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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMatthew Poole Commentary - Esther 8:8 - 8:8
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
For the Jews; on their behalf, to the governors and commanders of the king’s forces, or to whom you please.
Seal it with the king’s ring; I offer you my authority and seal to confirm whatsoever you shall think fit to write.
For the writing which is written in the king’ s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse: this reason may belong either,
1. To the writing of these present letters; and so the sense is, These letters will be most effectual, being no less irrevocable than the former, and coming last will repeal the former. Or,
2. To the former letters, as a reason why he could not grant their desires in recalling them, because they were irrevocable by the law of the Medes and Persians. And this sense, though rejected by many, seems to be the truest, because here is no mention of reversing Haman’s letters, which Esther had desired, Est_8:5, and the king denied for the reason here alleged; and because the following letter doth not contain one word about the reversing of the former, nor doth it take away that power which was given to all rulers to destroy all the Jews, Est_3:12,13, but only gives the Jews power and authority to stand up in their own defence, Est_8:11, which, all circumstances considered, was sufficient for their preservation.