Esther 3:15

15 And the business was hastened, and at Susa: and the king and Aman began to drink; but the city was troubled.

Esther 3:15 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 3:15

The post went out, being hastened by the king's command
Both to set out and make as much dispatch as possible:

and the decree was given in Shushan the palace;
by the king, and with the advice of his courtiers:

and the king and Haman sat down to drink;
at a banquet which perhaps Haman had prepared, in gratitude to the king for what he had granted him, both being highly delighted with what had been done:

but the city Shushan was perplexed;
the court was agreed, but the city was divided, as the former Targum says, with the joy of strange nations, and the weeping of the people of Israel, there being many Jews in the city; with whom no doubt there were many in connection, through affinity or friendship, or commerce, that were concerned for them; or, however, were shocked at such a barbarous scheme; and which they knew not where it would end, and how far they themselves might be involved in it, when once a mob had such a power granted to them.

Esther 3:15 In-Context

13 And was sent by posts throughout the kingdom of Artaxerxes, to destroy utterly the race of the Jews on the first day of the twelfth month, which is Adar, and to plunder their goods. [And the following is the copy of the letter; The great king Artaxerxes writes thus to the rulers and inferior governors of a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India even to Ethiopia, who hold authority under . Ruling over many nations and having obtained dominion over the whole world, I was minded (not elated by the confidence of power, but ever conducting with great moderation and gentleness) to make the lives of subjects continually tranquil, desiring both to maintain the kingdom quiet and orderly to utmost limits, and to restore the peace desired by all men. But when I had enquired of my counsellors how this should be brought to pass. Aman, who excels in soundness of judgment among us, and has been manifestly well inclined without wavering and with unshaken fidelity, and had obtained the second post in the kingdom, informed us that a certain ill-disposed people is mixed up with all the tribes throughout the world, opposed in their law to every nation, and continually neglecting the commands of the king, so that the united government blamelessly administered by us is not quietly established. Having then conceived that this nation is continually set in opposition to every man, introducing as a change a foreign code of laws, and injuriously plotting to accomplish the worst of evils against our interests, and against the happy establishment of the monarchy; we signified to you in the letter written by Aman, who is set over affairs and is our second governor, to destroy them all utterly with their wives and children by the swords of the enemies, without pitying or sparing any, on the fourteenth day of the twelfth month Adar, of the present year; that the people aforetime and now ill-disposed having been violently consigned to death in one day, may hereafter secure to us cont

14 And the copies of the letters were published in every province; and an order was given to all the nations to be ready against that day.

15 And the business was hastened, and at Susa: and the king and Aman began to drink; but the city was troubled.