CHAPTER VIII _Ahasuerus invests Mordecai with the offices and dignities_ _possessed by Haman_, 1, 2. _Esther begs that the decree of destruction gone out against the_ _Jews may be reversed_, 3-6. _He informs her that the acts that had once passed the kings seal_ _cannot be reversed; but he ins... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Esther 8:2. _THE KING TOOK OFF HIS RING_] In the _ring_ was the _seal_ of the king. _Giving the ring_ to Mordecai was tantamount to giving him the _seal of the kingdom_, and constituting him the same as _lord_ _chancellor_ among us.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Esther 8:6. _TO SEE THE DESTRUCTION OF MY KINDRED?_] She had now informed the king that she was cousin to Mordecai, and consequently a _Jewess_; and though her own life and that of Mordecai were no longer in danger, Haman being dead, yet the decree that had gone forth was in full force against... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Esther 8:8. _MAY NO MAN REVERSE._] Whatever had passed the royal signet could never be revoked; no _succeeding_ edict could destroy or repeal a _preceding_ one: but one of a similar nature to the _Jews_ against the _Persians_, as that to the _Persians_ was against the _Jews_, might be enacted,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Esther 8:9. _THE MONTH SIVAN_] This answers to a part of our _May_ and _June_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Esther 8:10. _ON MULES, CAMELS_, AND _YOUNG DROMEDARIES_] What these beasts were is difficult to say. The word רכש _rechesh_, which we translate _mules_, signifies a _swift chariot horse_. The strange word אחשתרנים _achashteranim_ is probably a _Persian_ word, but perhaps incurably corrupted.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Esther 8:11. _TO DESTROY, TO SLAY, AND TO CAUSE TO PERISH_] The same words as in Haman's decree: therefore the Jews had as much authority to slay their enemies, as their enemies had to slay them. _LITTLE ONES AND WOMEN_] This was the ordinary custom, to destroy the whole family of those convi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Esther 8:14. _THE DECREE WAS GIVEN AT SHUSHAN_] The contrary effect which it was to produce considered, this decree was in every respect like the former. See Esther 3:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Esther 8:15. _BLUE AND WHITE_] Probably stripe interchanged with stripe; or _blue_ faced and bordered with _white_ fur. _A GREAT CROWN OF GOLD_] A large _turban_, ornamented with gold, jewels, c. _FINE LINEN AND PURPLE_] See on Genesis 41:42. The בץ _buts_, here mentioned, is most probably t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Esther 8:17. _MANY - BECAME JEWS; FOR - FEAR_] These were a species of _converts_ not likely to bring much honour to true religion: but the sacred historian states the simple fact. They did profess Judaism for fear of the Jews, whether they continued steady in that faith or not. IT is only th... [ Continue Reading ]