Esther 8:11 - Exposition

Wherein the king granted . Rather, "that the king granted." Mordecai sent "letters," which said "that the king granted to the Jews to gather themselves together," etc. To gather themselves together . Union is strength. If all the Jews of a province were allowed to collect and band themselves together, they would at once be a formidable body. Scattered in the various towns and villages, they might easily have been overpowered. To stand for their life . The Jews have sometimes been spoken of as the aggressors on the actual 13th of Adar, but there is no evidence to support this view. The edict clearly only allowed them to stand on the defensive. Of course, when fighting once began, both sides did their worst. In repelling attack the Jews had the same liberty to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish as their adversaries ( Esther 3:13 ). Little ones . Rather, "families ." Take the spoil of them for a prey . i.e. "seize their property." The earlier edict had given the same permission to the Jews' enemies ( Esther 3:13 ).