_ESTHER REQUESTING THAT THE LETTERS DEVISED BY HAMAN MIGHT BE REVERSED THE KING INFORMS HER, THAT NO MAN MAY REVERSE WHAT IS SEALED WITH THE KING'S SEAL; BUT HE GIVES LEAVE FOR OTHER LETTERS TO BE SIGNED WITH THE ROYAL SIGNET, PERMITTING THE JEWS TO DEFEND THEMSELVES, AND DESTROY THEIR ENEMIES._ _... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING TOOK OFF HIS RING—AND GAVE IT UNTO MORDECAI— That is, he made him the keeper of the royal signet, in the same manner as Haman had been before him.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE WROTE IN THE KING AHASUERUS' NAME, &C.— Josephus has given us a true copy, as he says, of this decree, or, as he terms it, of the letters which Artaxerxes sent to all the nations which lie between India and Ethiopia; wherein he represents the abuse which favourites are wont to make of their p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WITH A GREAT CROWN OF GOLD— The word _royal_ is not added here, as in the 8th verse of the sixth chapter; nor is the horse mentioned, as there, because no extraordinary honours are here spoken of, but only that honour and that habit which immediately belonged to the keeper of the royal signet. H... [ Continue Reading ]