John Trapp on Esther 3:7

Verſe 7. In the firſt moneth] The time is thus noted, ad majorem hiſtoriae fidem & lucem, to give more credit to the Hiſtory, and to lend ſome light to it.

That is the moneth Niſan] The Chaldees call it Abib, from the new fruits or eares of corne then firſt appearing. It was the firſt moneth unto Iſrael, (in reſpect of ſacred, not civil affaires) becauſe of their coming out of Egypt therein. It anſwereth to part of March with us, and part of April.

In the twelfth yeare of King Ahaſhuerus] When Eſther had now been Queen above foure yeares, and being greatly beloved, was in a capacity to do her people good. This was a ſweet Providence, the remedy was ready before the diſeaſe brake out. No Countrey hath more venemous creatures then Egypt, none more Antidotes. So godlineſſe hath many troubles, and as many helpes againſt trouble.

They caſt Pur, that is, the Lot] The old Interpreter addeth in urnam, into the pitcher. And the new Annotations tell us, that about caſting lots, there was a pitcher into which papers, with names of the ſeveral moneths written on them, and rolled up were caſt, yea, alſo papers with the names of every day, and of every moneth were caſt in: then one blind-folded put in his hand and pulled out a paper, and according to the marks which they had ſet down, ſuch a moneth proved lucky, and ſuch a day in the moneth; and by Gods Providence it ſo fell out, that their ſuppoſed luckie day was on the twelfth moneth, whereby it came to paſſe, that their plot was defeated, before the time of accompliſhing thereof, chap. 9.1, &c.

From day to day, &c.] This is not to be taken as if they had continued twelve moneths about in caſting of theſe lots: but as in the Note next above.

That is the moneth Adar] In all which time that wicked Haman might have bethought himſelf (as one noteth) and returned to a better minde toward Gods people. But he, after the hardneſſe of his heart, that could not repent, treaſured up unto himſelf wrath againſt the day of wrath, &c. Rom. 2.5.