Esther
Summary
Esther Chapter 8 describes the aftermath of Haman’s death and the preservation of the Jewish people. King Xerxes granted Haman’s estate to Esther and promoted Mordecai to Haman's former position. Although Haman was gone, his decree of annihilation remained law. Esther pleaded with the king to reverse it, leading to a new decree that allowed the Jews to arm themselves and defend their lives. This news brought joy and relief to the whole empire, as many people of the land joined the Jews out of respect for God and the newfound authority of Mordecai and Esther.
That same day King Xerxes gave the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews, to Queen Esther. And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had revealed how he was related to her.
The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai over Haman’s estate.
Esther spoke again to the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews.
Then the king extended the golden sceptre to Esther, and she rose and stood before him.
"If it pleases the king," she said, "and if I have found favour in his sight and the matter seems right to the king, let an order be written to overrule the dispatches that Haman devised to destroy the Jews in all the royal provinces."
"For how can I endure to see the disaster coming on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?"
King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, "Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have hanged him on the gallows."
"Now write another decree in the king’s name on behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be reversed."
At once the royal scribes were summoned on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all Mordecai’s orders to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors, and officials of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia.
Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king’s signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king.
The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill, and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their families, and to plunder their property.
The day appointed for this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar.
A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
The couriers, riding the royal horses, raced out, spurred on by the king’s command. The edict was also issued in the fortress of Susa.
When Mordecai left the king’s presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold, and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration.
For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honour.
In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had fallen on them.