06.23.2015 Old Testament: Esth 8.7–8

To read the Bible in a year, read Esther 7–10 on June 23, In the year of our Lord 2015

By Don Ruhl

First, the Persian Empire was ready to annihilate the Jews, then things turned around quickly, and the Persian Empire, or at least the king, favored the Jews, and he gave Esther and her cousin Mordecai full authority to do whatever they needed to do,

Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, “Indeed, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he tried to lay his hand on the Jews. You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for whatever is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring no one can revoke” (Esther 8.7–8). 

Who knows how long that favor lasted. It may have changed with the next king. Therefore, Esther and Mordecai had to take full advantage of their new found favor and authority.