And [that] these days [should be] remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and [that] these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.
Ver. 28. And that these days should be remembered] That the memory of them might be kept afoot in the Church to all perpetuity. Nothing is sooner forgotten than a good turn received. David found himself faulty this way, and, therefore, sets the thorn to the breast, Psalms 103:2. Other holy men kept catalogues (see one of God's own making, Jdg 10:11-12). They also had their μνημοσυνα, or memorials, as is before noted. The very heathens had their triumphal arches, pillars, trophies, tables, histories, annals, ephemerides, &c. A foul shame for us to fall short of them, and not to wish, as Job in another case, Oh that God's works of wonder for us were now written. "Oh that they were printed in a book! that they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!" Job 19:23,24. That famous fifth of November especially, which drowns in a manner the memory of all former deliverances; as the return out of Babylon did the departure out of Egypt, Jeremiah 23:7. This happy day, too much slighted, alas, in many places already, should never be put out of the English calendar while the sun courseth about the earth; but be registered for the generation to come, that the people which shall be created may praise the Lord, Psalms 102:8. (This was written Nov. 5, 1653.)
Every family, every province, and every city] They should all recognize their late danger, and thereby the better relish their deliverance, as Samson did his honeycomb, which he found by turning aside to see the lion he had escaped. Every man was to consider his own share in the public safety, as the people did at Solomon's coronation, and to be particularly thankful. This would fortify his faith, feed his hope, nourish his joy, further his obedience.