Esther 8:1-17
Q.1. What changes did the king make to promote Mordecai? Why did the king entrust his kingdom to Mordecai? How was Esther’s plea accepted by the king? – (Esth.8:1-8 c.f. Esth.6:2-3)
Haman had offered the king ten thousand talents of silver to help get rid of the Jews and had boasted about his riches to his family and friends (c.f. Esth.3:9; 5:9-11). However, he lost it all in a single day for – when it came to the king’s attention, he commanded by letter that his wicked scheme which he had devised against the Jews, should return on his own head and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows (Esth.9:25). The king gave the house and wealth of Haman to Queen Esther, whose uncle was an exile in Babylon (Esth.8:1 c.f. 2:5-7). She had informed the king about her relationship to her Uncle Mordecai, so – The king took off his signet ring which he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman (Esth.8:2). The king was convinced that Mordecai, who had saved him previously without reward, was completely trustworthy. The king had been truly duped by Haman. He was now favourable to Esther’s emotional plea, as she – … implored him to avert the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite and his plot which he had devised against the Jews … let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces (Esth.8:3 & 5). The king replied that he had already given Haman’s property to her and had hung Haman on gallows – because he had stretched out his hands against the Jews (Esth.8:7). He then gave authority to Mordecai to do whatever was necessary to save the Jews (Esth.8:8).
Q.2. What proposals did Mordecai bring to protect the Jews of the 127 provinces? What impact did Mordecai’s promotion have? – (Esth.8:9-17 c.f. Esth.3:15)
A new decree was framed – … according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, the satraps, the governors, and the princes of the provinces which extended from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to every province according to its script, and to every people according to their language as well as to the Jews according to their script and their language (Esth.8:9). The edict was signed and sealed by the king’s signet that gave – … the Jews who were in each and every city the right to assemble and to defend their lives, to destroy, to kill and to annihilate the entire army of any people or province which might attack them, including children and women, and to plunder their spoil … so that the Jews would be ready for this day to avenge themselves on their enemies (Esth.8:11 & 13). In one day, Mordecai was promoted, and went out in splendour (Esth.8:15). The change was remarkable – 16 For the Jews there was light and gladness and joy and honour. 17 In each and every province and in each and every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree arrived, there was gladness and joy for the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many among the peoples of the land became Jews, for the dread of the Jews had fallen on them (Esth.8:16-17). That’s what happens when the right Person reigns on the throne of our lives.