Esther 8

Esther 8:1

That same day King Xerxes awarded Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai entered the king’s presence because Esther had revealed his relation to her.

Esther 8:1 · BSB

Esther 8:2

The king removed the signet ring he had recovered from Haman and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai over the estate of Haman.

Esther 8:2 · BSB

Esther 8:3

And once again, Esther addressed the king. She fell at his feet weeping and begged him to revoke the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews.

Esther 8:3 · BSB

Esther 8:4

The king extended the gold scepter toward Esther, and she arose and stood before the king.

Esther 8:4 · BSB

Esther 8:5

“If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if I have found favor in his sight, and the matter seems proper to the king, and I am pleasing in his sight, may an order be written to revoke the letters that the scheming Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces.

Esther 8:5 · BSB

which he wrote or , who wrote

Esther 8:6

For how could I bear to see the disaster that would befall my people? How could I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?”

Esther 8:6 · BSB

endure to see Heb. be able that I may see

Esther 8:7

So King Xerxes said to Esther the Queen and Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Haman’s estate to Esther, and he was hanged on the gallows because he attacked the Jews.

Esther 8:7 · BSB

Esther 8:8

Now you may write in the king’s name as you please regarding the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring. For a decree that is written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.”

Esther 8:8 · BSB

Esther 8:9

At once the royal scribes were summoned, and on the twenty-third day of the third month (the month of Sivan), they recorded all of Mordecai’s orders to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and princes of the 127 provinces from India to Cush—writing to each province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language.

Esther 8:9 · BSB

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.

Esther 8:10

Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes and sealed it with the royal signet ring. He sent the documents by mounted couriers riding on swift horses bred from the royal mares.

Esther 8:10 · BSB

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.

Esther 8:11

By these letters the king permitted the Jews in each and every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province hostile to them, including women and children, and to plunder their possessions.

Esther 8:11 · BSB

Esther 8:12

The single day appointed throughout all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

Esther 8:12 · BSB

Esther 8:13

A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

Esther 8:13 · BSB

published Heb. revealed

Esther 8:14

The couriers rode out in haste on their royal horses, pressed on by the command of the king. And the edict was also issued in the citadel of Susa.

Esther 8:14 · BSB

Esther 8:15

Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal garments of blue and white, with a large gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.

Esther 8:15 · BSB

Esther 8:16

For the Jews it was a time of light and gladness, of joy and honor.

Esther 8:16 · BSB

Esther 8:17

In every province and every city, wherever the king’s edict and decree reached, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many of the people of the land themselves became Jews, because the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.

Esther 8:17 · BSB