Esther 8:15

15 Mardochaeus autem de palatio, et de conspectu regis egrediens, fulgebat vestibus regiis, hyacinthinis videlicet et aeriis, coronam auream portans in capite, et amictus serico pallio atque purpureo. Omnisque civitas exultavit, atque laetata est.

Esther 8:15 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 8:15

And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king
And walked or rode about in the city to show himself to his friends:

in royal apparel of blue and white;
such as the Persian kings wore, and were not allowed to any other, as Xenophon writes F7:

and with a great crown of gold;
a coronet, such as princes and nobles wear; the latter Targum calls it a great golden chain, and such the eastern kings used to give to their favourites; see ( Daniel 5:29 ) ,

and with a garment of fine linen and purple;
this must be an inner garment, since it is distinct from the royal robe before mentioned; though as the word signifies a wrap, or roll, it may design a turban, which was a roll of linen wrapped about the head; and such was the Persian diadem, according to Curtius F8, which was of a purple colour, mixed with white; and so the Septuagint version is, "and a diadem of fine linen, of a purple colour"; and if so, the crown of gold was not worn on his head, nor is it likely it should be allowed, but was carried before him, (See Gill on Esther 6:8),

and the city of Shushan rejoiced, and was glad;
not only the Jews in it, but the native inhabitants of it, that had any sense of humanity, expressed their joy at the sight of Mordecai thus arrayed; that so good a man was advanced at court, and so bad a man as Haman was displaced and put to death; see ( Proverbs 29:2 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F7 Cyropaedia, l. 8. c. 23.
F8 Hist. l. 3. c. 3. & l. 6. c. 6. Vid. Solerium de Pileo, sect. 9.

Esther 8:15 In-Context

13 Summaque epistolae haec fuit, ut in omnibus terris ac populis, qui regis Assueri subiacebant imperio, notum fieret, paratos esse Iudaeos ad capiendam vindictam de hostibus suis.
14 Egressique sunt veredarii celeres nuncia perferentes, et edictum regis pependit in Susan.
15 Mardochaeus autem de palatio, et de conspectu regis egrediens, fulgebat vestibus regiis, hyacinthinis videlicet et aeriis, coronam auream portans in capite, et amictus serico pallio atque purpureo. Omnisque civitas exultavit, atque laetata est.
16 Iudaeis autem nova lux oriri visa est, gaudium, honor, et tripudium.
17 Apud omnes populos, urbes, atque provincias, quocumque regis iussa veniebant, mira exultatio, epulae atque convivia, et festus dies: in tantum ut plures alterius gentis et sectae eorum religioni et ceremoniis iungerentur. Grandis enim cunctos Iudaici nominis terror invaserat.
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.