Bible Study Esther 8
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Esther 8 · WEB

The Jews Permitted to Defend Themselves

Listen — WEB narration 0:00 / 0:00 Narration: World English Bible (David Williams), public domain — AudioTreasure.

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On that day, king Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, the Jews' enemy, to Esther the queen. Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was to her.
2The king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
3Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet and begged him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite and his device that he had devised against the Jews.
4Then the king held out to Esther the golden scepter. So Esther arose and stood before the king.
5She said, "If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seems right to the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse 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.
6For how can I endure to see the evil that would come to my people? How can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?"
7Then king Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, "See, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he laid his hand on the Jews.
8Write also to the Jews, as it pleases you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring; for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may not be reversed."
9Then the king's scribes were called at that time, in the third month (that is, the month Sivan), on the twenty-third day of the month. It was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews and to the satraps and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to its writing and to every people in their language, and to the Jews in their writing and in their language.
10He wrote in the name of king Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses that were bred from fast horses.
11In these letters, the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish all the forces of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones, and their wives, and to plunder their possessions —
12on one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
13A copy of the letter was to be given out as a law in every province, published to all the peoples, that the Jews should be ready for that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
14So the couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. The law was given out in the citadel of Susa.
15Mordecai went out of the presence of the king in royal clothing of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple; and the city of Susa shouted and was glad.
16The Jews had light and gladness, and joy and honor.
17In every province and in every city, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. Many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews had fallen on them.
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Summary

Haman is dead, but the decree to kill all Jews still stands — under Persian law, it cannot simply be canceled. Esther risks approaching the king again, weeping at his feet. His solution: a second decree is sent by express courier throughout all 127 provinces, authorizing the Jews to arm themselves, gather, and defend their lives on the 13th of Adar. Mordecai — now wearing royal robes and the king's signet ring — is elevated to Haman's position. Throughout the empire, Jews celebrate with feasting; many non-Jews join them out of fear and favor.

Themes

  • Advocacy that doesn't stop until the people are fully protected
  • The reversal of fortune — mourning turned to joy, oppression to honor
  • The contagious nature of Jewish salvation drawing others to God

Key verses

  • Esther 8:11 — “The king allowed the Jews... to gather themselves together and defend their lives.”
  • Esther 8:16 — “The Jews had light and gladness, and joy and honor.”
  • Esther 8:6 — “How can I endure to see the evil that would come to my people? How can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?”

Context & background

Under Persian law, a royal decree sealed with the king's ring could not be revoked (Esther 1:19) — even the king could not cancel it. The solution was a counter-decree giving the Jews the legal right to defend themselves. The second decree was issued on the 23rd of Sivan (v. 9) — about 70 days after the first (13th of Nisan), with still about 8 months before the 13th of Adar when both decrees would take effect simultaneously. Mordecai wearing blue, white, and purple (v. 15) mirrors Joseph's investiture in Genesis 41. The statement that many peoples "became Jews" (v. 17) echoes the promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his descendants. Susa = modern Shush, southwestern Iran.

Cross-references

  • Exodus 12:35-36 — The Egyptians "gave" to the Israelites; a similar reversal of Egyptian vs. Jewish fortunes
  • Genesis 41:41-43 — Joseph elevated to second in the kingdom; Mordecai follows the same pattern
  • Isaiah 60:3 — "Nations will come to your light" — the non-Jews joining the Jews here anticipates this
  • Revelation 7:9 — Every nation, tribe, and tongue; the multi-ethnic dimension of Esther 8:17 points forward
  • Romans 11:11-12 — "Salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious" — reversed here, Gentiles drawn by Israel's salvation

Check your reading

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  1. Observe

    Why was a second decree necessary instead of simply canceling the first?

  2. Observe

    What happened among many non-Jewish peoples after the second decree was issued?

  3. Interpret

    What does Esther's tearful return to the king after Haman's death reveal about her character?

  4. Interpret

    What does it mean theologically that many Gentiles "became Jews" when they saw the Jews flourish?

  5. Apply

    How can the principle of a counter-decree apply to wounds or lies spoken over your life?

  6. Apply

    What does Esther's advocacy for her people model for you?

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