Esther 8

The king giveth Hamans house unto Esther, vers.1, &c. Mordechai cometh before the king, who giveth him the ring, which he had formerly given to Haman, 2. Esther the Queen petitioned the king again, that Hamans wicked design against the Jews may be yet further frustrated, 3. She findeth favour with the king, 4. And maketh further request unto him,5. The king granteth her what so ever she desireth, 7. And the same is written unto the Governors in Privinces, 9. It is sent in the kings name by posts in all places, 10. The sum of the decree, 11. Mordechai’s glory and honour, 15. Great joy is among the Jews, and may nations join themselves to the Jews, 17.

1. On that day [To wit, when Haman was hanged] did the king Ahasueros give the house of Haman, [to wit, with its appurtenances] the Jews Enemy, unto Esther the Queen: And Mordechai came before face of the king, [that is, he was assumed in to the number of the Princes, that daily came before the King, and might behold his face. See above chap.1.14.] for Esther had made known [to wit, to the King] what he was unto her. [that is, how near of kin they were one to another. See ch.2.7.]

2. And the king pluck off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, [See above chap.3.10. and the annotate. On Gen.41.42.] and gave it unto Mordechai: [calling to mind what faithfulness Mordechai had shewed unto him. See above chap.6.2.] and Esther set Mordechai over the house of Haman.

3. And Esther spake further before the face of the king, [To wit, when Haman was hanged] and she fell (down) before his feet: [Hebr. before the face of his feet] and she wept, and she besought him, to put away the malice of Haman the Agagite [that is, the decree concerning the destroying of the Jews, which was published by the advice and wicked motion of Haman] and his device, that he had devised against the Jews.

4. Now the king reached forth the golden sceptre towards Esther: [Intimating thereby, his grace and favour toward her. See above cha.4.1. and 5.2.] then Esther rose up, and she stood before the face of the king, [it seemeth that the king did likewise intimate unto Esther, that she should rise up, and tell what her desire was.]

5. And she said, if it seem good unto the king, and if I have found grace before his face, and this thing [Or, this word] be right before the king, [Hebr. before the face of the king] and I be acceptable [Hebr. good] in his eyes: Let it be written, [to wit, to the Princes and chief Commanders] that the letters and the device of Haman, [that is, the wicked plot of Haman. See verse 3.] the son of Hamedatha the Agagite, may be reversed, which he wrote, to destroy the Jews, which are in all the kings countries.

6. For how shall I be able to see the evil [Hebr. how shall I be able to see into the evil; and so forthwith again. As if she had said, I shall not be able to see it for grief of heart] that shall hit [Hebr. find] my people? And how shall I be able to see the destruction of my kindred?

7. Then the king Ahasueros said unto Esther the Queen and to Mordechai the Jew; behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, [See above v.1. and v.2.] and him they have hanged upon the gallowes, [to wit, on the gallowes which he had caused to be set up, to hang Mordechai thereon] because he had laid his hand [that is, intended to lay his hand: the will is here taken for the deed] upon the Jews.

8. Write ye then [To wit, unto the Rulers, and to the Princes of the countries] for the Jews, so as it is good in your eyes, in the kings name, [that is, in my name] and sealt it with the kings ring: [that is, with my ring] for [oth. but] the writing which is writ in the kings name, and sealed with the kings ring, is not to be reversed. [compare Dan.6.8,12,15.]

9. Then were the kings Scribes called at that time in the third month (it is the month Sivan) [This month agreeth partly with our May, and partly with our June] on the three and twentieth (day) thereof, and there was written, according to as all that Mordechai commanded, unto the Jews, and to the Lieutenants, and Governors of the Countries, [as above Chapter 3. Verse 12.] which (reach) from India unto Ethiopia, [see above chapter 1.1.] an hundred and seven and twenty countries, every country [Hebr. country and country] according to the writing thereof, and every people [Hebr. people and people] after their language: Also unto the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.

10. And they wrote in the king Ahasuerus name, and they sealed it with the kings ring, and they sent the letters by the hand of Runners on horseback, [Hebr. of Runners oh horses] riding upon swift camels, [or, upon Dromedaries, a kind of very swift Camels. See 1 Kings 4:28.] upon mules engedred of mares: [oth. (namely) the kings messengers; that were born, or, begotten of post-messengers. It seemeth that the post-office was entailed from the parents upon the children.]

11. That the king permitted [Hebr. gave, or, granted; that is, permitted, or, suffered, as Psal.16.10.] the Jews, that were in every city, [Hebr. in all (or every) city and city: so also verse 17.] to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, [that is, to defend their lives, and to fight for their lives, as Psalms 94:16.] to destroy, to kill, and to cut off all the power of the people of the country, that should distress them, [or, should in hostile manner assault them] and the little children, and the women: and to spoil their spoil. [that is, to take and plunder their goods, which were given to the Jews for a prey. See above chapter 3. Verse 13.]

12. Upon one day in all the countries of king Ahasuerus, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, [To wit, on the same day, on which Haman had purposed destroy the Jews. See above chap.3.verse 13.] this is the month Adar. [see above chap.3.vers.7.]

13. The contents [Or, copy] of that writing was, that a Law should be given in all Countries, published to all nations: And that the Jews should be ready, [Or, prepared and armed] against that day, to avenge themselves on their Enemies.

14. The Runners [To wit, the Kings Posts. See vers.10.] that rode upon swift Camels, (and)_ upon mules, went swiftly out, being passed on by the word of the king; Now this law was given at the Castle of Susan.

15. And Mordechai went out from before the face of the king in skie-coloured and white royal apparel, and with a great golden Crown [As great Lords among the Persians were wont to wear] and with upper garment of fine linen, and purple: And the City of Susan [understanding here principally the Jews that were at Susan: But not only them, but also divers among the Persians, and among the Medes, that took no delight in the abominable cruelty and bloodshed intended by Haman] should for joy, and was glad.

16. Among the Jews was light [As the light of the sun cleareth the eyes of men, and enlighteneth, quickeneth, and rejoiceth their heart: So did that decree of the King enlighten, quiken, and rejoice the hearts of the Jews. See Job 18.on vers.5.6. and Psa.27.on vers.1.] and gladness, and joy, and honour.

17. Also in all and every country, and in all and every city, [hebr. in all (or every) country and country, and in all (or every) city and city] at the place where the kings word and his law came, there was joy and gladness with the Jews, feasts and cheerful [Hebr. good] days: And many of the people of the land [that is, of the common sort of people] became Jews, [that is, they embraced the Jewish Religion, causing themselves to be circumcised, and they adjoined themselves unto the Jews, and so became Proselytes] for the fear of the Jews was fallen upon them. [that is, they were afraid of the Jews.]