John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 8. Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort .] This means the same letter as before; which, according to Jarchi, was sent in the name of Mithredath Tabeel and his company, was endited by Rehum, master of words or sense, and written by Shimshai the scribe, whom he makes to be a son of Haman f44 ; but it was written rather in all their names.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-24 - It is an old slander, that the prosperity of the church would be hurtful to kings and princes. Nothing can be more false, for tru godliness teaches us to honour and obey our sovereign. But where the command of God requires one thing and the law of the land another, we must obey God rather than man, and patiently submit to the consequences. All who love the gospel should avoid all appearance of evil, lest they should encourage the adversaries of the church. The world is ever ready to believe any accusation against the people of God, and refuses to listen to them. The king suffered himself to be imposed upon by these frauds and falsehoods. Princes see and hear with other men's eyes and ears, and judge things as represented to them which are often done falsely. But God's judgment is just; he see things as they are _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew רחום7348 בעל1169 טעם2942 ושׁמשׁי8124 ספרא5613 כתבו3790 אגרה104 חדה2298 על5922 ירושׁלם3390 לארתחשׁשׂתא783 מלכא4430 כנמא׃3660
