The Pulpit Commentary — Esther — Section 74

C'onnect<:cl "ith _Mod. Pers. pdreh, Lat. pars, complete destruction of the Jews within his Greek µ,pot, po,pa. To the twelfth month province, young and old, men, women, and the.t ia, the month Ade.r. Adar is lik; Nisan, n Babylonian word, Jlllrhaps con~ected children, on the thirteenth day of the month with edd,er, "splendour." The month so Adar, and the confiscation of their property named corresponded nearly with March, (ver. 13). The posts started off with e.11 when the sun begins to he.ve great power in speed, "being hastened by the king's com- Western Asia. mandment" (ver. 16) ; and the two men § 6. HAMAN PERSUADES AHASUERUS TO who had plotted a nation's extermination, o.s PUllLISH A DEOREE COMMANDING THE DE· if they had done a good day's work, and l!TRUCTION OF ALL THE JEWS IN HIS KING• deserved refreshment, "sat down to drink." DOM ON THE ENSUING THIRTEENTH DAY OF But the Persians generally were less satisfied ADAR (eh. iii. 8-15). Having formed his own with the decree than their monarch and his l'el!olve, it remained for He.man to bring his minister ; it surprised and startled them ; proposal before Aho.suorus in such a shape "the city Shushan was perplexed." as should secure his acquiescence in it. For Ver. 8.-There is a certain people scattered abroa~ an~ dispersed. It is not always this purpose he thought it best, first, to borne m mind how large a part of the Jewish raise a prejudice against the Jews by repre- nation remained in the lands to which they senting them as bad subjects, causing trouble had been carried away captive, after the through the peculiarity of their own laws, permission had been given to return. Jose- and still more through their unwillingness phus notes that the richer and more influ- ential of the Babylonian Jews were very- to render obedience to the Persian laws (ver. little inclined to quit Babylon(' Ant. Jud.,' 8). In support of this last statement he :ri. 1). There was evidently a large Jewish would no doubt, if questioned, h.a.ve adducecl colony at Susa (infra, eh. ix. 12-16). The the conduct of Mordecai, who persisted in Book of Tobit shows that Israelites, scarcely "transgressing the king's commandment," to be distinguished from J ewe, were settled in Rhages and Ecbatane.. The present pas- and gave as his only reason th.a.t he was a sage is important as showing the early wide Jew, and therefore could not obey it (ver. 4). dispersion of the Jewish people. Their laws As, however, he doubted the effect of this are diverse. A true charge, but a weak reasoning on his royal master, he held in argument for their destruction, more especi- reserve an argument of another kind, an ally as the Persians allowed all the conquered nations to retain their own laws and usages. appeal to the king's cupidity, which con- Neither keep they the king's laws. Im- stituted his main reliance. If the king gave portant, if true. But it was not true in any his consent to the destruction of the Jewish broad and general sense. There might be nation, Haman undertook to pay into the an occasional royal edict which a Jew could royal treasuries, out of his private means, a not obey ; but the laws of the Medes and Persians were in the main righteous laws, sum which cannot be estimated at much less and the Jews readily observed them. They th.a.n two millions and a quarter of pounds were faithful and loyal subjects of the Bterling, and which may have a.mounted to a Achremenian monarchs from first to last - :much higher figure (ver. 9). The effect of from Cyrus to Darius Codomannus. For the this argument upon Ahasueru.s was decisive ; king's profit. Rather, as in the margin, ''meet" or '' fitting for the king." To su1l'er he at once took his signet-ring from his them. Or, " to let them alone." finger, and made it over to his minister (ver. Ver. 9.-If it please the king, let it be 10), thus enabling him to promulgate any written that they may be destroyed, and I decree th.a.t he pleased, and he openly de- will pay, &c. This startling proposition, to clared th.a.t he gave over the Jewish nation, which the king might well have demurred, for even Xerxes could scarcely have regarded their lives and properties, into Harnan's such a massacre as a light matter, is followed .o.ands (ver. 11). Haman "struck while the immediately, and before the king has time to iron was hot." The king's scribes were put reflect, by the tempting offer of such a bribe in requisition - a decree was composed, as even a king could not view with indilfor- numerous copies of it made, the royal seal ence. Xerxes had once, if we may trust Herodotus, declined to accept from a subject affixed to each (ver. 12), and a copy de- a gift of money equal to a.bout four and a spatched forthwith to each governor of a ha.If million of pounds sterling (Herod., vii. province by the royal post, ordering the 28); but this was early in his reign, when OR. Ill. 7-15.] THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 73