The Pulpit Commentary — Esther — Section 136

eafety, yet with the escape e,nd trinmph-of the same rrmission to the Jews' enemiea his people. The Jews should be allowed to (eh. iii 13 . stand on their defence, should be enco11I'llg8d Ver. 13.-This verse reproduces ver. U of to do so, when the time oome should be sup- eh. iii., with e, slight modification of the ported in their resistiince by the whole power last clause. It is probable that R copy of of the government (eh. ix. 8). A new decree the decree was originally inserted at the end must issue nt once giving the requisite per- of the verse. mission, e,nd copies must be e,t once distri- Ver. 14.-Tbe posts that rode upon mule■ buted, that there might be no mist&ke or e.nd O&mels. Rather, "that rode on coursers misunderstanding. So the "king's scribes" of the stud royal·' (see the comment on ver. 'n'ere summoned e.nd set to work. In the 10). The verse repeats eh. iii. 15, with smnll third month, the month Sivan. This is additions. It e,ppea.rs that the lo.ter posts nnother Babylonian name. The month was were urged to he.ste still more strongly tho.n sacred to the moon-god, Sin, e.nd its ne,me the enrlier ones-not that time really pressed, may be connected witb. his. It correspond&d but from superabundant ce.ution-that there wi t.h the latter pa.rt of our May and the might be an opportunity for further com- early part of June. To the lieutenants, and munice.tions between tl1e provinces e.nd the the deputies and rulers. Compare eh. iii. 12, court, if doubt was e,nywhere entertained e.s where the same three classes of rulers are to the king's intentions. · mentioned. An hundred twenty and seven. See the comment on eh. i I. And to the MoRDE0AI's HONOUR il"D ·THE JEWS' JOY J'ewa. Copies of the former edict had not (eh. viii 15-17). Ahe.suerus wa.s not con- been sent especially to the Jews. They had tent even now with what he had done for been left to learn their danger indirectly Mordece.i. Before his minister quitted the from the people among whom they dwelt ; presence, the king presented him with a but Mordecai took care that they should be informed directly of their right of defence. crown of gold, e.nd e. robe e.nd vest of honour; 1er. 10.-Re wrote in the king's name. and thus e.rre.yed he proceeded into the city As Ha.man had done (eh. iii 12). And riders of Susa, where the new edict we.s already on mules, camels, and young dromedaries. known, and had been received with satisfe.c- There is no " and " before " riders " in the tion (ver. 15). The Persians, who formed original, a.nd the clause is clearly exegetical of the preceding. Neither "mules," nor the predominant element in the population '' camels," nor '' yonng dromedaries " e.re of the town, sympathised with the Jews, and mentioned in it, and the best translation rejoiced in the king's fe.vour towards them ; would seem to~" the riders on coursers of while the Jews of Suse., having passed from the royal stnd, the offspring of thorough- despair to oonfident hope, were full of glad- breds." It is noticeable that both Herodotns ness e.nd thankfulness. In the provinces (viii 98) e.nd Xenophon ('Cyrop.,' viii 6, § 17) speak of horses e.s alone employed in the decree had e. still wa.rmer welcome, Its carrying the Persian despatches. arrival was celebrated with "e. fee.st" (ver. Ver. ll. - Wherein the king granted. 17) e.nd "e. good de.y." It led also to many Rather, "that the king granted." Mordecai of the hen.then becoming proselyte., to the sent "l6tters," which said "that the king Jewish religion-some perhaps from convic- granted tc the Jews to gather themselves together," &c. To gathertheIDBelves together. tion, but others because they thought it Union is strength. If ell the Jews of a safer to ple.ce themselves manifestly on the province were allowed to collect e.nd band Jews' side before the de.y of the struggle. themselves together, they would e.t once be e. formidable body. Scattered in the various Ver. 15.-B.oyal apparel of blue and white, towns 11.lld villages, they might easily have The Persian monarch himself wore a purple been overpowered. To stand for their life. robe and an inner vest of purple striped with The Jews have sometimes been spoken of as white (' Ancient Mona.rchies,' vol iv. pp. the aggressors on the actnal 13th of Adar, 158,154). Therobesofhonourwhich hegave but there is no evidence to support this e.way were of many different colours, but view. The edict clearly only allowed them generally of a single tint throughout (Xen., to stand on the defensive. Of course, when ' Cyrop. ,' viii. 8, § 8) ; but the one given to fighting once began, both sides did their Mordecai seems to have been blue with white worst. In repelling attack the Jews had stripes. These were, th~ colours ,o~. ~he royal the same liberty to destroy, to el.&y, and to diadem (Q. Curt., V1t. Alex., w. 3). A caue to perish as their adveme.ries (eh. iii. rreat crown of gold. Not. a ~11 cro~, 13). Little oneL Rather, "families." Take like that of the..mone,rch, which IS called in the apoil of them for a prey. I. e. " seize Hebrew ketMII' (Greek «ira.p,,:), but 'atdtrd,h, their property." The ea.rlier edict had given a crown of e.n inferior kind, freque-ntly worn OB. vm. 1-17.J THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 143