The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their [appointed] time every year;
Ver. 27. The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed] See Esther 9:23. Here we have a repetition of what was before recited, and this is usual in Holy Scripture, as Gen 2:1 Exodus 15:19, that things of moment may take the deeper impression. That of Austin is here to be remembered, Verba toties inculcata viva sunt, vera sunt, plana sunt, sana sunt. The words are driven home so many times afresh, are true, are plain, are sound. Let preachers do thus, and hearers be content to have it so. Nunquam satis dicitur, quod nunquam satis discitur. Never spoken enough because never learned enough. "To write to you the same things to me is not grievous, and for you it is safe," saith that great apostle, Philippians 3:1 .
And upon all such as should join themselves unto them] Those proselytes, Esther 8:17, or whatever hangs-on.
So as it should not fail] But stand as a law inviolable. And yet that Octogesimus octavus mirabilis annus, the 88th year of the marvelous, and that never-to-be-forgotten fifth of November, are with us almost antiquated; little would one think that God had ever done anything for us, either by land or by sea, against either fireworks or waterworks, Vae corpori nostro. Alas our body.
That they would keep these two days] Keep them as before, by consecrating a rest, and feasting before the Lord; not by gormandizing and profane sports, nor by running up and down from house to house, as whiffiers and wassailers, as at this day the Jews' manner is; witness Antonius Margarita, a baptized Jew (L. de Cerem. Jud.).
According to their writing] i.e. Mordecai's order, by themselves subscribed and ratified.