Esther 8)
1 On that day (contrast with "On that night", 6:1) did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Judea's enemy (see 3:10) to Esther the queen.
And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was to her.
2 And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai (note how God honored godly Israeli's in foreign courts: Joseph to Pharaoh; Moses the heir to the throne of Egypt; Daniel next to Darius in Babylon; Mordecai next to Astyages in Shushan). And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman. (Wonderful retribution.)
3 And Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Judeans. (i.e. Judah)
4 Then the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,
5 And said, "If it please the king, and if I have favor in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Judeans which are in all the king's provinces:
6 For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come to my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?"
N w 7-. The king.
x y -7. Grant to Esther.
z a 8. The writing. Commanded.
b 9,10. The writing. Written.
x y 11,12. Grant to Esther's People.
z b 13. The writing. Copied.
a 14. The writing. Dispatched.
w 15-17. The king.
7 Then the king Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Judean,
"Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the tree, because he laid his hand upon the Judeans.
8 Write you also for the Judeans, as it pleases you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse." (But in 3:12)
June 11th, 461 B.C.
9 Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the twenty-third day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai charged the Judeans, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, a hundred twenty and seven provinces, to every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, and to the Judeans according to their writing, and according to their language.
10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries: (Haman's couriers were runners on foot [3:13,15], but speed was now essential. See 9:1)
11 Wherein the king granted the Judeans which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for themselves, to destroy, to slay and to cause to perish, all the force of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones (these were spared, not withstanding) and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
March 5th, 461 B.C.
12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (see 3:12), which is the month Adar.
13 The copy of the writing for an imperial decree to be given in every province was published to all the peoples, and that the Judeans should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
14 So the couriers that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's word. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.
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 garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
16 The Judeans (i.e of the tribe of Judah) had light, and gladness, and joy, and honor.
17 And in every province, and in every city, wheresoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Judeans had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land made common cause with the Judeans; for the fear of the Judeans fell upon them.