Esther 8:9

_THEN WERE THE KING'S SCRIBES CALLED AT THAT TIME IN THE THIRD MONTH, THAT IS, THE MONTH SIVAN, ON THE THREE AND TWENTIETH DAY THEREOF; AND IT WAS WRITTEN ACCORDING TO ALL THAT MORDECAI COMMANDED UNTO THE JEWS, AND TO THE LIEUTENANTS, AND THE DEPUTIES AND RULERS OF THE PROVINCES WHICH ARE FROM INDIA UNTO ETHIOPIA, AN HUNDRED TWENTY AND SEVEN PROVINCES,CCORDING TO THEIR LANGUAGE._ It was written ... to the lieutenants, х_ HAA'ªCHASHDARPªNIYM_ (H323)] - the satraps (see the notes at Esther 3:12; Ezra 8:36). AND THE DEPUTIES, х_ WªHAPACHOWT_ (H6346)] - and the prefects or governors of parts of provinces. AND RULERS OF THE PROVINCES, х_ WªSAAREEY_ ...

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 According to the constitution of the Persian government, no law or decree could be repealed or recalled.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 8:9. _THE MONTH SIVAN_] This answers to a part of our _May_ and _June_....

Sivan corresponds nearly to our June; it was the second month from the issue of the first edict Esther 3:12....

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

THEN WERE THE KING'S SCRIBES CALLED AT THAT TIME,.... As they were to write the former letter, Esther 3:12, IN THE THIRD MONTH, THAT IS THE MONTH SIVAN, ON THE THREE AND TWENTIETH DAY THEREOF; which answers to part of May, and part of June. This was two months and ten days after the writing of the former letters; so long the Jews had been in distress by reason of them, and was a just rebuke upon them for not returning to their own land when they might, as well as for other sins: AND IT WAS WRITTEN ACCORDING TO ALL THAT MORDECAI COMMANDED TO THE JEWS. Mordecai dictated to the scribes, and ordered what they should write; and which were sent to the Jews in the first place, partly to ease them of their present distress, and partly that they might prepare against that time for their defence, for which they had sufficient time, it being now more than nine month

THIRD MONTH That is, June....

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 ...

COMMANDED UNTO. charged. Hebrew. _zavah._ See note on "law", Esther 3:2....