THE BOOK OF
ESTHER

Esther 8

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


1ON1 that day did the king Ahasuerus give 2the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai 3came before the king; for Esther 4had told 5what he was unto her.

1 Namely, when Haman was hanged.

2 Namely, with its appurtenances.

3 That is, he was excepted into the number of the princes, who daily came before the king, and might behold his face. See Esther 1:14.

4 Namely, to the king.

5 That is, how near of kin they were one to another. See Esther 2:7.

2And the king took off his ring, 6which he had taken from Haman, and 7gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

6 See Esther 3:10, and the annotation on Gen. 41:42.

7 Calling to mind what faithfulness Mordecai had shown to him, See Esther 6:2.

3¶And Esther 8spake yet again before the king, and fell down 9at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away 10the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.

8 Namely, when Haman was now hanged. See Esther 7:9.

9 Hebr. before the face of his feet.

10 That is, the edict concerning the destruction of the Jews, which was published by the advice and wicked suggestion of Haman.

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

11 Intimating thereby his grace and favor toward her. See Esther 4:11; 5:2. It seems that the king did likewise indicate to Esther that she should rise up and tell what her desire was.

5And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and 12the thing seem right 13before the king, and I be 14pleasing in his eyes, 15let it be written to reverse the letters 16devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces:

12 Or, this word.

13 Hebr. before the face of the king.

14 Hebr. good.

15 Namely, to the princes and chief commanders.

16 That is, the wicked plot of Haman. See verse 3.

6For 17how can I endure to see the evil that shall 18come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?

17 Hebr. how shall I be able to see into the evil, and so later again. As if she had said: I shall not be able to see it for grief of heart.

18 Hebr. find.

7¶Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther 19the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon 20the gallows, because he 21laid his hand upon the Jews.

19 See verses 1 and 2.

20 Namely, on the gallows which he had caused to be set up to hang thereon Mordecai.

21 That is, intended to lay his hand. The will is here taken for the deed.

822Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, 23in the king's name, and seal it 24with the king’s ring: 25for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king’s ring, 26may no man reverse.

22 Namely, to the rulers and to the princes of the provinces.

23 That is, in my name.

24 That is, with my ring.

25 Other, but.

26 Compare Dan. 6:8, 12, 15.

9Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, 27the 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 28lieutenants,a and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are 29from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, 30unto every province according to the writing thereof, 31and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.

27 This month agrees partly with our May, and partly with our June.

28 As Esther 3:12.

a provincial rulers

29 See Esther 1:1.

30 Hebr. province and province.

31 Hebr. people and people.

10And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on 32horseback, and riders on mules, 33camels, and 34young dromedaries:

32 Hebr. of runners on horses.

33 Or, upon dromedaries, a kind of very swift camels. See 1 Kings 4:28.

34 Other, (namely) the king’s messengers, that were born of post messengers. It seems that the post office was entailed from the parents upon the children. Other, upon mules engendered of mares.

11Wherein the king 35granted the Jews which were 36in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand 37for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that 38would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take 39the spoil of them for a prey,

35 Hebr. gave, that is, permitted, as Psalm 16:10.

36 Hebr. in every city and city, also likewise verse 17.

37 That is, to defend their life, and to fight for their life, as Psalm 94:16.

38 Or, should in hostile manner assault them.

39 That is, to take and plunder their goods, which were given to the Jews for a prey. See Esther 3:13.

1240Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is 41the month Adar.

40 Namely, on the same day on which Haman had purposed to destroy the Jews. See Esther 3:13.

41 See Esther 3:7.

13The 42copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be 43ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

42 Or, contents.

43 Or, prepared and armed.

14So 44the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree 45was given at Shushan the palace.

44 Namely, the royal posts. See verse 10.

45 That is, put up or published.

15¶And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with 46a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and 47the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

46 As great lords among the Persians were wont to wear.

47 Understand here mainly the Jews who were at Shushan; yet not only them, but also several among the Persians and among the Medes who took no delight in the abominable cruelty and bloodshed intended by Haman.

16The Jews had 48light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.

48 As the light of the sun clears the eyes of men and enlightens, quickens and rejoices their heart, so did that edict of the king enlighten, quicken and rejoice the hearts of the Jews. See Job 18 on verses 5 and 6; Psalm 27:1.

17And 49in 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 50good day. And many 51of the people of the land 52became Jews; for 53the fear of the Jews fell upon them.

49 Hebr. in every province and province, and in every city and city.

50 Or, and joyful days. Hebr. good.

51 That is, from the common people.

52 That is, they embraced the religion of the Jews, causing themselves to be circumcised, and they adjoined themselves unto the Jews, and so became proselytes.

53 That is, they were afraid of the Jews.