Esther 8:17 - Exposition

A feast and a good day . The provincial Jews made the whole day on which they heard the news into a holiday, and not only rejoiced, but feasted. Many of the people of the land became Jews . Applied for and obtained admission into the Jewish nation as full proselytes (comp. Ezra 6:21 , with the comment). The fear of the Jews fell upon them . There was about to be in each great city where there were Jews a day of straggle and bloodshed. The Jews would have authority on their side ( Esther 9:3 ), and might be expected to be victorious. Persons feared lest, when victorious, they might revenge themselves on all who had not taken their part, and thought it safer to become Jews than remain neutral. But it can only have been a small minority of the population in each city that took this view. There was no sudden great increase in the numbers of the Jewish nation.