Esther 8:8

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."

Esther 8:8 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 8:8

Write ye also for the Jews as it liketh you
Whatever may be thought fit and proper for their safety and security:

in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring;
as the former letters were:

for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with
the king's ring, may no man reverse;
which is a reason both for the writing and sealing of the present letters in this manner, and why the former could not be reversed; nor does it appear that they were, but that, in virtue of them, the people had power to rise and kill the Jews on the day appointed, if they dared, or were so disposed; and these empowered the Jews to rise in their own defence, and kill all that made any attempts upon them, for which they had the royal authority; and these letters coming after the other, though they did not formally reverse them, which might not be done, yet rendered them ineffectual.

Esther 8:8 In-Context

6 "For how can I endure to see the calamity which will befall my people, and how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?"
7 So King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, "Behold, I have given the house of Haman to Esther, and him they have hanged on the gallows because he had stretched out his hands against the Jews.
8 "Now you write to the Jews as you see fit, in the king's name, and seal 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 may not be revoked."
9 So 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 from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to every 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 horses, riding on steeds sired by the royal stud.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Esther 3:12; Esther 8:10
  • 2. Esther 1:19

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Lit "according to the good in your eyes"
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