Esther 9:30

Est 9:30 And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, [with] words of peace and truth,

Ver. 30. And he sent letters to all the Jews] Tremellius readeth it, Which letters Mordecai sent to all the Jews, sc. as monitors and remembrancers.

To the hundred twenty and seven provinces] Among and above the rest, to Judea, which was one of that number.

With words of peace and truth] i.e. Premising words of prosperity and settlement, saith Tremellius, or promising them peaceable enjoyment of the true religion, liberty of conscience, rightly so called; or praying, that they may "follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord," Heb 12:14. Or, he sent letters full of courtesy and truth, that is, of unfeigned courtesy, as Vatablus senseth it. For there is a cut-throat courtesy, such as was that of Joab to Amasa, of Judas to our Saviour, of Julian, the apostate, to Basil, when he wrote unto him, but not with words of peace and truth, φιλος φιλω και αδελφος αδελοω.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Est 9:30. With words of peace and truth — Though they wrote with authority, they wrote also with peace, that is, with friendship, tenderness, and kindness, not in imperious and imposing language, but in an affectionate and conciliating style: and with truth, or sincerity, which is the rather observed, because it was, as it still is, not very usual with great courtiers, such as Mordecai now was, to write so. Or the meaning may be, that he saluted them with hearty wishes for the continuance of those two great blessings of God, truth and peace, among them, namely, the true religion, and peace among themselves, and with all men; or, that they might peaceably and quietly enjoy and profess the truth. Or if the matter, rather than the manner, or form of his writing be intended, the sense is, that he directed and endeavoured to persuade them to keep both peace and truth, that is, both to live peaceably and lovingly one with another, and with all their neighbours, not insulting over them upon a confidence in Mordecai’s great power, or upon this their late and great success, nor giving them any fresh provocation; and yet holding fast the true religion, in spite of all the artifices or hostilities of the Gentiles, among whom they lived.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Which were letters declaring unto them quietness, and assurance and putting them out of doubt and fear.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(30) The letters.—Omit the article.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim,.... As a festival to be observed by the Jews in future generations:

and it was written in the book; either in this book of Esther; or in the public acts and chronicles of the kings of Persia; or in a book by itself, now lost, as Aben Ezra thinks, as many others are we read of in Scripture, as the books of the chronicles of the kings of Israel and Judah, &c.

Next: Esther Chapter 10

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Peace: receive these glad tidings, and faithfully observe the injunctions. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Or, even words of peace and truth; which may respect either,

1. The form of the writing, wherein after the custom he saluted them with hearty wishes of their true peace or prosperity, or of the continuance of those two great blessings of God,

truth, i.e. the true religion; and peace, either among themselves, or with all men, that they might peaceably and quietly enjoy and profess the truth. Or,

2. The manner of his writing, which was

with peace, i.e. friendship and kindness to his brethren;

and truth, i.e. sincerity; which is the more noted and commended in him, because it is so unusual in such great courtiers as he now was; compare Est 10:3; or the matter of his writing, which was to direct and persuade them to keep both peace and truth, i.e. both to live peaceably and lovingly both one with another, and with all their neighbours, not insulting over them upon their confidence in Mordecai’s great power, or upon this late and great success, as men naturally and commonly do, nor giving them any fresh provocations, and yet holding fast the true religion in spite of all the artifices or hostilities of the Gentiles among whom they lived.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

And he sent the letters. Rather, "he sent letters." In addition to the formal "letter of Purina," which was of the nature of an ordinance, though not of legal force, Mordecai sent informal letters, which embraced other topics besides the Purim feast, as, for instance, words of salutation, and perhaps a reference to the keeping of a fast before the two Purina days (ver. 31). These he sent to all Jews throughout the whole empire, inclosing with them the formal "letter of Purim." With words of peace and truth. Perhaps beginning thus: "Peace and truth be with you a modification of the usual, "Peace," etc., (Ezr_4:17) or, "All peace" (ibid. 5:7), with which letters ordinarily began.

Words of peace and truth.

Words are of inestimable weight, for evil or for good. Human words move men mightily; and of Christ"s words we know that they shall "never pass away." This description of the message which Mordecai and Esther sent to their countrymen throughout the empire is very significant. It consisted of words which, whilst they were words of truth, concealing nothing, declaring all, were yet words of peace, speaking peace unto Israel.

I WORDS CAN REVEAL TRUTH. The speech uttered is the expression of the inner, the mental, speech.

1. This should be the case in all instruction. Teachers should make it theirfirst concern that their words should be words of truth. Especially should this be so in all religious instruction given and received.

2. This is the case in the best and highest literature. We value language forits beauty; but its highest interest and charm lies in its power to embody truth.

3. This is the case with Divine revelation, which is the truth of God, madeknown to us in him who is the Word, and in all inspired words.

II WORDS CAN DIFFUSE AND RESTORE PEACE. They may do this by

1. Assuring the endangered of protection, as was the case in the narrativebefore us.

2. Removing suspicion and fear, as friendly and gracious words have oftenpower to do.

3. Assuring offenders of reconciliation and favour. It is in this manner thatthe words of Christ"s gospel are emphatically "words of peace.

III WORDS OF TRUTH ARE THE SUREST FOUNDATION FOR WORDS OF PEACE. The peace brought about by false words is hollow, temporary only, and vain. But the full truth being declared, a sound and lasting peace may follow, heralded and assured by appropriate words. The Christian revelation exactly agrees with the description of these words; it brings truth to our understanding and peace to heart and life.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Peace - With peace, friendship and kindness to his brethren, and truth, sincerity.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Letters were sent to all the Jews

This can be stated in active form. AT: "They sent letters to all the Jews" (See: Active or Passive)

127 provinces

"one hundred and twenty-seven provinces" (See: Numbers)

wishing the Jews safety and truth

The abstract nouns "safety" and "truth" can be expressed with phrases. AT: "wishing that the Jews would be safe and that people would be faithful to the Jews" (See: Abstract Nouns)

The Jews accepted this obligation for themselves and their descendants

Accepting an obligation is a metaphor for agreeing with the obligation. The abstract noun "obligation" can be expressed with the verb "obligate." AT: "The Jews agreed and said that they and their descendants were obligated to celebrate the days of Purim" (See: Metaphor and Abstract Nouns)

they accepted times of fasting and lamenting

Accepting times of fasting and lamenting is a metaphor for agreeing to fast and lament at certain times. AT: "they agreed to fast and lament at certain times" (See: Metaphor)

translationWords

kingdom

Ahasuerus

true

fast

lament

command

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.