Esther 8:4

Est 8:4 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,

Ver. 4. Then the king held out the golden sceptre] It appeareth by this, that she once more put her life in her hand; hazarding it for her people’s safety (as Arsinoe interposed her own body between her children and the murderers sent to slay them), and so performing her promise made to Mordecai, Est 4:16. God’s children are all such as will not lie, Isa 63:8; if they swear to their hurt, yet they dare not change, Psa 15:4, dare not say and unsay, 2Co 1:18-19. Of many promises it may be said, as Tertullian doth to the peacock, that they are all in changeable colours; as often changed as moved. Holy Esther was none such; no more was that blessed martyr of Jesus Christ, Mr Hawkes, when in the flames remembering his promise to certain friends (to give them a sign whether the rage of the pain were tolerable), be reached up his hands burning on a light fire, and clapped them over his head three times together, to the great astonishment of the beholders, but especially to them who understood the matter.

So Esther arose, and stood before the king] Experience had bred confidence. They likewise that humble themselves under the mighty hand of God shall be exalted in due time, 1Pe 5:6. And as the lower the ebb the higher will be the tide; so the lower we descend in humiliation, the higher shall we ascend in exaltation.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Est 8:4-6. Then the king held out the golden sceptre — Esther had presumed to come a second time into the king’s presence without being called: which he did not take ill, but by this token graciously invited her to approach him, indicating that he accepted her person. So Esther arose — Having before fallen at his feet; and stood before the king — As a petitioner for her people; and said, If it please the king, &c. — She uses various expressions, that she might confirm the king’s favour by such a full submission to his good pleasure. Even then, when we have ever so much reason and justice on our side, and have ever so clear a cause to plead, yet it becomes us to speak to our superiors with humility and modesty, and all possible expressions of respect. There is nothing lost by decency and good breeding. Let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman — She prudently takes off the hatefulness of the action from the king, and lays it upon Haman, who had for his own ends contrived the whole business, and circumvented the king in it. For how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred? — My heart will sink under it, and I shall never be able to survive it. She does not urge the innocence of the Jews, but only pleads their affinity to her: probably she knew that this plea would have more weight with the king, even than one grounded on their innocence.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Read Esther 5:2.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther--in token that her request was accepted, and that she needed no longer to maintain the humble attitude of a suppliant.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(4) The king held out the golden sceptre.—See Note on Est_4:11.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

4. held out to Esther the golden sceptre] Cp. Est_4:11, Est_5:2. On this occasion, however, the king’s action was not in order to permit approach with a petition, but in token of the favourable hearing granted to a request already made.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Then the king held out the golden sceptre towards Esther,.... As a token that she had not incurred his displeasure by coming into his presence without leave, and that she was admitted to speak and make her request; see Est 5:3

so Esther arose and stood before the king; she rose from the ground on which she lay prostrate, and stood upon her feet, in an humble manner, to make her speech, and present her petition to the king.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The king held out the golden sceptre; in token that he accepted her person and petition, and that she should stand upon her feet.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

4. Held out the golden sceptre — We understand that the queen first came and fell weeping before the king, but said nothing until he held out the sceptre. Then she arose, and stood before him, and made the request of which a mere summary is given in the preceding verse. The language of her address is given in the two following verses.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Then the king held out the golden sceptre. Either Esther had again intruded on the king uninvited, or there was a double use of the golden sceptre.

1. In the pardon of those who so intruded; and,

2. In the ordinary granting of requests. It was perhaps held out on this occasion simply to express a readiness to do as Esther desired.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.