Esther 8:8-17

The King's Decree Avenges the Jews

8 "Now you write to the Jews as you see fit, in the king's name, and ¹seal it with the king's signet ring; for a decree which is written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's signet ring ²may not be revoked."

9 ³So the king's scribes were called at that time in the third month (that is, the month Sivan ), on the twenty-third * day; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, the satraps, the governors and the princes of the provinces which extended ⁴from India to Ethiopia, 127 * * provinces, to ⁵every province according to its script, and to every people according to their language as well as to the Jews according to their script and their language.

10 He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on ⁶horses, riding on steeds sired by the royal stud.

11 In them the king granted the Jews who were in each and every city the right ⁷to assemble and to defend their lives, ⁸to destroy, to kill and to annihilate the entire army of any people or province which might attack them, including children and women, and ⁹to plunder their spoil,

12 on ¹⁰one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, the thirteenth * day of the twelfth * month (that is, the month Adar ).

13 ¹¹A copy of the edict to be issued as law in each and every province was published to all the peoples, so that the Jews would be ready for this day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

14 The couriers, hastened and impelled by the king's command, went out, riding on the royal steeds; and the decree was given out at the citadel in Susa.

15 Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king ¹²in royal robes of blue and white, with a large crown of gold and ¹³a garment of fine linen and purple; and ¹⁴the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.

16 For the Jews there was ¹⁵light and gladness and joy and honor.

17 In each and every province and in each and every city, wherever * the king's commandment and his decree arrived, there was gladness and joy for the Jews, a feast and a ¹⁶holiday *. And ¹⁷many among the peoples of the land became Jews, for the dread of the Jews had fallen on them.

Esther 8:8-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ESTHER 8

This chapter relates the gifts Ahasuerus gave to Esther and Mordecai, Es 8:1,2, the suit Esther made to him to reverse the letters for the destruction of the Jews, Es 8:3-6, which, though it could not be formally granted, was in effect done by letters sent to the Jews, giving them power to rise in their own defence, and slay their enemies, Es 8:7-14, the consequence of which, and the advancement of Mordecai, were matter of great joy to the Jews, Es 8:15-17.

Cross References

• 1. Esther 3:12; Esther 8:10
• 2. Esther 1:19
• 3. Esther 3:12
• 4. Esther 1:1
• 5. Esther 1:22; Esther 3:12
• 6. 1 Kings 4:28
• 7. Esther 9:2
• 8. Esther 3:13
• 9. Esther 9:10
• 10. Esther 3:13; Esther 9:1
• 11. Esther 3:14
• 12. Esther 5:11
• 13. Genesis 41:42
• 14. Esther 3:15
• 15. Psalms 97:11; Psalms 112:4
• 16. Esther 9:19
• 17. Esther 9:27

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "according to the good in your eyes"
• [b]. Lit "in it"
• [c]. Lit "Cush"
• [d]. Lit "Which"
• [e]. Lit "given"
• [f]. Or "violet"
• [g]. Lit "good day"