Albert Barnes Commentary Esther 8
Albert Barnes Commentary
Esther 8
Albert Barnes Commentary
Esther 8
"On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews` enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her." — Esther 8:1 (ASV)
Give the house of Haman—Confiscation of goods accompanied public execution in Persia as in other Eastern countries.
"And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman." — Esther 8:2 (ASV)
His ring - that is the royal signet by which the decrees of the government were signed.
Over the house of Haman - Not only the building and the furniture, but the household – the vast train of attendants of all kinds that was attached to the residence of a Persian noble.
"And Esther spake 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 Jews." — Esther 8:3 (ASV)
Though Haman was dead, his work was not yet undone. The royal decree had gone out, and, according to Persian notions, could not be directly recalled or reversed (Esther 8:8). Mordecai did not dare, without express permission from the king, to take any steps, even to stay the execution. And Esther, being in favor, once more took the initiative.
"Write ye also to the Jews, as it pleaseth 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." — Esther 8:8 (ASV)
Write ... as it liketh you ... - (See the Esther 1:19 note. Practically, Ahasuerus reversed the “device” of Haman).
"Then were the king`s scribes called at that time, in the third month Sivan, on the three and twentieth [day] thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, a hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language." — Esther 8:9 (ASV)
Sivan corresponds nearly to our June; it was the second month from the issue of the first edict (Esther 3:12).
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