Esther 8:5

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 8:5

And said, if it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes ,.... This heap of phrases, which signify much the same thing, are used to work upon the king's affections, and to show how submissive she was to his will: let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces . She wisely takes no... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 8:1-17

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 8:3-6

An effective advocate. A second time Esther entered into the king's presence unbidden. A second time the king's sceptre was extended to her. Her own safety and queenly state had been secured, but her people were still exposed to the murderous decree which Haman had beguiled the king to seal and promulgate. She now appeared as an advocate for Israel. Learn here— I. THAT ADVOCACY SHOULD BE CLEAR AS TO ITS GROUNDS . The grounds on which Esther pleaded were such as the... read more

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 8:5

If it please the king , etc. The long preface of four clauses, winding up with "If I be pleasing," is indicative of Esther's doubt how the king will receive her suggestion that it should be written to reverse the letters (comp. Esther 3:13 ) devised by Haman . To ask the king to unsay his own words was impossible. By representing the letters as devised by Haman, and written by Haman, Esther avoids doing so. But she thereby blinks the truth. In excuse she adds the striking distich... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 8:5

Repairing mischief. "Let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman." I. WHAT A LEGACY OF EVIL IS LEFT BY THE WICKED . e.g . By Voltaire, Paine, Napoleon I and others. II. WHAT EFFORTS ARE NECESSARY TO REPAIR EVIL ONCE WROUGHT . It is SO much easier to destroy than to build up. III. GREAT EVILS MAY BE REMOVED , OR AT LEAST OVERRULED , BY PROVIDENCE . If this were not believed, the arm of the Christian... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 8:4-6

Esther 8:4-6. Then the king held out the golden sceptre Esther had presumed to come a second time into the king’s presence without being called: which he did not take ill, but by this token graciously invited her to approach him, indicating that he accepted her person. So Esther arose Having before fallen at his feet; and stood before the king As a petitioner for her people; and said, If it please the king, &c. She uses various expressions, that she might confirm the king’s favour... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Esther 8:1-17

8:1-10:3 THE JEWS TRIUMPHANTVictory and celebration (8:1-9:32)Although Mordecai was appointed chief minister instead of Haman (8:1-2), the decree arranged by Haman was still in force. A king’s decree could not be changed. However, the king gave Esther and Mordecai his authority to issue a new decree that would counteract the former one (3-8).Esther and Mordecai acted promptly. They gave the Jews permission to take whatever action they chose in order to defend themselves against any attack on... read more

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