK OF ESTHER. [cH. III. 7-11,,