Esther 8:8 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Bible Comments

Write ye also for the Jews On their behalf, to the governors and commanders of the king's forces, or to whom you please. In the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring I offer you my authority and seal, to confirm whatsoever you shall think fit to write. The writing which is written in the king's name, &c., may no man reverse This reason may belong, either, 1st, To the writing of these present letters; and then the sense is, These letters will be most effectual, being no less irrevocable than the former, and, coming last, will repeal the former. Or, 2d, To the former letters, as a reason why he could not grant their desires in recalling them, because they were irrevocable by the laws 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, Esther 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, Esther 3:12-13; but only gives the Jews power and authority to stand up in their own defence, Esther 8:11, which, all circumstances considered, was sufficient for their preservation. How much more prudent is our constitution than that of the Persians, that no law whatever can be so established as to be unrepealable. It is God's prerogative not to repent, and to say what can never be altered.

Esther 8:8

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.