Esther 3:14

The copy of the writing, for a commandment to be given in every province, was published unto all people,.... Not only letters were sent to the governors, but a copy, or the sum of the contents of

Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that

Esther 3:14 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day. Ver. 14. The copy of the writing … was published] Phathsegin, a Syriac word, saith R. David, and not found but in the books about the captivity. The Vulgate rendereth it Summa, highest, R. Nathan ôõðïò, to the same sense. Transcripts of the original were sent to all places, that none might be ignorant or negligent in doing execution. But why did not the Jews upon such notice save themselves by flight, may some say? Alas, whither should the poor souls flee with their families? being compassed about with so many deadly enemies, having none that durst own them in that distress? It was a just wonder, and a special work of God, that their enemies forbore to fall upon them before the black day came, if but for the sake of spoil. We read, Esther 9:1; Esther 9:5-11 that notwithstanding the known favour of the king, the patronage of Mordecai, and the hanging up of Haman, &c., the thirteenth of Adar is still meant to be a bloody day. Haman’ s abettors join together to perform that sentence, whereof the author repented, &c. But God was seen in the mount; he loveth to help those that are forsaken from their hopes, as he did these poor prisoners then, when it might seem that there was neither left unto them hope of better or place of worse. Who would not therefore trust in God? Deo confisi nunquam confusi? Trust in God will surely triumph. That they should be ready against that day] That long looked for day by Haman and his party, wherein they meant to roll themselves, and wallow in the blood of those Jews, and to say, as Hannibal did, when he saw a ditch filled with man’ s blood, O iucundum spectaculum! O pleasant sight! Or as Valesus, when he had slain three hundred, O rem regiam! O kingly act! Or as that queen, who, when she saw some of her Protestant subjects lying dead and stripped upon the earth, cried out, the godliest tapestry that ever she beheld! Are not such blood suckers of the vulturine kind spoken of in Job, whose young ones glut-glut blood (the original word seemeth made from the sound), "and where the slain are there is she," Job 39:30.

(14) Copy.—Heb., pathshegen. A Persian word, only occurring here and in Esther 4:8; Esther 8:13.

14. A copy] The word in the original is of Persian origin, and occurs again in Esther 4:8, Esther 8:13. that the decree should be given out] The marg. to be given out for a decree, is probably better, the writing and the decree being one and the same. unto all the peoples] See on Esther 1:11. that they should be ready against that day] A few weeks would suffice for the edict to reach even remote provinces of the Empire. Thus the Jews’ enemies would have ample time to make preparations for the carrying out of its purpose. It is of course obvious that the intended victims would also hereby be given an opportunity of defending themselves; and this must be acknowledged to be a difficulty, if we assume the accuracy of the dates given for the successive parts of the transaction. Clearly, however, we are not in a position to impugn their accuracy by conjecturing a shorter interval between the inception of the scheme and the date appointed for its execution, inasmuch as a considerable time is demanded by the exigencies of the narrative for circumstances attending the overthrow of Haman, the change in the king’s sentiments, and the transmission of letters permitting the Jews to defend themselves.