---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Esther 8:1. The king - give the house of Haman — As Haman was found guilty of treasonable practices against the peace and prosperity of the king and"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/esther/8"
---

Verse [Esther 8:1](../../../kjv/esther/8/1). ***The king - give the house of Haman*** — As Haman was found guilty of treasonable practices against the peace and prosperity of the king and his empire, his life was forfeited and his goods confiscated. And as Mordecai had been the means of preserving the king's life, and was the principal object of Haman's malice, it was but just to confer his property upon him, as well as his dignity and office, as Mordecai was found deserving of the former, and fit to discharge the duties of the latter.

Verse [Esther 8:2](../../../kjv/esther/8/2). ***The king took off his ring*** — In the *ring* was the *seal* of the king. *Giving the ring* to Mordecai was tantamount to giving him the *seal of the kingdom*, and constituting him the same as *lord* *chancellor* among us.

Verse [Esther 8:6](../../../kjv/esther/8/6). ***To see the destruction of my kindred?*** — She had now informed the king that she was cousin to Mordecai, and consequently a *Jewess*; and though her own life and that of Mordecai were no longer in danger, Haman being dead, yet the decree that had gone forth was in full force against the *Jews*; and if not repealed, their destruction would be inevitable.

Verse [Esther 8:8](../../../kjv/esther/8/8). ***May no man reverse.*** — Whatever had passed the royal signet could never be revoked; no *succeeding* edict could destroy or repeal a *preceding* one: but one of a similar nature to the *Jews* against the *Persians*, as that to the *Persians* was against the *Jews*, might be enacted, and thus the Jews be enabled *legitimately* to defend themselves; and, consequently, placed on an equal footing with their enemies.

Verse [Esther 8:9](../../../kjv/esther/8/9). ***The month Sivan*** — This answers to a part of our *May* and *June*.

Verse [Esther 8:10](../../../kjv/esther/8/10). ***On mules, camels*****, and*****young dromedaries*** — What these beasts were is difficult to say. The word רכש *rechesh*, which we translate *mules*, signifies a *swift chariot horse*.
The strange word אחשתרנים *achashteranim* is probably a *Persian* word, but perhaps incurably corrupted. The most likely derivation is that of *Bochart*, from the *Persian* [Persian] *akhash, huge,* *large, rough*, and [Persian] *aster*, a *mule*; large mules.
The words בני הרמכים *beney harammachim, the sons of mares*, which we translate *dromedaries*, are supposed to signify *mules*, produced between the *he ass* and the *mare*, to distinguish them from those produced between the *stallion* and the *ass*, But there is really so much confusion about these matters, and so little consent among learned men as to the signification of these words, and even the true knowledge of them is of such little importance, that we may well rest contented with such names as our modern translations have given us. They were, no doubt, the *swiftest* and *hardiest* *beasts* that the *city* or *country* could produce.

Verse [Esther 8:11](../../../kjv/esther/8/11). ***To destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish*** — The same words as in Haman's decree: therefore the Jews had as much authority to slay their enemies, as their enemies had to slay them.
***Little ones and women*** — This was the ordinary custom, to destroy the whole family of those convicted of great crimes; and whether this was right or wrong, it was the custom of the people, and according to the laws. Besides, as this edict was to give the Jews the same power against their enemies as they had by the former decree against them, and the women and children were there included; consequently they must be included here.

Verse [Esther 8:14](../../../kjv/esther/8/14). ***The decree was given at Shushan*** — The contrary effect which it was to produce considered, this decree was in every respect like the former. See [Esther 3:8-15](../../../kjv/esther/3/8-15).

Verse [Esther 8:15](../../../kjv/esther/8/15). ***Blue and white*** — Probably stripe interchanged with stripe; or *blue* faced and bordered with *white* fur.
***A great crown of gold*** — A large *turban*, ornamented with gold, jewels, c.
***Fine linen and purple*** — See on [Genesis 41:42](../../../kjv/genesis/41/42). The בץ *buts*, here mentioned, is most probably the same with the *byssus* of the ancients supposed to be the beautiful *tuft* or *beard*, growing out of the side of the *pinna longa*, a very large species of *muscle*, found on the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea, of which there are a pair of gloves in the British Museum. This *byssus* I have described elsewhere.
***Shushan - was glad.*** — Haman was too *proud* to be *popular*; few lamented his fall.

Verse [Esther 8:17](../../../kjv/esther/8/17). ***Many - became Jews; for - fear*** — These were a species of *converts* not likely to bring much honour to true religion: but the sacred historian states the simple fact. They did profess Judaism for fear of the Jews, whether they continued steady in that faith or not.
IT is only the Gospel which will not admit of coercion for the propagation and establishment of its doctrines. It is a spiritual system, and can be propagated only by spiritual influence. As it proclaims holiness of heart and life, which nothing but the Spirit of God can produce, so it is the Spirit of God alone that can persuade the understanding and change the heart. If the kingdom of Christ were of this *world*, then would his servants *fight*. But it is not from *hence*.

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