Verse 1

On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai a came before the king; for Esther had told what he [was] b unto her.

(a) That is, was received into the king's favour and presence.

(b) That he was her uncle, and had brought her up.

Verse 3

And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the c mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.

(c) Meaning, that he should abolish the wicked decrees, which he had made for the destruction of the Jews.

Verse 4

Then the king held out the golden d sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,

(d) Read (Esther 5:2).

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 e no man reverse.

(e) This was the law of the Medes and Persians, as in (Daniel 6:15) nonetheless the king revoked the former decree granted to Haman for Esther's sake.

Verse 9

Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that [is], the month f Sivan, on the three and twentieth [day] thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which [are] from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the g writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.

(f) Which contains part of May and part of June.

(g) That is, in such letters and languages as was usual in every province.

Verse 11

Wherein the king granted the Jews which [were] in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for h their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, [both] little ones and women, and [to take] the spoil of them for a prey,

(h) That is, to defend themselves against all who would assail them.

Verse 12

Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, [namely], upon the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which [is] the month i Adar.

(i) Which has part of February and part of March.

Verse 13

The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province [was] published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to k avenge themselves on their enemies.

(k) The king gave them permission to kill all who oppressed them.

Verse 16

The Jews had light, and l gladness, and joy, and honour.

(l) He showed by the words that follow, what this light was.

Verse 17

And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land m became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.

(m) Conformed themselves to the Jew's religion.