Esther

Esther 8 ©

1 Esther having made known Mordecai's nearness of kin unto her, he is advanced in Haman's room. 3 Esther with tears beseecheth for the reversal of the letters gone forth against the Jews. 7 The king granteth authority to the Jews to stand upon their defence, and letters are issued out accordingly. 15 Mordecai's honours, and the joy of the Jews.

1

ON that day adid the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai bcame before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.

a Ps. 37.35,36. Job 27.16,17. Pr. 13.22; 20.21.
b ch. 1.14; 2.7,10,15,20.
2

And the king took off chis ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther dset Mordecai over the house of Haman.

c ch. 3.10.
d Job 27.16,17. Pr. 3.22; 20.21.
3

¶And Esther spake yet again before the king, and efell down at his feet, 1and besought him with tears to put away the fmischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.

e 1Sa. 25.24. 2Ki. 4.37. He. 5.7. Ne. 1.4. Is. 38.3.
f ch. 3.8-15; 7.4. Job 5.11-15.
4

Then the king gheld out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,

g ch. 4.11; 5.2.
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 hpleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse 2the letters 3devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, 4which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces:

h Pr. 5.19. ch. 2.17.
6

For how can I 5endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?

7

¶Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, iI have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.

i v.1. ch. 7.10.
8

Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, jin 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, kmay no man reverse.

j ch. 3.12.
k ch. 1.19. Da. 6.8,12,15.
9

Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the lthird month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded munto the Jews, and to nthe *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.

l ch. 3.12. Ps. 30.5,10. Je. 30.17.
m ch. 1.1,22; 3.12. 2Co. 7.6.
n Ezr. 8.36.
10

And he wrote oin the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on phorseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:

o ch. 3.12,13. Ec. 8.4. Da. 5.19.
p 1Sa. 21.8. Is. 60.6; 66.20. Je. 2.23.
11

Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and qto 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 rtake the spoil of them for a *prey,

q 1Ki. 20.22. Ps. 94.16. Ec. 9.5.
r ch. 9.10,15,16. De. 2.35. Jos. 11.14.
12

Upon sone day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

s ch. 3.13; 9.1. Ex. 15.9,10. Ju. 1.6,7. Mat. 7.2.
13

The tcopy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was 6published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to uavenge themselves on their enemies.

t ch. 3.14,15.
u Ps. 37.14,15; 92.7,9,11; 68.23. Pr. 11.8; 21.18.
14

So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being vhastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.

v ch. 3.15. 1Sa. 21.8. Ec. 9.10.
15

¶And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in wroyal *apparel of 7blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan xrejoiced and was glad.

w Mat. 11.8. Ge. 41.42. 1Sa. 2.30. Da. 5.29.
x ch. 3.15. Ps. 30.5,11. Pr. 29.2.
16

The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.

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 ya good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for zthe fear of the Jews fell upon them.

y ch. 9.19,22.
z ch. 9.2. De. 2.25.