Esther 8:10

_AND HE WROTE IN THE KING AHASUERUS' NAME, AND SEALED IT WITH THE KING'S RING, AND SENT LETTERS BY POSTS ON HORSEBACK, AND RIDERS ON MULES, CAMELS, AND YOUNG DROMEDARIES:_ Sent letters by posts on horseback, х_ BACUWCIYM_ (H5483)] - by horses. AND RIDERS ON MULES, х_ HAAREKESH_ (H7409)] - the steeds or coursers of a fleeter race than the former (Bochart, 'Hierozoicon,' 1:, p. 95). CAMELS, х_ HAA'ªCHASHTAARAANIYM_ (H327), mules; which meaning is further defined by _ BªNEEY_ (H1121) _ HAARAMAAKIYM_ (H7424), sons of mares. There is no waw (w), and, in the Hebrew text connecting this with the preceding word, as our translators have inserted]. The last word Rammac, which occurs here only in the

3-14 It was time to be earnest, when the church of God was at stake. Esther, though safe herself, fell down and begged for the deliverance of her people. We read of no tears when she begged for her own life, but although she was sure of that, she wept for her people. Tears of pity and tenderness are the most Christ-like. According to the constitution of the Persian government, no law or decree could be repealed or recalled. This is so far from speaking to the wisdom and honour of the Medes and Persians, that it clearly shows their pride and folly. This savours of that old presumption which ruined all, We will be as gods! It is God's prerogative not to repent, or to say what can never be altered or unsaid. Yet a way was found, by another decree, to authorize the Jews to stand upon their defence. The decree was published in the languages of all the provinces. Shall all the subjects of an...

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. The most likely derivation is that of _Bochart_, from the _Persian_ [Persian] _akhash, huge,_ _large, rough_, and [Persian] _aster_, a _mule_; large mules. The words בני הרמכים _beney harammachim, the sons of mares_, which we translate _dromedaries_, are supposed to signify _mules_, produced between the _he ass_ and the _mare_, to distinguish them from those produced between the _stallion_ and the _ass_, But there is really so much confusion about these

RIDERS ON MULES, CAMELS AND YOUNG DROMEDARIES - Most moderns translate “riders upon coursers and mules, the offspring of mares;” but the words translated “mules” and “mares,” are of very doubtful signification, since they scarcely occur elsewhere. The real meaning of the clause must remain doubtful; perhaps the true translation is, “riders upon coursers of the king’s stud, offspring of high-bred steeds.” So Esther 8:14....

EXPOSITION HAMAN'S HOUSE GIVEN TO ESTHER, AND THE KING'S SIGNET MADE OVER.TO MORDECAI (Esther 8:1, Esther 8:2). Two consequences followed immediately on Haman's execution. His property escheating to the crown, Ahasuerus made the whole of it over to Esther, either simply as a sign of favour, or in compensation of the alarm and suffering which Haman had caused her. Further, Haman's office being vacant, and Mordecai's close relationship to Esther having become known to the king, he transferred to Mordecai the confidence which he had been wont to repose in Haman, and gave him the custody of

AND HE WROTE IN THE KING AHASUERUS' NAME, AND SEALED IT WITH THE KING'S RING,.... Which gave the letters authority, and made them irreversible, and for this Mordecai had the king's order, Esther 8:8 AND SENT LETTERS BY POST; by runners or couriers: ON HORSEBACK; that rode on horses that were racers, that ran swiftly: AND RIDERS ON MULES, CAMELS, AND YOUNG DROMEDARIES; which were all different creatures, and swift ones, according to our version, especially the latter; see Jeremiah 2:23 which were a kind of camels, but swifter, and would go more than one hundred miles a day a; and, as Diodorus Siculus says b, not less than 1500 furlongs or about two hundred miles: though it may be only one sort are meant, namely, "mules", for the next word, "ahashteranim...

MORDECAI'S EXALTATION AND THE SECOND PROCLAMATION CHAPTER 8 _ 1. Mordecai's exaltation (Esther 8:1)_ 2. Esther's second petition (Esther 8:3) 3. The second proclamation (Esther 8:9) 4. The joy of the Jews (Esther 8:15) Esther 8:1. Esther the Queen receives from the king the possessions of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. Then she revealed what Mordecai was to her, her uncle and foster-father. The king had taken the signet-ring of authority from the hand of Haman. The same ring Mordecai received. Esther honoured her uncle by plac

ESTHER 8. THE KING DECREES THAT THE JEWS MAY DEFEND THEMSELVES. We come now to one of the most important parts of the tale. Esther has seen Haman pass out to death not, be it noted, at her request. Now, what does she seek further? Many have accused her of cruelty, her and her race. Not so the reality. She implores that the bloody decree be annulled (Esther 8:5), and thus, had she been heard, no blood at all would have been shed. But the Gentile mind is not of this kindly sort. Oh no. The king likes to see blood: he is a sportsman. No, no, Esther, the king answers, blood must flow. Ye Jews, defend yourselves. Fight! So they are forced to take arms, directly against their own mind. LXX gives a supposed form of the new royal order, fanciful, perhaps, but based on fact. Away out the fast posts speed, to order this anti-massaore ...

POSTS ON HORSEBACK. couriers on horseback. Haman's "posts" were runners on foot (Esther 3:13; Esther 3:15), hut speed was now essential. See Esther 9:1....

_riding on swift steeds_ As time was an object, it was important that the messengers should be well mounted. Both Herodotus (viii. 98) and Xenophon (_Cyrop_. viii. 6. 17) speak of _horses only_as being used in Persia to carry despatches. _that were used in the king's service_ This corresponds to but one word in the original, which occurs only in this passage, and is a Hebraised form adapted from the Persian _khshatra, lordship, realm_, or _khshatram, a crown_, which is also the source of _kether, a crown_(Esther 1:11; Esther 2:17; Esther 6:8), and of the Greek κίδαρις. _bred of the stud_ perhaps literally, _sons of the_(_royal) mares_. The word rendered -stud" occurs here only in