8:1 On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman
the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai a came
before the king; for Esther had told what he [was] b unto
her.
(a) That is, was received into the king's favour and
presence.
(b) That he was her uncle, and had brought her up.
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 c
mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had
devised against the Jews.
(c) Meaning, that he should abolish the wicked decrees,
which he had made for the destruction of the Jews.
8:4 Then the king held out the golden d sceptre toward Esther.
So Esther arose, and stood before the king,
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 e no man reverse.
(e) This was the law of the Medes and Persians, as in
(Da 6:15) nonetheless the king revoked the former
decree granted to Haman for Esther's sake.
8:9 Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the
third month, that [is], the month f 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 g
writing thereof, and unto every people after their language,
and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to
their language.
(f) Which contains part of May and part of June.
(g) That is, in such letters and languages as was usual in
every province.
8:11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which [were] in every
city to gather themselves together, and to stand for h
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,
(h) That is, to defend themselves against all who would
assail them.
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 i Adar.
(i) Which has part of February and part of March.
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 k avenge
themselves on their enemies.
(k) The king gave them permission to kill all who oppressed
them.
8:16 The Jews had light, and l gladness, and joy, and honour.
(l) He showed by the words that follow, what this light
was.
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 m became Jews; for the fear of the
Jews fell upon them.
