Bible Commentaries
Esther 8

Introduction

Overview

Esther 8:1, Mordecai is advanced; Esther 8:3, Esther makes suit to reverse Haman’s letters; Esther 8:7, Ahasuerus grants to the Jews to defend themselves; Esther 8:15, Mordecai’s honour, and the Jews’ joy.

Verse 1

give the house: Job 27:16, Job 27:17, Psalms 39:6, Psalms 49:6-13, Proverbs 13:22, Proverbs 28:8, Ecclesiastes 2:18, Ecclesiastes 2:19, Luke 12:20

came before: Esther 1:14, Esther 2:7, Esther 2:15

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:9 - General Esther 8:7 - Behold Esther 9:25 - when Esther came Psalms 37:10 - thou Isaiah 49:23 - kings

Verse 2

his ring: Esther 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, Ecclesiastes 2:19-26, Ecclesiastes 5:13, Ecclesiastes 5:14, Daniel 2:48

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:9 - General Esther 3:12 - sealed Isaiah 22:21 - clothe Luke 12:20 - then James 2:2 - gold

Verse 3

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: Esther 3:8-15, Esther 7:4

Reciprocal: Proverbs 31:26 - openeth Ezekiel 11:2 - General Daniel 6:8 - according

Verse 4

held out: Esther 4:11, Esther 5:2

Verse 5

if I: Esther 7:3, Exodus 33:13, Exodus 33:16, 1 Samuel 20:29

I be pleasing: Esther 2:4, Esther 2:17

letters: Heb. device, Esther 3:12, Esther 3:13

which he wrote: or, who wrote

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 13:4 - the thing Nehemiah 2:5 - If it please Esther 1:19 - it please the king Esther 8:8 - may no man reverse Esther 9:3 - the fear Proverbs 18:13 - that

Verse 6

For how: Genesis 44:34, Jeremiah 4:19, Jeremiah 9:1, Luke 19:41, Luke 19:42, Romans 9:2, Romans 9:3, Romans 10:1

endure to see: Heb. be able that I may see

the evil: Esther 7:4, Nehemiah 2:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:16 - Let Joshua 2:12 - that ye will Joshua 2:18 - thy father Esther 4:8 - request Jeremiah 39:6 - before

Verse 7

Behold: Esther 8:1, Proverbs 13:22

him they have hanged: Esther 7:10, Galatians 3:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 49:28 - the twelve Psalms 14:5 - were Jeremiah 38:10 - the king

Verse 8

in the king's name: Esther 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. Esther 8:5, Esther 1:19, Daniel 6:8, Daniel 6:12-15, 2 Timothy 2:19, Hebrews 6:17, Hebrews 6:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 41:42 - his ring 2 Chronicles 30:5 - established Esther 3:10 - took Daniel 6:15 - Know Colossians 2:14 - the handwriting

Verse 9

the king's: Esther 3:12

and to the lieutenants: Esther 1:1, Esther 1:22, Esther 3:12, Esther 3:13, 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: Esther 1:22, Esther 3:12, 2 Kings 18:26, Daniel 4:1, 1 Corinthians 14:9-11

Reciprocal: Genesis 49:28 - the twelve 2 Chronicles 15:10 - the third month Ezra 2:1 - the children Esther 2:16 - the tenth month Esther 9:3 - the rulers Esther 9:17 - of the same Esther 9:20 - in all the provinces Esther 9:30 - the hundred Esther 10:1 - laid a tribute Daniel 3:4 - O people Daniel 6:25 - king Acts 23:34 - he asked

Verse 10

in the king: 1 Kings 21:8, Ecclesiastes 8:4, Daniel 4:1

by posts: Esther 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, Isaiah 66:20, Jeremiah 2:23

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:61 - they rode Genesis 41:42 - his ring 1 Kings 4:28 - dromedaries 1 Kings 10:25 - and mules 2 Chronicles 30:10 - the posts Esther 3:12 - sealed Esther 9:29 - confirm Jeremiah 51:31 - post Daniel 6:8 - establish

Verse 11

to gather: Esther 9:2-16

to destroy: Psalms 37:14, Psalms 37:15, Psalms 68:3, Psalms 137:8, Psalms 146:6-9, Ezekiel 39:10

and to take the spoil: Esther 3:13, Esther 9:10, Esther 9:15, Esther 9:16, Isaiah 10:6

Reciprocal: Genesis 49:28 - the twelve Esther 7:4 - to be destroyed Esther 9:13 - according unto Proverbs 25:5 - away Jeremiah 25:10 - take from Jeremiah 48:4 - her

Verse 12

one day: Esther 9:1, Exodus 15:9, Exodus 15:10, Judges 1:6, Judges 1:7

upon the thirteenth: Esther 3:13-15

Reciprocal: Ezra 6:15 - Adar Isaiah 3:21 - rings Acts 23:24 - beasts

Verse 13

published: Heb. revealed

avenge themselves: Judges 16:28, Psalms 37:14, Psalms 37:15, Psalms 68:23, Psalms 92:10, Psalms 92:11, Psalms 149:6-9, Luke 18:7, Revelation 6:10

Reciprocal: Joshua 10:13 - until Esther 3:14 - The copy

Verse 14

being hastened: 1 Samuel 21:8, Ecclesiastes 9:10

Shushan: Esther 1:2, Esther 2:3, Esther 3:15, Nehemiah 1:1, Daniel 8:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:61 - they rode 1 Kings 4:28 - dromedaries 1 Kings 10:25 - and mules 2 Chronicles 30:6 - the posts went 2 Chronicles 30:10 - the posts Ezra 6:12 - I Darius Esther 3:13 - by posts Esther 3:14 - The copy Job 9:25 - swifter Jeremiah 51:31 - post

Verse 15

royal apparel: Esther 5:1, Esther 6:8, Esther 6:11, Genesis 41:42, Matthew 6:29, Matthew 11:8, Luke 16:19

blue: or, violet, Esther 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 note on Exodus 25:4, and see note on Exodus 39:27.

the city: Haman was too proud to be popular: few lamented his fall. Esther 3:15, Proverbs 29:2

Reciprocal: Judges 8:26 - purple 2 Kings 25:29 - changed Esther 10:2 - advanced him Psalms 67:2 - That Psalms 107:41 - setteth Proverbs 11:10 - it goeth Proverbs 28:12 - righteous Proverbs 31:22 - clothing Ecclesiastes 9:8 - thy garments Isaiah 22:21 - clothe Isaiah 61:3 - beauty Daniel 8:2 - Shushan Luke 7:25 - are in Revelation 3:4 - walk Revelation 4:4 - crowns

Verse 16

Jews: Esther 4:1-3, Esther 4:16, 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. Esther 9:17, Psalms 18:28, Psalms 97:11, Proverbs 4:18, Proverbs 4:19, Proverbs 11:10, Isaiah 30:29, Isaiah 30:30, Isaiah 35:10

Reciprocal: Psalms 34:5 - and were Psalms 118:27 - showed Jeremiah 2:23 - thou art a swift Acts 9:31 - were multiplied

Verse 17

a feast: Esther 9:17, Esther 9:19, Esther 9:22, 1 Samuel 25:8, Nehemiah 8:10

many of the people: Psalms 18:43, Zechariah 8:20-23

for the fear: Esther 9:2, Genesis 35:5, Exodus 15:16, Deuteronomy 2:25, Deuteronomy 11:25

Reciprocal: Joshua 9:11 - our elders Esther 9:27 - all such Proverbs 28:28 - they perish Isaiah 14:1 - the strangers Isaiah 45:14 - they shall fall Jeremiah 33:9 - fear Zechariah 8:19 - joy Zechariah 10:9 - sow Matthew 23:15 - proselyte Acts 2:10 - Jews Acts 2:43 - fear Acts 9:31 - were multiplied Revelation 3:9 - I will make them to