Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Esther 8

Clinging to a Counterfeit Cross
Introduction

1  Mordecai is advanced.
3  Esther makes suit to reverse Haman's letters.
7  Ahasuerus grants to the Jews to defend themselves.
15  Mordecai's honour, and the Jews' joy.
Verse 1

On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.
give the house
Job 27:16,17, Psalms 39:6, 49:6-13, Proverbs 13:22, 28:8, Ecclesiastes 2:18,19, Luke 12:20
came before
1:14, 2:7,15
Verse 2

And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
his ring
3:10, Genesis 41:42, Isaiah 22:19-22, Luke 15:22
Esther set
2 Samuel 9:7-10, Psalms 37:34, Ecclesiastes 2:18,19-26, 5:13,14, Daniel 2:48
Verse 3

And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.
fell
1 Samuel 25:24, 2 Kings 4:27
besought him with tears
Heb. she wept and besought him.
Isaiah 38:2, Hosea 12:4, Hebrews 5:7
mischief
3:8-15, 7:4
Verse 4

Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,
held out
4:11, 5:2
Verse 5

And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces:
and, if I
7:3, Exodus 33:13,16, 1 Samuel 20:29
I be pleasing
2:4,17
letters
Heb. device.
3:12,13
which he wrote
or, who wrote.
Verse 6

For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?
For how
Genesis 44:34, Jeremiah 4:19, 9:1, Luke 19:41,42, Romans 9:2,3, 10:1
endure to see
Heb. be able that I may see. the evil.
7:4, Nehemiah 2:3
Verse 7

Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.
Behold
1, Proverbs 13:22
him they have hanged
7:10, Galatians 3:13
Verse 8

Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.
in the king's name
3:12, 1 Kings 21:8
may no man reverse
No, not the king himself; and this was the reason that the king was forced not to reverse, but to give a contradictory decree; that if the Jews, pursuant to the first decree, were assaulted, they might legitimately, by virtue of the second, defend themselves, slay their enemies, and even take the spoil.
5, 1:19, Daniel 6:8,12-15, 2 Timothy 2:19, Hebrews 6:17,18
Verse 9

Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
the king's
3:12
and to the lieutenants
1:1,22, 3:12,13, Daniel 6:1
India
The Hebrew word Hoddo, in Syriac, Hendoo, and in Arabic, Hind, is rendered India by all the versions. India, or Hindostan, is a large country of the south of Asia, extending from north to south about 2,400 miles, and from east to west 1,800, between 8 degrees and 35 degrees N. lat. and 68 degrees and 92 degrees E. long.; being bounded on the west by the Indus, east by the Birman empire and Thibet, north by the Indian Caucasus, and south by the Indian Ocean. It is probable, however, that all the country east of the Indus was anciently called India.
and according
1:22, 3:12, 2 Kings 18:26, Daniel 4:1, 1 Corinthians 14:9-11
Verse 10

And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:
in the king
1 Kings 21:8, Ecclesiastes 8:4, Daniel 4:1
by posts
3:13, 2 Chronicles 30:6, Job 9:25, Jeremiah 51:21
mules
Rechesh, in Syriac, rechesha, probably denotes a swift horse.
camels
Achashteranim, from the Persian akhash, large, and aster, a mule, probably, as Bochart supposes, denotes a large mule.
young dromedaries
Beney harammachim, "the sons of mares," as the word ramakat denotes in Arabic; probably an expletive of the preceeding word.
Isaiah 60:6, 66:20, Jeremiah 2:23
Verse 11

Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
to gather
9:2-16
to destroy
Psalms 37:14,15, 68:3, 137:8, 146:6-9, Ezekiel 39:10
and to take the spoil
3:13, 9:10,15,16, Isaiah 10:6
Verse 12

Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
one day
9:1, Exodus 15:9,10, Judges 1:6,7
upon the thirteenth
3:13-15
Verse 13

The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
published
Heb. revealed. avenge themselves.
Judges 16:28, Psalms 37:14,15, 68:23, 92:10,11, 149:6-9, Luke 18:7, Revelation 6:10
Verse 14

So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.
being hastened
1 Samuel 21:8, Ecclesiastes 9:10
Shushan
1:2, 2:3, 3:15, Nehemiah 1:1, Daniel 8:2
Verse 15

And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
royal apparel
5:1, 6:8,11, Genesis 41:42, Matthew 6:29, 11:8, Luke 16:19
blue
or, violet.
1:6
and with a great crown
Mordecai was now made the chief minister, or vizier, instead of Haman; and was accordingly invested with the "royal apparel," in conformity to the custom of the East. So we are informed, in the History of the Revolt of Ali Bey, that on the election of a new sheikh bellet, or chief of the country, in Egypt, the pasha who approves of him invests him with a robe of valuable fur. Perhaps the crown was one of the insignia of the office of vizier. Concerning the blue, fine linen, and purple, see the Notes on Ex 25:4; 39:27.
the city
Haman was too proud to be popular: few lamented his fall.
3:15, Proverbs 29:2
Verse 16

The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
Jews
4:1-3,16, Psalms 30:5-11
had light
That is, prosperity and hope. The dark cloud which had so long hung over them was dispelled; and again the sunshine of prosperity beamed upon them.
9:17, Psalms 18:28, 97:11, Proverbs 4:18,19, 11:10, Isaiah 30:29,30, 35:10
Verse 17

And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
a feast
9:17,19,22, 1 Samuel 25:8, Nehemiah 8:10
many of the people
Psalms 18:43, Zechariah 8:20-23
for the fear
9:2, Genesis 35:5, Exodus 15:16, Deuteronomy 2:25, 11:25

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