Bible Commentaries

Mordecai is advanced over the house of Haman, Esther 8:1,2. Esther maketh a petition to the king to reverse Haman’s letters, Esther 8:3-6. Ahasuerus granteth to Esther and Mordecai, Esther 8:7, to write to the Jews to defend themselves, Esther 8:8. Mordecai’s letters in the king’s name to defend themselves and destroy their assailants, Esther 8:9-14. Mordecai’s honour, and the Jews’ joy, Esther 8:15-17.

The house of Haman, with all his goods and estate, which being justly forfeited to the king, he no less justly bestows it upon the queen, to compensate the danger to which Haman had exposed her.

Mordecai came before the king, i.e. was by the queen’s desire admitted into the king’s presence, and favour, and family, and, as it seems, made one of the seven princes.

What he was unto her, i.e. how nearly he was related to her; which till this time she had wisely concealed, this being the fit season to declare it.

The king took off his ring; that ring which he had formerly given to Haman for that present or any further use, Esther 3:10, he now gives to Mordecai, and with it that power and authority whereof this ring was a sign, making him, as Haman had been, the keeper of his signet.

Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman; as her steward, to manage that great estate for her as he thought fittest.

To put away the mischief of Haman; to repeal that cruel decree, of which see Esther 3:13.

The king held out the golden sceptre; in token that he accepted her person and petition, and that she should stand upon her feet.

She useth various expressions, that she might insinuate herself into the king’s favour, by such a full and repeated resignation and submission of herself to the king’s good pleasure.

To reverse the letters devised by Haman; she prudently takes off all the envy and hatefulness of the action from the king, and lays it upon Haman, who had for his own wicked and selfish ends contrived the whole business, and circumvented the king in it; which she allegeth as a reason why it should be repealed, because it was surreptitiously and craftily procured.

My heart will sink under it, and I shall never be able to survive it.

You see how ready I have been to grant your requests, and I do not repent of my favour to you, and am ready to grant your further desires, as far as the law will permit me to do.

For the Jews; on their behalf, to the governors and commanders of the king’s forces, or to whom you please.

Seal it with the king’s ring; I offer you my authority and seal to confirm whatsoever you shall think fit to write.

For the writing which is written in the king’ s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse: this reason may belong either,

1. To the writing of these present letters; and so the sense is, These letters will be most effectual, being no less irrevocable than the former, and coming last will repeal the former. Or,

2. To the former letters, as a reason why he could not grant their desires in recalling them, because they were irrevocable by the law of the Medes and Persians. And this sense, though rejected by many, seems to be the truest, because here is no mention of reversing Haman’s letters, which Esther had desired, Esther 8:5, and the king denied for the reason here alleged; and because the following letter doth not contain one word about the reversing of the former, nor doth it take away that power which was given to all rulers to destroy all the Jews, Esther 3:12,13, but only gives the Jews power and authority to stand up in their own defence, Esther 8:11, which, all circumstances considered, was sufficient for their preservation.