The Story of Esther - Chapter 8

Esther 8New International Version (NIV)

8 That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. 2 The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s estate.

3 Esther again pleaded with 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. 4 Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him.

5 “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. 6 For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?”

7 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 impaled him on the pole he set up. 8 Now write another decree in the king’s name in 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 revoked.”

9 At once the royal secretaries 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 nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush.[a] These orders were written in the script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in their own script and language. 10 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.

11 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 women and children,[b] and to plunder the property of their enemies. 12 The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. 13 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.

14 The couriers, riding the royal horses, went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa.

The Triumph of the Jews

15 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. 16 For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor.17 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 seized them.

One thing is certain in life...

God is faithful.

In chapter 8 of Esther, God provides not only for Esther and Mordecai, but for all of His people, and they respond with rejoicing and celebrating.  According to the constitution of the Persian government, no law or decree could be repealed or recalled, so the king had them write a new decree that would allow the Jews to defend themselves, instead of being slaughtered.  The result of the new decree was that Shushan (Susa) and all the people rejoiced. The Jews had light and joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. 

(Verses 1-2): "According to the historians Herodotus and Josephus, the property of a traitor in Persia was confiscated by the state. In this case, Xerxes gave it) “(the house of Haman”) to the queen, and passed on his royal “signet ring” to Mordecai as a gesture of favor and trust. Xerxes’ gift officially signaled that Mordecai had replaced Haman’s position in the kingdom.

Now that she had revealed her nationally to Xerxes (7:4), Esther was happy to present Mordecai to the king as her guardian and cousin. The word “house” refers to “all that he had” as in Genesis 39:4, thus his total estate. Mordecai was given his “ring” (3:10; 8:8) and was appointed chief minister of the empire (as was Joseph in Genesis 41:42)."

• **God's justice results in a transfer of wealth from those who deny justice to those who work for it (see Esther 8:1-2 and 3:9).
  ** God's justice results in faith even when a death order is in effect. Between the time the king gave his original order to kill all the Jews but before his second decree went into effect that Jews could defend themselves, here is what happened: "The Jews had light and gladness, joy and honor. And in every province and city, wherever the king's command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday" (Esther 8:16, NKJ). Remember, the day still had not come for the Jews to fight; in the natural they did not know how it would turn out, but they knew by the Spirit. 

  
  

  (Chapter 8 highlights......Mordecai is honored and placed over the house of Haman—Ahasuerus issues a decree to preserve the Jews.)

  Notice verse 14......There was an urgency to get the word out about this important decree of the king. Christians should show a similar urgency when it comes to being heralds of the decree that the justice of God has been satisfied for us in Jesus ChristIn Also.....verse 16....The Jews were no longer sad and living in the shadow of the death that Haman intended to bring. They had the light, and life of God renewed within them. This would bring joy unspeakable. In the same way, our course in life is not yet run; our salvation is not yet complete – yet we can rejoice, because of our confidence in our king – being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.(Philippians 1:6)

                                                                

  

  
  

  In conclusion........

  "And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them."

  
  

  Wow!  What a testimony! 

  The gentiles turned to the God of the Jews because of what they had seen. 

  God’s work on their behalf, and their resulting joy, proved to be an infectious mix! 

  A reminder for all of us....Be thankful.

  It won’t just affect your own life but could well influence those around you. 

  Non-Christians watch you and they watch me. 

  They want to see whether we have something that is real and worthwhile. 

  Joy is contagious! 

  Now, step into each new situation in your life with a grateful heart.  God is adequate for whatever situations, difficulties or opportunities may come your way.