Esther saves the Jews (8:1-8) The death of Haman does not change the fact that the irreversible decree to destroy the Jews, written in the king's name and sealed with his ring (Esther 3:12), still stands.[4] The king gave Haman's household to Esther and gave Mordecai Haman's signet ring, but he refused to regard it as his problem, even as Esther tearfully begged the king to "avert the evil design of Haman the Agagite" (verse 7).[8] Thus, Mordecai and Esther together had to come up with a solution, after receiving the king's permission to "write whatever (they) like about the Jews" (verse 8).[4] Verse 1 On that day King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her.[9] The king may see the giving of Haman's house to Esther as suitable compensation because Haman has wronged her in two ways: plotting her death, along with the death of her people attacking her person in the second banquet.[10] Verse 2 And the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.[11] The second part of verse 2 displays a shift of the focus to Esther, as she is now the one who makes decisions.[12] Verse 3 Then Esther spoke again to the king and fell down at his feet and begged him with tears to avert the evil of Haman the Agagite, and the scheme that he had devised against the Jews.[13] The change of tone of Esther's petition before the king indicates her awareness that the gift of Haman's house to her and the signet ring to Mordecai won't do any good after the thirteenth of Adar as long as the decree to annihilate the Jews still stands.[12] Esther only mentioned Haman as the sole enemy of the Jews (cf. Esther 7:4) and avoided implicating the king in this plot.[14] Verse 6 For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?[15] Esther used the same two terms - 'people' and 'kindred' as she reversed the act of concealing her identity previously in Esther 2:10, when she entered the harem.[8] Verse 8 Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh 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.[16] "As it liketh you": from Hebrew: "as is good in your eyes."[17]
Esther saves the Jews (8:1-8)
The death of Haman does not change the fact that the irreversible decree to destroy the Jews, written in the king's name and sealed with his ring (Esther 3:12), still stands.[4] The king gave Haman's household to Esther and gave Mordecai Haman's signet ring, but he refused to regard it as his problem, even as Esther tearfully begged the king to "avert the evil design of Haman the Agagite" (verse 7).[8] Thus, Mordecai and Esther together had to come up with a solution, after receiving the king's permission to "write whatever (they) like about the Jews" (verse 8).[4]
Verse 1
On that day King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her.[9]
The king may see the giving of Haman's house to Esther as suitable compensation because Haman has wronged her in two ways:
plotting her death, along with the death of her people
attacking her person in the second banquet.[10]
Verse 2
And the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai.
And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.[11]
The second part of verse 2 displays a shift of the focus to Esther, as she is now the one who makes decisions.[12]
Verse 3
Then Esther spoke again to the king and fell down at his feet and begged him with tears to avert the evil of Haman the Agagite, and the scheme that he had devised against the Jews.[13]
The change of tone of Esther's petition before the king indicates her awareness that the gift of Haman's house to her and the signet ring to Mordecai won't do any good after the thirteenth of Adar as long as the decree to annihilate the Jews still stands.[12] Esther only mentioned Haman as the sole enemy of the Jews (cf. Esther 7:4) and avoided implicating the king in this plot.[14]
Verse 6
For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?[15]
Esther used the same two terms - 'people' and 'kindred' as she reversed the act of concealing her identity previously in Esther 2:10, when she entered the harem.[8]
Verse 8
Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh 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.[16]
"As it liketh you": from Hebrew: "as is good in your eyes."[17]