1 ON that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews’ enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.

2 And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3 ¶ And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, [ Ester is on a roll and has some additional courage in addressing the King at this point. ] and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.

4 Then the king held out the golden sceptre [ A rod or staff which represented authority. ] toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king. [ This is the time that Ester has been waiting for. The King softened his heart for her the first time so she trys again as she is not done with her asking. ]

5 And said, If it please the king, [ Your will. ] and if I have found favour in his sight, [ My worthiness. ] and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king’s provinces:

6  For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred? [ She is concerned about her people. She could have asked that just herself be granted dismissal from the death decree, but that is not what she is asking. She is doing this for her people. ]

7 ¶ Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.

8  Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, [ The King says you write whatever you tink should be done and I will give my approval and the new command cannot be reversed. So we cannot reverse the first writing, it cannot be taken back. But what we can do is to make a new writing and this new writing will overwrite the first with a new set of commands. ] 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.

9 Then were the king’s scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.

10 And he [ Mordecai. ] wrote in the king Ahasuerus’ name, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries: [ He sent the new decree to the same places that the old decree was sent. ]

11  Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, [ So since the first decree was still in effect, that they the Persians could slay the Jews on the thirteenth day, here the King has made a decree that the Jews might gather together to defend themselves on that day making the slaughter even harder to put forth. ] to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, [ The exact same language as was used in the first decree. ] all the power of the people and province that would assault them, [ So it is mirroring the language and provisions of the first decree such that people may be able to read between the lines and recognize both decrees as such. As a result not follow through with either one. ] both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

13 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

14 so the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.

15 ¶ And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. [ Remember that the people were perplexed by the first decree anyway, and now they are relieved that it has basically been countered. ]

16  The Jews had light, [ Despite where they were, in their position of great strife and looking at certain death they now had hope in life. Role reversal, they had gone from the lowest to the point that they are now people of royalty with Mordecai as the Kings right hand man. ] and gladness, and joy, and honour.

17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. [ Ya think that is kind of an understatement. ] And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them. [ They began to reverence the Jews that God had once again stepped in and saved them, and not only saved them but elevated them as well. After all the KIng's right hand man and the queen as well are both Jews, they are a favored people then in the King's eyes it would appear. ]