Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

done = being done.

bitter cry. Not (we may be sure) without confession and prayer, as with Nehemiah (Esther 1:0 ), and Daniel 9:0 ).

even = as far as.

commandments word. See note on Esther 1:12 .

decree = Imperial decree. Hebrew. dath . See notes on Esther 1:8 ; Esther 2:8 .

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), to emphasize the greatness and universality of the mourning.

fasting, &c. These were the accompaniments of true repentance.

maids. See note on Esther 2:4 .

chamberlains = eunuchs.

commandment = charge. Hebrew. zavah. See Esther 3:2 .

the sum of the money = the exact sum of the money. Mordecai knew of this, but how we cannot tell. He evidently did not know that the king had made Harnan a present of it (Esther 3:11 ).

law = Imperial decree. Hebrew. dath . See note on Esther 1:8 .

commanded. Hebrew. 'amar. See note on Esther 1:10 .

thyself = thy soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

enlargement = respite.

who knoweth . . . ? Note the Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ), for emphasis. Used here of hope and trust in God and His overruling grace.

three days, night or day. The Jerusalem Talmud says "a day and night together make up a nulctke-meron, and that any part of such period is counted as a whole". Compare 1 Samuel 30:12 , 1 Samuel 30:13 . Jon 1:17 . Matthew 12:40 .

I perish. See note on Esther 3:13 .

went his way = passed over: i.e. over the river Ulai, on which Shushan is built, to the Jewish quarter, to accomplish his part of the compact.