Advanced Commentary

(ex.: John 3:14-18)

Table of Contents Bible Dictionary
Arts
Questions
Resources/Books

Context
8:7 King <04428> Ahasuerus <0325> replied <0559> to Queen <04436> Esther <0635> and to Mordecai <04782> the Jew <03064>, “Look <02009>, I have already given <05414> Haman’s <02001> estate <01004> to Esther <0635>, and he has been hanged <08518> on <05921> the gallows <06086> because <0834> <05921> he took <03027> <07971> hostile action <03027> <07971> against the Jews <03064>. 8:8 Now you <0859> write <03789> in <05921> the king’s <04428> name <08034> whatever <02896> in your opinion <05869> is appropriate <02896> concerning the Jews <03064> and seal <02856> it with the king’s <04428> signet ring <02885>. Any decree <03791> that <0834> is written <03789> in the king’s <04428> name <08034> and sealed <02856> with the king’s <04428> signet ring <02885> cannot <0369> be rescinded <07725>. 8:9 The king’s <04428> scribes <05608> were quickly <06256> summoned <07121>– in the third <07992> month <02320> (that <01931> is, the month <02320> of Sivan <05510>), on the twenty-third <06242> <07969> day. They wrote out <03789> everything <03605> that <0834> Mordecai <04782> instructed <06680> to <0413> the Jews <03064> and to <0413> the satraps <0323> and the governors <06346> and the officials <08269> of the provinces <04082> all the way from <05704> India <01912> to <05704> Ethiopia <03568>– a hundred <03967> and twenty-seven <06242> <07651> provinces <04082> in all– to each province <04082> <04082> in its own script <03789> and to each people <05971> <05971> in their own language <03956>, and to <0413> the Jews <03064> according to their own script <03789> and their own language <03956>. 8:10 Mordecai wrote <03789> in the name <08034> of King <04428> Ahasuerus <0325> and sealed <02856> it with the king’s <04428> signet ring <02885>. He then sent <07971> letters <05612> by couriers <07323> <03027> on horses <05483>, who rode <07392> royal <0327> horses <07409> that were very swift. 8:11 The king <04428> thereby allowed <05414> the Jews <03064> who were in <0834> <0834> every <03605> city <05892> <05892> to assemble <06950> and to stand up <05975> for <05921> themselves <05315>– to destroy <08045>, to kill <02026>, and to annihilate <06> any <03605> army <02426> of whatever people <05971> or province <04082> that should become their adversaries <06696>, including their women <0802> and children <02945>, and to confiscate <0962> <07998> their property. 8:12 This was to take place on a certain <0259> day <03117> throughout all <03605> the provinces <04082> of King <04428> Ahasuerus <0325>– namely, on the thirteenth <06240> <07969> day of the twelfth <06240> <08147> month <02320> (that <01931> is, the month <02320> of Adar <0143>). 8:13 A copy <06572> of the edict <03791> was to be presented <05414> as law <01881> throughout each <04082> and every <03605> province <04082> and made known <01540> to all <03605> peoples <05971>, so that the Jews <03064> might be <01961> prepared <06259> on that <02088> day <03117> to avenge <05358> themselves from their enemies <0341>. 8:14 The couriers <07323> who were riding <07392> the royal <0327> horses <07409> went forth <03318> with the king’s <04428> edict <01697> without delay <0926>. And the law <01881> was presented <05414> in Susa <07800> the citadel <01002> as well. 8:15 Now Mordecai <04782> went out <03318> from the king’s <04428> presence <06440> in purple <08504> and white <02353> royal <04438> attire <03830>, with a large <01419> golden <02091> crown <05850> and a purple <0713> linen <0948> mantle <08509>. The city <05892> of Susa <07800> shouted <06670> with joy <08055>. 8:16 For the Jews <03064> there was <01961> radiant <0219> happiness <08057> and joyous <08342> honor <03366>. 8:17 Throughout every <03605> province <04082> <04082> and throughout every <03605> city <05892> where <0834> the king’s <04428> edict <01697> and his law <01881> arrived <05060>, the Jews <03064> experienced happiness <08057> and joy <08342>, banquets <04960> and holidays <02896> <03117>. Many <07227> of the resident <0776> peoples <05971> pretended to be Jews <03054>, because <03588> the fear <06343> of the Jews <03064> had overcome <05307> them.

• Est 8:1-17 -- The King Acts to Protect the Jews

• Haman

  [nave] HAMAN Prime minister of Ahasuerus, Esth. 3:1. Plotted against Esther and the Jews, thwarted by Esther and Mordecai, hanged, Esth. 3-9.
  

• Esther

  [nave] ESTHER, called also Hadassah. Niece of Mordecai, Esth. 2:7, 15. Chosen queen, Esth. 2:17. Tells the king of the plot against his life, Esth. 2:22. Fasts on account of the decree to destroy the Israelites; accuses Haman to ...
  

• Minister

  [nave] MINISTER An officer in civil government. Joseph, Gen. 41:40-44; Ira, 2 Sam. 20:26; Zabud, 1 Kin. 4:5; Ahithophel, 1 Chr. 27:33; Zebadiah, 2 Chr. 19:11; Elkanah, 2 Chr. 28:7; Haman, Esth. 3:1; Mordecai, Esth. 10:3; 8-9; Danie...
  

• Israel

  [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...
  

• Servant

  [nave] SERVANT Distinguished as bond servant, who was a slave, and hired servant. Bond Laws of Moses concerning, Ex. 21:1-11, 20, 21, 26, 27, 32; Lev. 19:20-22; 25:6, 10, 35-55; Deut. 15:12, 14, 18; 24:7. Kidnapping forbidden, D...
  

• Mordecai

  [nave] MORDECAI A Jewish captive in Persia, Esth. 2:5, 6. Foster father of Esther, Esth. 2:7. Informs Ahasuerus of a conspiracy against his life, and is rewarded, Esth. 2:21-23; Esth. 6:1-11. Promoted in Haman's place, Esth. 8:1...
  

• Post

  [ebd] (1.) A runner, or courier, for the rapid transmission of letters, etc. (2 Chr. 30:6; Esther 3:13, 15; 8:10, 14; Job 9:25; Jer. 51:31). Such messengers were used from very early times. Those employed by the Hebrew kings had a...
  [isbe] POST - post (ruts, "to run," ratsim, "runners"): The "runners" formed the royal guard (1 Sam 22:17; 1 Ki 14:27; 2 Ki 11:4,13; see GUARD). From them were chosen the couriers who carried royal letters and dispatches throughout...
  [nave] POST A bearer of message, Job 9:25; Jer. 51:31. Of Hezekiah, 2 Chr. 30:6, 10; Ahasuerus, Esth. 3:13, 14; 8:10, 14.
  

• Proclamation

  [nave] PROCLAMATION Imperial, 2 Chr. 30:1-10; Esth. 1:22; 6:9; 8:10-14; Isa. 40:3, 9; Dan. 3:4-7; 4:1; 5:29. Emancipation, 2 Chr. 36:23; Ezra 1:1-4.
  

• Ring

  [isbe] RING - (Anglo-Saxon, Hring, "ring"): The word renders (the American Standard Revised Version) two Hebrew words (in the King James Version and the English Revised Version three) and two Greek words. Tabba`ath, the principal H...
  [nave] RING Of gold, Num. 31:50. Worn as a badge of office, Gen. 41:42. Given as a token, Esth. 3:10, 12; 8:2-10. Worn in the nose, Prov. 11:22; Isa. 3:21. Offerings of, to the tabernacle, Ex. 35:22; Num. 31:50.
  

• Camel

  [isbe] CAMEL - kam'-el (gamal; kamelos; bekher, and bikhrah (Isa 60:6; Jer 2:23 "dromedary," the American Revised Version, margin "young camel"), rekhesh (1 Ki 4:28; see HORSE), kirkaroth (Isa 66:20, "swift beasts," the American St...
  [nave] CAMEL, herds of, Gen. 12:16; 24:35; Gen. 30:43; 1 Sam. 30:17; 1 Chr. 27:30; Job 1:3, 17; Isa. 60:6. Docility of, Gen. 24:11. Uses of: For riding, Gen. 24:10, 61, 64; 31:17; posts, Esth. 8:10, 14; Jer. 2:23; drawing chariots...
  

• Seal

  [isbe] SEAL - sel (substantive chotham, "seal," "signet," Tabba`ath, "signet-ring"; Aramaic `izqa'; sphragis; verb chatham, (Aramaic chatham); (sphragizo), (katasphragizomai, "to seal"): I. Literal Sense. A seal is an instrument of...
  [nave] SEAL 1. A stamp used for signifying documents. Given as a pledge, Gen. 38:18. Engraved, Ex. 28:11, 21, 36; 39:6, 14, 30; 2 Tim. 2:19. Decrees signified by, 1 Kin. 21:8; Esth. 8:8. Documents sealed with: Ahab's letter, 1 K...
  

• Mule

  [isbe] MULE - mul (peredh (1 Ki 10:25; 18:5; Ezr 2:66; Isa 66:20; Zec 14:15), the feminine pirdah (1 Ki 1:33,38,44), rekhesh, "swift steeds," the King James Version "mules" (Est 8:10,14), 'achashteranim, "used in the king's service...
  [nave] MULE Uses of: For royal riders, 2 Sam. 13:29; 18:9; 1 Kin. 1:33, 38; ridden by posts, Esth. 8:10, 14; by saints in Isaiah's prophetic vision of the kingdom of Christ, Isa. 66:20; as pack animals, 2 Kin. 5:17; 1 Chr. 12:40. ...
  

• India

  [ebd] occurs only in Esther 1:1 and 8:9, where the extent of the dominion of the Persian king is described. The country so designated here is not the peninsula of Hindustan, but the country surrounding the Indus, the Punjab. The p...
  [isbe] INDIA - in'-di-a (hoddu: he Indike): The name occurs in canonical Scripture only in Est 1:1; 8:9, of the country which marked the eastern boundary of the territory of Ahasuerus. The Hebrew word comes from the name of the Ind...
  [smith] The name of India does not occur in the Bible before the book of Esther where it is noticed as the limit of the territories of Ahasuerus in the east, as Ethiopia was in the west. (Esther 1:1; 8:9) The India of the book of Est...
  [nave] INDIA, probably the eastern limit of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, Esth. 1:1; 8:9.
  

• Joy

  [isbe] JOY - joi (simchah; chara): 1. Terms: The idea of joy is expressed in the Old Testament by a wealth of synonymous terms that cannot easily be differentiated. The commonest is simchah (1 Sam 18:6, etc.), variously translated ...
  [nave] JOY Attributed to God, Deut. 28:63; 30:9; Jer. 32:41. In heaven, Luke 15:10-32. See: Shouting. Unclassified Scriptures Relating to Deut. 12:18; 1 Sam. 2:1; 1 Chr. 16:27; 2 Chr. 7:10; Ezra 6:22; Neh. 8:10, 12; Neh. 12:43;...
  

• Sivan

  [ebd] a Persian word (Assyr, sivanu, "bricks"), used after the Captivity as the name of the third month of the Jewish year, extending from the new moon in June to the new moon in July (Esther 8:9).
  [isbe] SIVAN - se-van', si'-van (ciwan): The third month of the Jewish year, corresponding to June (Est 8:9). See CALENDAR.
  [nave] SIVAN, third month (June), Esth. 8:9.
  

• Linen

  [ebd] (1.) Heb., pishet, pishtah, denotes "flax," of which linen is made (Isa. 19:9); wrought flax, i.e., "linen cloth", Lev. 13:47, 48, 52, 59; Deut. 22:11. Flax was early cultivated in Egypt (Ex. 9:31), and also in Palestine (Jo...
  [isbe] LINEN - lin'-en (badh, "white linen," used chiefly for priestly robes, buts, "byssus," a fine white Egyptian linen, called in the earlier writings shesh; pesheth, "flax," cadhin; bussos, othonion, linon, sindon): Thread or c...
  [nave] LINEN Exported from Egypt, 1 Kin. 10:28; Ezek. 27:7; from Syria, Ezek. 27:16. Curtains of the tabernacle made of, Ex. 25:4; 26:1; 27:9. Vestments of priests made of, Ex. 28:5-8, 15, 39-42. Robes of royal households made o...
  

• CAPTIVITIES OF THE JEWS

  [smith] The present article is confined to the forcible deportation of the Jew; from their native land, and their forcible detention, under the Assyrian or Babylonian kings. Captives of Israel. --The kingdom of Israel was invaded by ...
  

• Month

  [smith] From the time of the institution of the Mosaic law downward the religious feasts commencing with the passover depended not simply on the month, but on the moon; the 14th of Abib was coincident with the full moon; and the new ...
  [nave] MONTH Ancient use of, Gen. 7:11; 8:4. Twelve months reckoned to a year, 1 Chr. 27:1-15. 1. Abib (April). The Jewish calendar began with, Ex. 12:2; 13:4; Deut. 16:1. Passover instituted and celebrated in, Ex. 12:1-28; 23:1...
  

• King

  [nave] KING Called King of kings, Ezra 7:12; Ezek. 26:7; Dan. 2:37. Divinely authorized, Deut. 17:15; 1 Sam. 9:16, 17; 16:12; 1 Chr. 22:10; 2 Chr. 2:11, 12; Prov. 8:15; Dan. 2:21, 37; 4:17; 5:20; Hos. 8:4; 13:11. How chosen: By d...
  

• Adar

  [ebd] large, the sixth month of the civil and the twelfth of the ecclesiastical year of the Jews (Esther 3:7, 13; 8:12; 9:1, 15, 17, 19, 21). It included the days extending from the new moon of our March to the new moon of April. ...
  [nave] ADAR 1. Twelfth month in Jewish calendar, Ezra 6:15; Esth. 3:7; 8:12; 9:1. 2. Son of Bela, 1 Chr. 8:3. 3. See: Hazar-Addar.
  

• The Jews Are Saved

  

• The book of Esther says that Mordecai was a Benjamite in one place and a Jew in others. Which was he?
  In Esther 2:5-6 we are told: 2:5 Now there happened to be a Jewish man in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai. He was the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjaminite, 2:6 who had been taken into ex...

Back to Commentary Page