Esther 8:15

15 And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a mantle of byssus and purple; and the city of Shushan shouted and was glad.

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 That the decree might be given in every province, a copy of the writing was published to all the peoples, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
14 The couriers mounted on coursers [and] horses of blood went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the fortress.
15 And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a mantle of byssus and purple; and the city of Shushan shouted and was glad.
16 The Jews had light, and joy, and gladness, and honour.
17 And in every province, and in every city, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.