Esther 8:10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Esther 8:3-14

Haman, the chief enemy of the Jews, was hanged, Mordecai and Esther, their chief friends, were sufficiently protected; but many others there were in the king's dominions that hated the Jews and desired their ruin, and to their rage and malice all the rest of that people lay exposed; for the edict against them was still in force, and, in pursuance of it, their enemies would on the day appointed fall upon them, and they would be deemed as rebels against the king and his government if they should... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 8:10

And he wrote in the King Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring ,.... Which gave the letters authority, and made them irreversible, and for this Mordecai had the king's order, Esther 8:8 and sent letters by post ; by runners or couriers: on horseback ; that rode on horses that were racers, that ran swiftly: and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries ; which were all different creatures, and swift ones, according to our version, especially the latter; see ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 8:10

On mules , camels , and young dromedaries - What these beasts were is difficult to say. The word רכש rechesh , which we translate mules, signifies a swift chariot horse. The strange word אחשתרנים achashteranim is probably a Persian word, but perhaps incurably corrupted. The most likely derivation is that of Bochart, from the Persian akhash , huge, large, rough, and aster , a mule; large mules. The words הרמכים בני beney harammachim , the sons of mares, which we... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 8:1-17

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 8:3-14

AT ESTHER 'S REQUEST AHASUERUS ALLOWS THE ISSUE OF A SECOND EDICT , PERMITTING THE JEWS TO RESIST ANY WHO SHOULD ATTACK THEM , TO KILL THEM IN THEIR OWN DEFENCE , AND TO TAKE POSSESSION OF THEIR GOODS ( Esther 8:3-14 ). The execution of Haman, the confiscation of his property, the advancement of Mordecai into his place, though of favourable omen, as showing the present temper and inclination of Abasuerus, left the Jews in as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 8:3-14

Consecration, kindred, law, and folly. In these words we have— I. THE MANIFOLDNESS OF HUMAN CONSECRATION . "And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears ," etc. (verse 3). Emboldened by her first success, Esther goes in again to the king, again endangering her own position, and, indeed, her own life, on behalf of her people. The former time she may have been influenced by Mordecai's reminder that her own death was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 8:7-14

Self-defence. The permission of Ahasuerus appears to us singular almost to madness. Indeed, it could only have been such a character as we know Xerxes to have been that could have coolly contemplated plunging every province and every city of his empire into the horrors of civil war. However, it seemed better to him to grant permission to the Jews to arm and to defend themselves than to reverse formally the decree he bad already issued for their destruction. So first the despot commands the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 8:10

He wrote in the king's name . As Haman had done ( Esther 2:12 ). And riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries . There is no "and" before "riders" in the original, and the clause is clearly exegetical of the preceding, Neither "mules," nor "camels," nor "young dromedaries" are mentioned in it, and the best translation would seem to be — "the riders on coursers of the royal stud, the offspring of thoroughbreds." It is noticeable that both Herodotus (8:98) and Xenophon ('Cyrop.,' ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 8:10

Riders on mules, camels and young dromedaries - Most moderns translate “riders upon coursers and mules, the offspring of mares;” but the words translated “mules” and “mares,” are of very doubtful signification, since they scarcely occur elsewhere. The real meaning of the clause must remain doubtful; perhaps the true translation is, “riders upon coursers of the king’s stud, offspring of high-bred steeds.” So Esther 8:14. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 8:10

Esther 8:10. And he wrote in King Ahasuerus’s name Josephus has given us a true copy, as he says, of this decree; or, as he terms it, of the letters which Artaxerxes sent to all nations which lie between India and Ethiopia; wherein he represents the abuse which favourites are wont to make of their power and credit with their prince, by insulting their inferiors, by flying in the face of those who raised them, and, to gratify their resentments, calumniating the innocent, and putting honest... read more

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