John Trapp on Esther 9:17

Verſe 17. On the thirteenth day of the moneth Adar] On this day they ſtood for their lives, that they might reſt from their enemies. And accordingly

On the fourteenth day of the ſame, rested they] i. e. the very next day after their deliverance; they would not defer it a day longer, but kept an holy reſt with Pſalmes and ſacrifices of praiſe, (thoſe calves of their lips) the very next day, whiles the deliverance was yet freſh, and of recent remembrance. This they knew well that God expected, Deut. 23.21. and that he conſtrueth delayes for denials, Hag. 1.2, 4. he gave order that no part of the thank-offering ſhould be kept unſpent till the third day; to teach us to preſent our praiſes when benefits are newly received, which elſe would ſoon wax ſtale and putrifie as fiſh, I will pay my vowes now, now, ſaith David, Pſal. 116.18. Hezekiah wrote his Song the third day after his recovery: Queen Elizabeth, when exalted from a priſoner to a Princeſſe, and from miſery to Majeſty, before ſhe would ſuffer her ſelf to be mounted in her charet, to paſſe from the Tower to Weſtminſter, Englands Eliz. ſhe very devoutly lifted up her hands and eyes to heaven, and gave God humble thanks for that remarkable change and turn of things.

And made it a day of feaſting and gladneſſe] Exhilarating and chearing up their good hearts, (that had long layen low) with a more liberal uſe of the creatures, that they might the better preach his praiſes, and ſpeak good of his name: and that, ſith they could not offer up unto him other ſacrifices preſcribed in the Law, becauſe they were far from the Temple, they might not be wanting with their ſacrifice of thankſgiving, which God preferreth before an oxe that hath hornes and hoofs, ſaith the Pſalmiſt. Words may ſeem to be but a poor and ſlight recompence: but Chriſt (ſaith Nazianzen) calleth himſelf the Word; and this was all the fee that he looks for for his cures, Go and tell what God hath done for thee. With theſe calves of our lips let us cover Gods Altar; and we ſhall finde, that although he will neither eat the fleſh of bulls, nor drink the blood of goats, yet if we offer unto God thankſgiving, and pay our vowes unto the moſt High,Pſal. 50.13, 14. it will be look't upon as our reaſonable ſervice, Rom. 12.1.