Глава 8

1–2. The Rise of Mordecai. 3–6. Esther's requests to cancel Haman's decree. 7–12. New decree to the Jews. 13–17. VI-e additions to the book: text of the decree to the Jews. Dissemination of the decree and impressions of it. Esther 8:1. On that day, King Artaxerxes gave Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews; and Mordecai went in before the king, for Esther had declared that he was for her. “He entered before the king,” i.e. became the king's closest servant, instead of Haman. “Esther declared that he was for her,” i.e. announced her relationship with Mordecai and all the benefits that he showed her as her teacher. Esther 8:3. And Esther continued to speak before the king and fell at his feet, and wept and begged him to turn away the anger of Haman the Bogite and his plan, which he had planned against the Jews. Esther 8:4. And the king stretched out a golden scepter to Esther; and Esther rose up and stood before the king, Esther 8:5. and she said: if it pleases the king, and if I have found favor before him, and this matter is just in the face of the king, and I am pleasing to his eyes, then let it be written that the letters according to the plan of Haman, the son of Hamadath, the Bogite, written by him about the extermination of the Jews in all the regions of the king, should be returned; Esther 8:6. for how can I see the disaster that will befall my people, and how can I see the destruction of my relatives? Esther 8:7. And King Artaxerxes said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Judah: Behold, I have given the house of Haman to Esther, and he himself was hanged on a tree because he laid his hand on the Jews; Esther 8:8. Write about the Jews whatever you please, in the name of the king and seal it with the royal ring, for a letter written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal ring cannot be changed. The fall of Haman and the blessings of Esther and Mordecai did not eliminate the terrible fate that threatened the Jews by Haman’s decree. According to Persian laws, once a decree issued on behalf of the king could no longer lose its actual force (Esth.8:8). Therefore, the king, yielding to Esther’s requests, had to come up with only a compromise by which the issued decree would weaken his actions, if not completely paralyze them. He now left it to Mordecai and Esther themselves, giving them the right to write about the Jews (condemned to death) “whatever you want” - The last words directly hinted and authorized to write about the Jews the same thing that was written about their opponents, who on the appointed day were to rush at the Jews with weapons in their hands. Esther 8:9. And then the royal scribes were called in the third month, that is, in the month Sivan, on its twenty-third day, and everything was written as Mordecai had commanded, to the Jews, and to the satraps, and governors, and governors of the regions from India to Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven regions, to every region in their writing and to every people in their language, and to the Jews in their writing and in their language. Esther 8:10. And he wrote in the name of King Artaxerxes, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by messengers on horses, on dromedaries and on the king’s mules, Esther 8:11. that the king allows the Jews who are in every city to gather and stand in defense of their lives, to destroy, kill and destroy all the powerful in the people and in the region who are at enmity with them, children and wives, and plunder their property, Esther 8:12. on one day throughout all the regions of King Artaxerxes, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar. Esther 8:13. The list from this decree is to be given to each region, as a law declared for all nations, so that the Jews will be ready by that day to take revenge on their enemies. Esther 8:14. The messengers, riding on fast royal horses, drove quickly and hastily, with the royal command. A decree was also announced in Susa, the capital city. The presentation of the circumstances of the writing of the first (Haman) decree (Esther 3.12, 14–15) is repeated almost literally in similar words when describing the circumstances of the writing of the second (Esther 8.9–10, 12–14). It should be noted that the period of time indicated between the publication of the 1st decree and the writing of the 2nd seems to be somewhat more significant than one would expect. For the first decree, “the royal scribes were called in the first month” (13th day), while to write the second, “then the royal scribes were called in the third month” (23rd day). Almost three months seems like too much in such an important urgent matter, which Mordecai could have found out sooner and, together with Esther, tried to change in his favor much earlier. It is necessary, however, to take into account that the time of calling the scribes did not exactly mean the date of issue of the decree: “called in the first month,” the scribes could complete their enormous task (copying the decree in many copies) only in more than one month. It could also be that Mordecai did not immediately learn about Haman’s decree, and when things turned in his favor, he could not so quickly prepare everything necessary for his new decree, so that the scribes could not have been called a second time immediately after Haman’s execution. All this makes it quite plausible that the second decree (Mordokheyev) was at least almost three months distant from the first (Amanov). The essence of Mordecai’s decree literally reproduces the essence of Haman, only changing the roles, or more precisely, assigning to the Jews the same role that in Haman’s decree was given only to their destroyers: according to Esther 3.13, it was prescribed: “to kill, destroy and destroy all the Jews, small and old, children and women... and to plunder their property.” The same thing is said in Esther 8.11 about the king’s permission for the Jews - “to gather and stand in defense of their lives, to destroy, kill and destroy all the mighty in the people and in the region who are at enmity with them, children and wives, and plunder their property.” Esther 8:12ä) [The list from this decree is as follows: Esther 8_12b the great king Artaxerxes, to the rulers from India to Ethiopia over one hundred and twenty-seven regions and to the rulers who are well-wishing us, rejoice. Esther 8_12c Many, who, due to the extreme kindness of their benefactors, were generously rewarded with honors, became overly proud and not only seek to harm our subjects, but, unable to satisfy their pride, attempt to plot intrigues against their benefactors themselves, Esther 8_12d not only lose the sense of human gratitude, but, boasting of the arrogance of the insane, they criminally think to avoid the judgment of God, who sees everything and always. Esther.8_12e) But often many, being invested with the power to arrange the affairs of the friends who have entrusted them, with their conviction make them the culprits of the shedding of innocent blood and subject them to irreparable disasters, Esther 8_12f deceiving the immaculate good faith of those in power through a cunning web of insidious lies. Esther 8_12g This can be seen not so much from ancient stories, as we said, but from the deeds criminally committed before you by the malice of those who rule unworthily. Esther 8_12h Therefore, we need to be concerned for the next time, so that we can establish a peaceful kingdom for all people in the world, Esther 8_12ï) without allowing changes, but discussing the cases presented with due foresight. Esther.8_12k Thus Haman Hamadathov, a Macedonian, truly alien to Persian blood and very far from our goodness, having been received as a guest with us, was awarded the favor that we have for every nation, Esther 8_12l so much so that he was proclaimed our father and revered by everyone, representing the second person on the royal throne; Esther 8_12m but, without tempering his pride, he plotted to deprive us of power and soul, Esther.8_12n and our savior and ever-present benefactor Mordecai and the immaculate community of the kingdom Esther, with all their people, sought to destroy with various insidious measures. Esther.8_12ö) Thus he thought to make us deserted and transfer the Persian power to the Macedonians. Esther 8_12p We find the Jews, condemned by this villain to destruction, not evil, but living according to the most just laws, Esther 8_12q sons of the Most High, the greatest living God, who gave us and our ancestors a kingdom in the best condition. Esther.8_12r Therefore you will do well by not carrying out the letters sent by Haman Hamadath; for he, who did this, was hanged at the gates of Susa with the whole house, according to the will of the God who rules over all, who soon gave him a worthy judgment. Esther.8_12s Having placed the list of this decree openly in every place, leave the Jews to use their laws and help them, so that they can take revenge on those who rebelled against them during the tribulation on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month of Adar, on that very day. Esther 8_12t For God, who is sovereign over all, instead of the destruction of the chosen race, provided for them such joy. Esther.8_12ü) And you, among your famous holidays, spend this famous day with all the fun, so that both now and hereafter the salvation for us and for the Persians who were kind to us and the destruction of those who plotted intrigues for us would be remembered. Esther 8_12x Any city or region in general that does not fulfill this will be mercilessly devastated by sword and fire and will become not only uninhabitable for people, but also for animals and birds forever disgusting.] Addition 6-e (Esth. 8:12a-12x) gives an exact list of the decree in favor of the Jews, ideological and sent out by Mordecai to destroy the power of Haman's decree. The text of the decree gives several interesting details that do not appear with obvious clarity in the Hebrew text. Thus, at the beginning of the decree it is hinted that Haman’s intention to harm the Jews, the king’s subjects, was at the same time some kind of attempt on the life of the king himself (“they are trying to plot intrigues against their own benefactors” - Esther 8_12c). Further this idea is expressed even more definitely; Haman is directly accused of “plotting to deprive us,” i.e. the person of the king, - power and soul... to make us deserted, and transfer the Persian power to the Macedonians” (Esther. 8_12m-12o). We have already said above that the idea of ​​​​the Macedonian origin of Haman is a big stretch; There is no doubt that Haman’s accusation of attempting to “transfer the Persian power to the Macedonians” should be explained only by the author’s unsuccessful adaptation to the contemporary significance, growth and success of Greek culture and dominance. It is also noticeable that the compiler of the decree was too overzealous in praising the Jews and rewarding them on behalf of the king with all kinds of expressions of his favor. In contrast to Haman, (“truly alien to Persian blood and very far from our goodness” - Esther. 8_12k), the decree exposes Mordecai as “our savior and everlasting benefactor” (Esther. 8_12n), and the Jews as “living according to the most just laws, sons of the Most High, the greatest, living God, who gave us and our ancestors a kingdom in the best state" (Esther 8_12p-12q). All this, of course, for Judea did not represent anything exaggerated and unnatural, but – put into the mouth of a pagan king and despot – it does not seem entirely natural and plausible. This is also the order: all subjects (and not just the Jews) must “assist” (Esther 8_12s) the Jews in the extermination of their enemies, and spend the very day of this extermination “with all joy,... among the famous holidays" (Esther. 8_12u), and the threat is announced that "every city or region in general that does not fulfill this will be mercilessly devastated by sword and fire and will become not only uninhabitable for people, but also for animals and birds forever disgusting" (Esther. 8_12x). This is purely Jewish intolerance, second only to the later misanthropy of the Talmud and undoubtedly having a common source of origin with it. Esther 8:15. And Mordecai came out from the king in a royal robe of yellow and white, and a large golden crown, and a robe of fine linen and purple. And the city of Susa rejoiced and rejoiced. Esther 8:16. And the Jews then had light and joy, and joy, and triumph. Esther 8:17. And in every region and in every city, in every place where the king’s command and his decree reached, there was joy among the Jews and joy, a feast and a holiday. And many of the nations of the land became Jews, because the fear of the Jews came upon them. “The Jews then had illumination.” Lighting, i.e. The abundance of light in homes served as an expression of joy among all peoples. Esther 8:14–15 correspond almost literally to Esther 3:14–15, putting only Mordecai in the place of Haman and joy coming in the place of the former sadness. The difference in the mood of the capital city of Susa is especially emphasized, which, upon the publication of the first decree, was “in confusion,” and upon the publication of the second, “rejoiced and rejoiced.” This, of course, primarily refers to the Jews, whose joy and merriment did not eliminate the fear and confusion of others who at that time had the misfortune of being suspicious in the eyes of the Jews. You might be interested in: