1 And the king H4428 Ahasuerus H325 laid H7760 a tribute H4522 upon the land, H776 and upon the isles H339 of the sea. H3220
Wherefore glorify H3513 ye the LORD H3068 in the fires, H217 even the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 in the isles H339 of the sea. H3220
Now it came to pass in the days H3117 of Ahasuerus, H325 (this is Ahasuerus H325 which reigned, H4427 from India H1912 even unto Ethiopia, H3568 over an hundred H3967 and seven H7651 and twenty H6242 provinces:) H4082
Then were the king's H4428 scribes H5608 called H7121 at that time H6256 in the third H7992 month, H2320 that is, the month H2320 Sivan, H5510 on the three H7969 and twentieth H6242 day thereof; and it was written H3789 according to all that Mordecai H4782 commanded H6680 unto the Jews, H3064 and to the lieutenants, H323 and the deputies H6346 and rulers H8269 of the provinces H4082 which are from India H1912 unto Ethiopia, H3568 an hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and seven H7651 provinces, H4082 unto every province H4082 according to the writing H3791 thereof, and unto every people H5971 after their language, H3956 and to the Jews H3064 according to their writing, H3791 and according to their language. H3956
And it shall come to pass in that day, H3117 that the Lord H136 shall set H3254 his hand H3027 again H3254 the second time H8145 to recover H7069 the remnant H7605 of his people, H5971 which shall be left, H7604 from Assyria, H804 and from Egypt, H4714 and from Pathros, H6624 and from Cush, H3568 and from Elam, H5867 and from Shinar, H8152 and from Hamath, H2574 and from the islands H339 of the sea. H3220
After this shall he turn H7760 H7725 his face H6440 unto the isles, H339 and shall take H3920 many: H7227 but a prince H7101 for his own behalf shall cause the reproach H2781 offered by him to cease; H7673 without H1115 his own reproach H2781 he shall cause it to turn H7725 upon him.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » John Gill's Exposition of the Bible » Commentary on Esther 10
Commentary on Esther 10 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
INTRODUCTION TO ESTHER 10
This chapter is very short, and just makes mention of a tribute Ahasuerus laid on his realm, Esther 10:1, refers to the Persian chronicles, both for the greatness of him, and of Mordecai, and is closed with the character of the latter, Esther 10:2.
And the King Ahasuerus laid a tribute on the land, and upon the isles of the sea. Which include all his dominions, both on the continent, and on the sea, the Aegean sea; though Aben Ezra thinks it regards such as were not under his government, but stood in fear of him, of whom he demanded tribute. If Ahasuerus was Xerxes, perhaps his exchequer might be drained by his wars with the Grecians, which put him upon this; though some understand this of his renewing the taxes and tribute, which he remitted upon his marriage with Esther, Esther 2:18.
And all the acts of his power, and of his might,.... As Xerxes was a very mighty and powerful prince:
and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him; the history of that, and which tended not a little to the greatness, dignity and prosperity of the king himself, and his whole kingdom:
are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? to which the reader is referred by the writer of this book, the which were in being in his times, but now lost: had they been preserved, they might have been of great use to lead into the history of the Medes and Persians, which for want of them is very dark and intricate; the writer of this book having nothing further to do with it, than as it related to the affairs of the Jews.
For Mordecai the Jew was next unto Ahasuerus,.... The second man in the kingdom, the principal of the counsellors, and prime minister of state:
and great among the Jews; highly respected by them, in great honour and esteem with them, for which there was great reason:
and accepted of the multitude of his brethren; or of many, of most, of the greatest part of them; for, let a man be ever so deserving, there are some that will envy his greatness, cavil at everything done by him, and speak evil of him without any just reason:
seeking the wealth of his people; their good, their welfare and happiness, temporal and spiritual:
and speaking peace to all his seed; not only to his family, but to all the Jews who were of the same seed with him, the seed of Abraham; either speaking to them in an humble and condescending manner, being very humane, affable, and courteous; or speaking for them to the king, asking of him for them what might conduce to their peace, prosperity, and happiness. No mention is made in this history of the death and burial either of Mordecai or Esther; but the author of Cippi Hebraici saysF26P. 70. Ed. Hottinger. , that Mordecai was buried in the city of Shushan, and that all the Jews in those parts assemble at his grave on the day of Purim, and sing songs, playing on tabrets and pipes, rejoicing that there was a miracle wrought; and the same writer saysF1Ib. p. 64. , they do the like at that time at the grave of Esther, half a mile from Tzephat, read this book that bears her name, eat, drink, and rejoice. Benjamin of Tudela saysF2Itinerar. p. 96. , they were both buried before a synagogue, at a place called Hamdan.