Esther 8:17

a good day The expression, occurring also in Esther 9:19; Esther 9:22, is found elsewhere only in 1 Samuel 25:8.

became Jews The LXX. have, -were circumcised and became Jews." They became proselytes in order to secure themselves, in the face of the increased importance and position which the Jews were attaining through Mordecai. Owing, however, to the apparent improbability of a large number of actual proselytes to Judaism among the Persians an occurrence of which there is no record outside this passage it has been suggested that by a very slight change in one Heb. letter we should obtain the meaning, united themselves(to the Jews), i.e. took their side in the conflict. Cp. -joined themselves unto them" (Esther 9:27). It is however possible that the verb in the Hebrew [78] might mean, pretendedto become Jews.

[78] Being in the Hithpa-el voice.