Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

8:1-2 Ahasuerus gave . . . Esther the house of Haman. The property of condemned criminals was forfeited to the crown. Esther . . . told what he (Mordecai) was to her. Previously Esther had revealed only that she was a Jew. his signet ring. See note on 3:10.

8:3-8 Haman was dead, but the edict of destruction he had issued with the king's authority was still in force, for an edict . . . cannot be revoked (v. 8; cf. Dan. 6:8). Given this state of affairs, the only way a decree could be countered was by issuing another one that made it difficult or impossible to implement the first.

8:9 Sivan. The third month of the Jewish religious calendar, in late spring (around May-June).

8:11 any armed force. The Jews are only permitted to defend themselves by destroying armed enemies who attack them. (It is possible, but not certain, that the wording of 9:5 is broader, indicating that they also attacked known enemies who would have done them harm but who simply refrained from attacking them on that day.) children and women included. Any children and women who participated in the attack upon them.

8:12 the thirteenth day of . . . Adar. See 3:13.

8:13 take vengeance on their enemies. Defend themselves by killing all who tried to kill them (see note on v. 11).

8:15 Susa . . . rejoiced (cf. 3:15). This is further evidence that Haman's attitude to the Jews was not typical.

8:16 The Jews had . . . honor. Probably because people saw that the king himself now favored them.

8:17 joy among the Jews. They rightly saw that they were already as good as saved because their enemies would now be afraid to attack them. many . . . declared themselves Jews. Tried to pass themselves off as Jews. fear of the Jews. Because of the power now wielded by Mordecai (v. 15; 9:3-4).