ESTHER LESSON 8


     We will begin this lesson in Esther 8:1 "On that day did the king
Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the
queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he
[was] unto her."

     The wicked Haman was dead. In Persia, when a man did what Haman
had done, and was executed for his crimes, everything he possessed
became property of the government. In this case, the king was the
recipient.  This day, spoken of here, then, was the day of his
execution. The king was very sorry for the trouble Haman had caused
Esther, and he gave Haman's property to the queen. When Esther
admitted that she was a Jew, she, also, revealed to the king that
Mordecai had raised her, as if he were her father. Mordecai had been
greatly honored recently for saving the life of the king. It was a
logical conclusion, that he would take Haman's place as number two man
in the country.

     Esther 8:2 "And the king took off his ring, which he had taken
from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over
the house of Haman."

     We have discussed how the signet ring was a sign of authority.
The king took it from the finger of Haman, before he executed him. The
king wore it himself, until he put it on the finger of Mordecai. This
ring gave Mordecai the right to speak for the king.  Mordecai was like
a chief of staff. Esther did not give the house to Mordecai, because
it was a gift to her from Ahasuerus. She let Mordecai live in the
house.

     Esther 8:3  "And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell
down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief
of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the
Jews."

     Haman was dead, but his wicked edict was still in place. The
terrible thing was it was sealed with the signet of the king. Esther
went, again without permission, to speak to the king. He held his
sceptre out to her again, and she fell at her king's feet. She was so
troubled for her people that there were tears in her eyes. She did not
blame the king, but knew that he was the only chance to save her
people, aside from God.

     Esther 8:4 "Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward
Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,"

     The king loved Esther so much that he did not like to see her
cry.  He, also, did not like to see his queen face first before him.
He raised his sceptre for her to stand.

     Esther 8:5 "And said, If it please the king, and if I have found
favour in his sight, and the thing [seem] right before the king, and I
[be] 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 which [are] in all the king's provinces:"

     Notice, she mentioned twice, "if she had found favour in his
eyes".  What she was asking was impossible, because once the seal of
the king was on the letters, they were law. She blamed the whole thing
on Haman, and somehow believed the king could rescind the orders,
because they were given by Haman.

     Esther 8:6 "For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come
unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my
kindred?"

     Nothing would please the king more than to reverse the letters,
if it were possible, because Esther was a Jew. It would be difficult
for her to see her people die, even if the king could save her.

     Esther 8:7  "Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen
and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of
Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his
hand upon the Jews."

     Now we find the true reason for the king killing Haman. The king
did not want the Jews killed either.

     Esther 8:8 "Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh 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 no
man reverse."

     The king could do nothing about the edict that went forth to kill
the Jews, because it had the king's seal upon it. He was now telling
Mordecai to do whatever he thought would help in this situation and
put the seal of the king upon it. The king had no idea how to help the
situation that Haman created, but gave Mordecai permission to do
whatever he could.

     Esther 8:9 "Then were the king's scribes called at that time in
the third month, that [is], the month Sivan, on the three and
twentieth [day] thereof; and it was written according to all that
Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the
deputies and rulers of the provinces which [are] from India unto
Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province
according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their
language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to
their language."

     We can see from this, that Haman wanted to annihilate the Jews.
His hate for them was so great, he did not want any to live, even in
Judah. The third month would be the same as our June. Sivan is a
Babylonian name having to do with a false god, it is not Hebrew.
Mordecai gathered the scribes and sent letters to each of the 127
provinces in their own language, a letter sealed with the king's
signet. It was just as much law as the one Haman had sent.

     Esther 8:10 "And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed
[it] with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback,
[and] riders on mules, camels, [and] young dromedaries:"

     We spoke earlier of how their mail system was very similar to our
pony express.

     Esther 8:11 "Wherein the king granted the Jews which [were] in
every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life,
to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the
people and province that would assault them, [both] little ones and
women, and [to take] the spoil of them for a prey,"

     All of the people of the provinces were actually controlled by
the king of Persia. They did not have a right to bear arms. This edict
would give them permission to fight back on the day that all the Jews
were to be killed. They were to kill the ones who had intended to kill
them in the same manner the first edict had prescribed. They could,
also, take spoil of those they killed. This was, now, a law giving
them the right to defend themselves.

     Esther 8:12 "Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus,
[namely], upon the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which [is]
the month Adar."

     The first edict had set this day as the day to kill the Jews.
Now, the second edict gave the Jews permission to fight back. This
would be a one day war, and then both edicts would not be the law any
longer.

     Esther 8:13 "The copy of the writing for a commandment to be
given in every province [was] published unto all people, and that the
Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their
enemies."

     Mordecai had it distributed locally, as well. Anywhere there were
Jews, there was, also, permission given for them to defend themselves.

     Esther 8:14  "[So] the posts that rode upon mules [and] camels
went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And
the decree was given at Shushan the palace."

     These letters were sent early, so there would be time for other
communications, if necessary. These letters were even distributed in
the palace.

     Esther 8:15  "And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king
in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold,
and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan
rejoiced and was glad."

     This was a robe of royalty. It was interesting that the colors
would be blue and white. White speaks of righteousness, and blue
speaks of the heavenly. Purple speaks of royalty. The king was not
aware of these meanings, but the LORD was. This just meant that he had
on his robes of the second in command in the country This great crown
of gold was just a little shorter than the king's. This reminds me of
the robes that Joseph was given, when he became second in command in
Egypt. The people rejoiced. This was the answer the LORD gave to the
prayers and fasting the people had done.

     Esther 8:16 "The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and
honour."

     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.

     Esther 8:17 "And in every province, and in every city,
whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had
joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of
the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them."

     It was very obvious that God was with them. Some of the Persians
feared when that day came, that some of the Jews would kill them. They
converted and became Jews, themselves, to keep that from happening.






























                          Esther 8 Questions



1.  Who did the king give Haman's house to?
2.  What day was spoken of in verse 1?
3.  When did Esther reveal to the king that she was related to
    Mordecai?
4.  Who would take Haman's place as number two under the king?
5.  Who did the king give his signet ring to?
6.  Esther set _________ over the house of Haman.
7.  The signet ring was a sign of ___________.
8.  Mordecai was like a ________ of ________.
9.  Haman was dead, but his wicked __________ was in place.
10. When Esther went to the king unannounced, what did she do?
11. Who was she blaming for the edict?
12. How did the king show he accepted her?
13. Why did the king want her to stand?
14. What did Esther say twice in verse 5?
15. Why was what she was asking impossible?
16. What questions did she ask the king in verse 6?
17. What reason did the king give for having executed Haman?
18. Who could reverse an edict with the seal of the king on it?
19. What did the king give Mordecai permission to do?
20. Why had Haman sent this edict to all of the provinces?
21. How many provinces were there?
22. What did Mordecai do to stop the slaughter of the Jews?
23. Why could the Jews not fight back, before the letter Mordecai
    sent?
24. What did the new edict say?
25. How long would the war last?
26. How were the edicts sent to the provinces?
27. How was Mordecai dressed now?
28. Quote Esther chapter 8 verse 16.
29. How did the Jews celebrate?
30. Who became Jews, because of the second edict?