John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. Then were the king’s scribes called at that time , etc.] As they were to write the former letter, ( Esther 3:12), in the third month, that is the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof ; which answers to part of May, and part of June. This was two months and ten days after the writing of the former letters; so long the Jews had been in distress by reason of them, and was a just rebuke upon them for not returning to their own land when they might, as well as for other sins: and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews .
Mordecai dictated to the scribes, and ordered what they should write; and which were sent to the Jews in the first place, partly to ease them of their present distress, and partly that they might prepare against that time for their defence, for which they had sufficient time, it being now more than nine months to it: and to the lieutenants, and the deputies, and the rulers of the provinces, which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces . The letters were directed to the same magistrates in the several provinces as the former, giving orders to them, that, notwithstanding them, they were to suffer the Jews to defend themselves, and not punish them for what should be done by them in self-defence; (see Esther 1:1 2:12), unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language ; some provinces spoke the Persian language, and used the character of it, others Chaldee, others Syriac, etc. and wrote in the usual characters, as the Jews did in Hebrew, and in the characters of that language; and now these letters were written in the language and character of the people of the several provinces they were sent to, that they might be easily read and understood.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 3-14 - It was time to be earnest, when the church of God was at stake. Esther though safe herself, fell down and begged for the deliverance of he people. We read of no tears when she begged for her own life, but although she was sure of that, she wept for her people. Tears of pit and tenderness are the most Christ-like. According to the constitutio of the Persian government, no law or decree could be repealed of recalled. This is so far from speaking to the wisdom and honour of the Medes and Persians, that it clearly shows their pride and folly. Thi savours of that old presumption which ruined all, We will be as gods It is God's prerogative not to repent, or to say what can never be altered or unsaid. Yet a way was found, by another decree, to authoriz the Jews to stand upon their defence. The decree was published in the languages of all the provinces. Shall all the subjects of an earthl prince have his decrees in languages they understand, and shall God' oracles and laws be locked up from any of his servants in an unknow tongue?
Original Hebrew ויקראו7121 ספרי5608 המלך4428 בעת6256 ההיא1931 בחדשׁ2320 השׁלישׁי7992 הוא1931 חדשׁ2320 סיון5510 בשׁלושׁה7969 ועשׂרים6242 בו ויכתב3789 ככל3605 אשׁר834 צוה6680 מרדכי4782 אל413 היהודים3064 ואל413 האחשׁדרפנים323 והפחות6346 ושׂרי8269 המדינות4082 אשׁר834 מהדו1912 ועד5704 כושׁ3568 שׁבע7651 ועשׂרים6242 ומאה3967 מדינה4082 מדינה4082 ומדינה4082 ככתבה3789 ועם5971 ועם5971 כלשׁנו3956 ואל413 היהודים3064 ככתבם3789 וכלשׁונם׃3956
