Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Esther 10:2
And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?
2. in the book of the chronicles ] the official records. See on Est 2:23. The formula may be imitated from the phraseology in 1Ki 14:19; 1Ki 14:29 etc.
3 was next unto king Ahasuerus ] i.e. was second only to him in point of rank. The same expression is used of a certain Elkanah’s position with respect to Ahaz, king of Judah (2Ch 28:7), and of priests who were second in rank to the high priest, ‘of the second order,’ in 2Ki 23:4.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Power and … might – In the later years of Xerxes his power and might were chiefly shown in the erection of magnificent buildings, more especially at Persepolis. He abstained from military expeditions.
Kings of Media and Persia – Media takes precedence of Persia because the kingdom of Media had preceded that of Persia, and in the book of the Chronicles its history came first.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. The book of the chronicles of Media and Persia?] The Persians have ever been remarkable for keeping exact chronicles of all public events. Their Tareekhs, which are compositions of this kind, are still very numerous, and indeed very important.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
2. the declaration of the greatnessof MordecaiThe experience of this pious and excellent Jewverified the statement, “he that humbleth himself shall beexalted” [Mat 23:12; Luk 14:11;Luk 18:14]. From sittingcontentedly at the king’s gate, he was raised to the dignity ofhighest subject, the powerful ruler of the kingdom. Acting uniformlyon the great principles of truth and righteousness, his greatnessrested on a firm foundation. His faith was openly avowed, and hisinfluence as a professor of the true religion was of the greatestusefulness for promoting the welfare of the Jewish people, as well asfor advancing the glory of God.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) Power.The same word as that translated authority in Est. 9:29.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Declaration of the greatness of Mordecai A distinct statement of the power and authority to which Mordecai had been advanced by the king. The Hebrew word rendered declaration occurs elsewhere only at Est 4:7, where it is rendered sum. See note there. An accurate record of Mordecai’s elevation to power was made in the same book that contained the record of all the acts of the power and might of Ahasuerus, and this fact was no small tribute to the honour and glory of Mordecai. This book of records is here called the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia, and was, probably, identical with that mentioned in Est 2:23; Est 6:1; Est 9:32. Mordecai’s acts were chronicled with those of the kings of the Medo-Persian empire. Elsewhere in this book, where Media and Persia are mentioned, (Est 1:3) Persia is always, mentioned first; but here the order is reversed, because mention is made of records in which the Median chronicles preceded those of Persia. Compare note on Est 1:3.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Est 10:2 And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?
Ver. 2. And all the acts of his power and his might ] Lyra and Rikelius observe that Ahasuerus had all this power and might given him by God, as a recompense of his courtesy to the Jews, and justice done upon their enemies. No man serveth God for nought. He is a liberal paymaster, Mal 1:10 . See Trapp on “ Mal 1:10 “
And the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai
Whereunto the king advanced him
Are they not written in the book of the chronicles
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
power. Hebrew. tokeph. See note on Est 8:11.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
all the acts: 1Ki 11:41, 1Ki 22:39
advanced him: Heb. made him great, Est 8:15, Est 9:4, Psa 18:35, Dan 2:48
in the book: Est 2:23, Est 6:1, 1Ki 14:19
Media: Media, which comprehended the modern Azerbijan and part of Irak, was a celebrated country of Asia, bounded on the north by the Caspian Sea and Armenia, west by Assyria, south by Susiana and Persia, and east by Hyrcania and Parthia, extending from 30 degrees to 37 degrees n lat. and 45 degrees to 53 degrees e long.
Persia: Persia Proper, now Fars, was but a small province, being bounded on the north by Media, west by Susiana, south by the Persian Gulf, and east by Caramania, extending from 27 degrees to 33 degrees n lat. and 50 degrees to 55 degrees e long. But the Persian empire in its ancient state extended from the Hellespont to the Indus, above 2,800 miles, and from Pontus to the shores of Arabia, above 2,000 miles; comprehending a multitude of various nations.
Reciprocal: Jer 51:28 – the kings Dan 5:7 – the third
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Est 10:2. All the acts of his power, and of his might, and of the greatness of Mordecai These words signify, that as this king did great things, so they were to be ascribed very much to the management of Mordecai after he was advanced to the highest authority in the kingdom. But it was not the design of the author of this history to relate such things, for which he refers to the public records of the kingdom, which were kept in some part of the kings house, as appears from Est 6:1, and were extant in those days, when this book was written. But they are lost long since, and buried in oblivion, while the sacred writings remain throughout the world. When the kingdoms of men, monarchs and their monarchies, are destroyed, and their memorial is perished with them, the kingdom of God among men, and the records of that kingdom, shall remain as the days of heaven.