SEV Biblia, Chapter 8:10
Y escribió en nombre del rey Asuero, y selló con el anillo del rey, y envió las cartas por correos de a caballo; caballeros en mulos, en mulos hijos de yeguas;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Esther 8:10
Verse 10. On mules, camels, and young dromedaries] What these beasts were is difficult to say. The word Ťkr rechesh, which we translate mules, signifies a swift chariot horse. The strange word µynrtŤja achashteranim is probably a Persian word, but perhaps incurably corrupted. The most likely derivation is that of Bochart, from the Persian akhash, huge, large, rough, and aster, a mule; large mules.
The words µykmrh ynb beney harammachim, the sons of mares, which we translate dromedaries, are supposed to signify mules, produced between the he ass and the mare, to distinguish them from those produced between the stallion and the ass, But there is really so much confusion about these matters, and so little consent among learned men as to the signification of these words, and even the true knowledge of them is of such little importance, that we may well rest contented with such names as our modern translations have given us. They were, no doubt, the swiftest and hardiest beasts that the city or country could produce.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 10. And he wrote in the King Ahasuerus’ name, and sealed it with the king’s ring , etc.] Which gave the letters authority, and made them irreversible, and for this Mordecai had the king’s order, ( Esther 8:8) and sent letters by post ; by runners or couriers: on horseback ; that rode on horses that were racers, that ran swiftly: and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries ; which were all different creatures, and swift ones, according to our version, especially the latter; (see Jeremiah 2:23) which were a kind of camels, but swifter, and would go more than one hundred miles a day f164 ; and, as Diodorus Siculus says f165 , not less than 1500 furlongs or about two hundred miles: though it may be only one sort are meant, namely, “mules”, for the next word, “ahashteranim”, in the Persian language signifies mules f166 , and so Aben Ezra interprets it, and likewise Kimchi and Ben Melech; and the last words may be rendered “sons of mares”, so David de Pomis; that is, such mules as are gendered by he asses and mares: and so the same writer observes, that the word in the Arabic language signifies “mares”; and such mules that come from them he says are stronger than those that come from she asses; so that the whole may be rendered to this sense, “riders on mules”, (which in the Persian language are called “ahashteranim”,) namely, such as are “sons of mares”; and which according to Aelianus and Pliny are the swiftest; though the Persians had camels swifter than are common elsewhere, called “revatrie”, the “goer”, which trot as fast as an horse can gallop f169 .
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
ויכתב 3789 בשׁם 8034 המלך 4428 אחשׁורשׁ 325 ויחתם 2856 בטבעת 2885 המלך 4428 וישׁלח 7971 ספרים 5612 ביד 3027 הרצים 7323 בסוסים 5483 רכבי 7392 הרכשׁ 7409 האחשׁתרנים 327 בני 1121 הרמכים׃ 7424
