Esther 8

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8:1 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.
8:2 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.
8:3 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.
8:4 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king, 8:5 And said, If it please the king, and if I have 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: 8:6 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? 8:7 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.
8:8 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.
8:9 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.
8:10 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: 8:11 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, 8:12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
8:13 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.
8:14 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.
8:15 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.
8:16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
8:17 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.


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Everything King James Bible:Esther

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Esther
Book: Esther
Chapter: 8

Overview:
Mordecai is advanced. (1,2) Esther makes suit for the Jews.
(3-14) Mordecai honoured, The joy of the Jews. (15-17)

1,2 What Haman would have done mischief with, Esther will do
good with. All the trust the King had reposed in Haman, he now
placed in Mordecai: a happy change. See the vanity of laying up
treasure upon Earth; he that heapeth up riches, knoweth not who
shall gather them. With what little pleasure, nay, with what
constant vexation, would Haman have looked upon his estate, if
he could have foreseen that Mordecai, the Man he hated above all
men in the world, should have rule over all that wherein he had
laboured! It is our interest to make sure of those riches which
will not be left behind, but which will go with us to another
world.

3-14 It was time to be Earnest, when the Church of God was at
stake. Esther, though safe herself, fell down and begged for the
deliverance of her people. We read of No tears when she begged
for her own Life, but although she was sure of that, she wept
for her people. Tears of pity and tenderness are the most
Christ-like. According to the constitution of the Persian
government, No Law or decree could be repealed or recalled. This
is So far from speaking to the Wisdom and honour of the Medes
and Persians, that it clearly shows their pride and folly. This
savours of that old presumption which ruined all, We will be as
gods! It is God's prerogative not to repent, or to say what can
never be altered or unsaid. Yet a way was found, By another
decree, to authorize the Jews to stand upon their defence. The
decree was published in the languages of all the provinces.
Shall all the subjects of an earthly Prince have his decrees in
languages they understand, and shall God's oracles and laws be
locked up from any of his servants in an unknown tongue?

15-17 Mordecai's robes now were rich. These things are not
worth notice, but as marks of the King's favour, and the Fruit
of God's favour to his Church. It is Well with a land, when
ensigns of dignity are made the ornaments of serious Piety. When
the Church prospers, many will join it, who will be shy of it
when in trouble. When believers have Rest, and walk in the fear
of the Lord, and the comfort of the Holy Ghost, they will be
multiplied. And the attempts of Satan to destroy the Church,
always tend to increase the number of true Christians.