Esther 8:7-8 - Exposition

Then the king … said unto Esther the queen and unto Mordecai . The king, it would seem, took time to give his answer; and when he gave it, addressed himself to Mordecai, his minister, rather than to Esther, his wife. " See now," he said, "I have done what I could—I have given Esther Haman's house; I have had Haman himself executed because he put forth his hand against the Jews. What yet remains? I am asked to save your countrymen by revoking my late edict. That may not be. The writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's seal, may no man reverse . But, short of this, I give you full liberty of action . Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring . Surely you can devise something which will save your people without calling on me to retract my own words, and at the same time break a great principle of Persian law."