SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:7
¶ En el mes primero, que es el mes de Nisán, en el año duodécimo del rey Asuero, fue echada Pur, esto es, la suerte, delante de Amán, de día en día y de mes en mes; y salió el mes duodécimo, que es el mes de Adar.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Esther 3:7
Verse 7. The first month] That is, of the civil year of the Jews. The month Nisan] Answering to a part of our March and April.
The twelfth year of king Ahasuerus] According to the chronology in our Bibles, about five hundred and ten years before Christ.
They cast Pur, that is, the lot] This appears to be the Hebrew corruption of the pure Persian word pari, which signifies any thing that happens fortuitously. There is an addition here in the Greek text that was probably in the original, and which makes this place very plain. I shall set down the whole verse, and give the Greek in a parenthesis, that it may be read consecutively with what is in the Hebrew: "In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman, from day to day, and from month to month." (wste apolesai en mia hmera to genov mardocaiou, kai epesen o klhrov eiv thn teserakaidekathn tou mhnov ov estin adar, "that they might destroy in one day the people of Mordecai; and the lot fell on the fourteenth day of the month Adar.") We see plainly intimated by the Hebrew text that they cast lots, or used a species of divination, to find which of the twelve months would be the most favourable for the execution of Haman's design; and, having found the desired month, then they cast lots, or used divination, to find out which day of the said month would be the lucky day for the accomplishment of the enterprise. But the Hebrew text does not tell us the result of this divination; we are left to guess it out; but the Greek supplies this deficiency, and makes all clear. From it we find that, when they cast for the month, the month Adar was taken; and when they cast for the day, the fourteenth (Heb. thirteenth) of that month was taken.
Some have questioned whether Pur may not have signified also some game of chance, which they played before or with Haman, from day to day, to divert him from his melancholy, till the lucky time came in which he was to have the gratification of slaying all the people who were objects of his enmity; or they cast lots, or played, who should get the property of such and such opulent families. Holinshed, one of our ancient historians, informs us that, previously to the battle of Agincourt, the English army, under Henry V., were so thinned and weakened by disease, and the French army so numerous, that "Frenchmen, in the mean while, as though they had been sure of victory, made great triumphe, for the captaines had determined before how to divide the spoil; and the souldiers, the night before, had plaied the Englishmen at dice." To this the chorus of Shakspeare alludes:- "Proud of their numbers, and secure of soul, The confident and over-lusty French Do the low-rated English play at dice.- The poor condemned English, Like sacrifices by their watchful fires, Sit patiently and inly ruminate The morning's danger; and their gestures sad, Investing lank-lean cheeks, and war-worn coats, Presenteth them unto the gazing moon So many horrid ghosts. HEN. V. Monstrelet, who is an impartial writer, does not mention this. Did Haman and his flatterers intend to divide the spoils of the designed-to-be-massacred Jews in some such manner as this?
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 7. In the first month, that is the month Nisan , etc.] Which was the first month of the sacred year of the Jews, by divine appointment, ( Exodus 12:2 13:4), and there called Abib, and answers to part of February and part of March; from hence it is clear this book was written by a Jew, and very probably by Mordecai: in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus ; four years and near two months after his marriage of Esther, ( Esther 2:16), they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman ; being a Persian word, it is explained in Hebrew a lot, the word signifying “steel” in the Persian language. Reland conjectures that this was that sort of lot called “sideromantia”. Who cast this lot is not said; whether Haman himself, or one of his servants: perhaps a diviner. The latter Targum calls him Shimshai the scribe: from day today, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is the month Adar ; which answers to part of January and part of February; so that the lot was cast for every month and every day of the month throughout the year, to find out which was the most lucky month, and which the most lucky day in that month, to destroy the Jews in and none could be found till they came to the last month, and the thirteenth day of that month, ( Esther 3:13), the providence of God so overruling the lot, that there might be time enough for the Jews, through the mediation of Esther to the king, to prevent their destruction; so in other nations the Heathens had their lucky and unlucky days f114 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-15 - Without some acquaintance with the human heart, and the history of mankind, we should not think that any prince could consent to dreadful proposal, so hurtful to himself. Let us be thankful for mil and just government. Haman inquires, according to his ow superstitions, how to find a lucky day for the designed massacre! God' wisdom serves its own purposes by men's folly. Haman has appealed to the lot, and the lot, by delaying the execution, gives judgment agains him. The event explains the doctrine of a particular providence ove all the affairs of men, and the care of God over his church. Haman wa afraid lest the king's conscience should smite him for what he ha done; to prevent which, he kept him drinking. This cursed method man often take to drown convictions, and to harden their own hearts, an the hearts of others, in sin. All appeared in a favourable train to accomplish the project. But though sinners are permitted to proceed to the point they aim at, an unseen but almighty Power turns them back How vain and contemptible are the strongest assaults against Jehovah Had Haman obtained his wish, and the Jewish nation perished, what mus have become of all the promises? How could the prophecies concernin the great Redeemer of the world have been fulfilled? Thus the everlasting covenant itself must have failed, before this diabolica project could take place __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
בחדשׁ 2320 הראשׁון 7223 הוא 1931 חדשׁ 2320 ניסן 5212 בשׁנת 8141 שׁתים 8147 עשׂרה 6240 למלך 4428 אחשׁורושׁ 325 הפיל 5307 פור 6332 הוא 1931 הגורל 1486 לפני 6440 המן 2001 מיום 3117 ליום 3117 ומחדשׁ 2320 לחדשׁ 2320 שׁנים 8147 עשׂר 6240 הוא 1931 חדשׁ 2320 אדר׃ 143
