Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Haman is dead, but the edict he wrote is still in effect.

What can they do to protect the Jews?

Anguish of Esther (8:1-6)

King honors Esther and Mordecai (1-2)

Esther 8:1–2 (ESV)

1 On that day King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews.

And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her. 2 And the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai.

And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

Esther receives Haman’s house

“Because Haman was executed as a traitor to the throne, his property was confiscated.

Herodotus reports an instance where the property of an executed traitor reverted to the king, who could dispose of it at will.

In this case because Esther was the person wronged by Haman, the king bestows Haman’s estate on her.” (Jobes, Karen H. Esther.

Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999.

Print.

The NIV Application Commentary.)

Mordecai Honored

Mordecai receives signet ring.

signet ring n., a ring incised to make an impression; used to secure (with wax) or to authenticate documents (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag.

Print.)

Taken from Haman and given to Mordecai

Mordecai receives royal attire

Esther 8:15 (ESV)

15 Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.

This is a customary way of a king honoring someone with a high position.

Genesis 41:41–43 (ESV)

41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”

42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck.

43 And he made him ride in his second chariot.

And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!”

Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt.

“Immediately, Esther summons Mordecai into Xerxes’ presence, who gives to Mordecai, the man who had years before saved the king’s life, the signet ring previously worn by Haman.

In a great reversal Mordecai is vested with all the power and authority previously wielded by Haman (cf.

3:10).

Having received Haman’s estate, Esther in turn appoints Mordecai over all the wealth and property previously owned by Haman.

Ironically, Haman’s plot to destroy Mordecai leads to Mordecai’s acquiring both Haman’s position and property.”

(Jobes, Karen H. Esther.

Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999.

Print.

The NIV Application Commentary.)

Esther’s grief (3-4)

Esther 8:3–4 (ESV)

3 Then Esther spoke again to the king.

She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews. 4 When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, Esther rose and stood before the king.

Esther wept and pleaded.

(3a)

Esther comes before the King and falls down before the King to seek the him to deal with the edict of Haman.

Pleaded - to plead for compassion v. — to earnestly request compassion.

(Biblical Sense)

Reason for grief.

(3b)

Haman’s plan is still in effect.

Esther knows that the death of Haman does not affect the edict that he established.

King held out the golden scepter welcoming Esther to stand before him.

(4)

Esther’s request (5-6)

Esther 8:5–6 (ESV)

5 And she said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king.

6 For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming to my people?

Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?”

How do we deal with an edict that can’t be changed or canceled?

“Esther pleads with Xerxes to “put an end to” Haman’s evil death decree that still stands against her people (v.

3); but the king is unable to do so, for the decree of death is irrevocable.”

(Jobes, Karen H. Esther.

Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999.

Print.

The NIV Application Commentary.)

Esther 8:8 (ESV)

8 But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king’s ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s ring cannot be revoked.”

“Since the king was unable to revoke his own decree (1:19), a new decree was necessary to counter the effects of the first one.”

(Barry, John D. et al.

Faithlife Study Bible.

Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016.

Print.)

The Idea of writing a second Edict is the one presented by Esther and acted on by the King.

Actions of the King (8:7-14)

King’s Response (7-8)

Esther 8:7–8 (ESV)

7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he intended to lay hands on the Jews.

8 But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king’s ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s ring cannot be revoked.”

Write another Edict with the King’s authority.

(8)

“Now, however, Esther and Mordecai have power and authority equal to Haman’s.

The only solution to their dilemma is to write another decree to counteract the first with equal force.”

(Jobes, Karen H. Esther.

Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999.

Print.

The NIV Application Commentary.)

King’s Scribes (9-10)

Esther 8:9–10 (ESV)

9 The king’s scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day.

And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language.

10 And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king’s signet ring.

Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king’s service, bred from the royal stud,

History

Haman writes the 1st Edict - 13th day of 1st Month (Esther 3:12)

Edict goes into effect - 13th day of 12th Month (Esther 3:13)

2nd Edict written by Mordecai - 23rd day of 3rd Month (Esther 8:9)

Edict is written

Mordecai commanded the edict - “And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews”

Sent to every Province of Persia - “to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language.”

King’s Authority - “And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king’s signet ring.”

Edict is sent out by Horseback throughout the providences of Persia.