Esther 8:5

_AND SAID, IF IT PLEASE THE KING, AND IF I HAVE FOUND FAVOUR IN HIS SIGHT, AND THE THING SEEM RIGHT BEFORE THE KING, AND I BE PLEASING IN HIS EYES, LET IT BE WRITTEN TO REVERSE THE LETTERS DEVISED BY HAMAN THE SON OF HAMMEDATHA THE AGAGITE, WHICH HE WROTE TO DESTROY THE JEWS WHICH ARE IN ALL THE KING'S PROVINCES:_ Reverse the letters devised by Haman ... to destroy the Jews. The whole conduct of Esther in this matter is characterized by great tact; and the variety of expressions by which she describes her willing submission to her royal husband, the address with which she rolls the whole infamy of the meditated massacre on Haman, and the argument she draws, from the king's sanction being surreptitiously obtained, that the decree should be immediately reversed-all indicate the queen's wisdom and skill; and she succeeded in this point also....

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 According to the constitution of the Persian government, no law or decree could be repealed or recalled.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...

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 SAID, IF IT PLEASE THE KING, AND IF I HAVE FOUND FAVOUR IN HIS SIGHT, AND THE THING SEEM RIGHT BEFORE THE KING, AND I BE PLEASING IN HIS EYES,.... This heap of phrases, which signify much the same thing, are used to work upon the king's affections, and to show how submissive she was to his will: LET IT BE WRITTEN TO REVERSE THE LETTERS DEVISED BY HAMAN THE SON OF HAMMEDATHA, THE AGAGITE, WHICH HE WROTE TO DESTROY THE JEWS WHICH ARE IN ALL THE KING'S PROVINCES. She wisely takes no notice of any concern the king had in them, but suggests as that she looked upon them as forged by Haman, who put the king's name and seal to them, without his knowledge and consent....

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 ...

IF IT PLEASE THE KING. Note the _Alternation_ in this verse: The king. "If it please the king. "Esther. "And if. have found favour. "The king. "And... before the king. "Esther. "And. be pleasing in his eyes. " THE JEWS. Some codices, with Aram, and Syriac, read "all the Jews"....

_If it please etc._ The long preface to the definite request shews some doubt on Esther's part whether it will be granted. _to reverse the letters devised by Haman … which he wrote_ She is careful to represent it as the work of Haman and not of the king. The latter however points out in reply that what has received the authority of the king's seal -may no man reverse." The most that can now be done is to address to all concerned (intended victims and governors alike) letters equally authoritative, which shall have the effect of neutralising, so far as may be possible, those which have already gone forth. That the king's sympathies are now wholly on the side of the Jews he emphasizes in Esther 8:7....

B. Monarch's Reparation TEXT: Esther 8:3-8 3 And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. 4 Then the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose, and stood before the king. 5 And she said, If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews that are in all the king's provinces: 6 for how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred? 7 Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen a

THE JEWS ARE SAVED 1. Did.. of Haman] The property of Haman, after his execution, was confiscated to the use of the king, to be disposed of as he thought fit....