Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Esther 8:16

The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honor.

16. The Jews had light etc. ] The expression reminds us of the Prayer Book Version of Psa 97:11, ‘There is sprung up a light for the righteous.’ Cp. also Psa 27:1; Psa 36:9, for ‘light’ used, as here, metaphorically as equivalent to prosperity and joy.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Light is oft put for

gladness, as 2Sa 22:29; Job 18:5,6; Psa 27:1, because light is pleasant and disposeth a man to joy, whereas darkness inclines a man to sorrow.

Gladness and joy: this explains the former metaphor by two words expressing the same thing, to note the greatness of the joy.

Honour, instead of that contempt under which they had lain.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

And the Jews had light,…. Prosperity, as opposed to the darkness of adversity in which they had been, see Isa 8:22, or lightsomeness and cheerfulness of spirit, as explained by the two next words:

and gladness and joy; at the good news of their deliverance, so unexpected by them; thus light is explained by gladness, Ps 97:11

and honour: among men; from their neighbours, who before were held in contempt, as a people doomed to destruction.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

16. The Jews had light The light ( ) of hope and salvation broke in upon their dark prospects, filling them with gladness and joy, and securing them honour and respect from many of the heathen.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

(16) The Jews had light, 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. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.

We can easily conceive the joy of the Jews. But what I more particularly desire to remark, is, the conversion of many of the people of the land to their religion. Must not the Lord have graciously overruled this wonderful transaction in the court of Persia, which, no doubt, was in every one’s mouth to his glory. And was it not a type, of the after call and conversion of the Gentile to the Jewish church? Isa 49:6 .

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Est 8:16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.

Ver. 16. The Jews had light and gladness ] “Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun,” Ecc 11:7 . Such as have been long shut up in a dark dungeon, as Joseph, will surely say so. These Jews had for two months and more lain buried alive, as it were, in heaviness and horror, they walked in the very vale of the shadow of death, the darkest side of death; death, in its most hideous and horrid representations, stared them in the face.

Luctus ubique pavor, et plurima mortis imago (Virg.).

Their motto at the best was that of the city of Geneva out of Job, Post tenebras spero lucem, after darkness we have some faint hopes of life. But now it was otherwise with them. Light was risen to these righteous, and joy to these upright in heart. Iudaeis fuit lux et laetitia (or, as Tremellius rendereth it, illustris laetitia, famous gladness), gaudium et gloria, unspeakable joy and full of glory, as St Peter phraseth it, an exuberancy of spiritual joy and inward comfort, fitter to be believed than possible to be discoursed. For we may not think, that the joy and gladness here mentioned was no more than that of profane and carnal people, upon the receipt of some special mercy, or signal deliverance. They rejoice (harlot-like) in the gift, but not in the giver; they nibble upon the shell, but taste not of the kernel. The joy that these Jews had was the fruit of fasting and prayer, according to that of our Saviour, Ask, that your joy may he full; pray, that ye may joy. The fountain of it was the light of God’s loving countenance; it was , as Josephus hath it here, a salvifical light. The matter of it was the happy change of their late lamentable condition; and this as a pledge of that light of life eternal, see Psa 23:5-6 , the end of it was a testification of their hearty thankfulness to God for his inconceivable loving kindness, a breaking forth into those or the like words of the psalmist, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death,” Psa 68:19-20 .

And gladness ] Habitual joy, solid and substantial. Crede mihi, res severa est, gaudium verum. Believe me, saith Seneca, true joy is a severe and solid business, that few men are acquainted with. It is indeed the just man’s jewel, such as the stranger may not meddle with, Pro 14:13 , he is flatly forbidden it, Hos 9:1 . The wicked man’s joy is of another alloy than that of the righteous. The light of a candle is fed with stinking tallow, but the light of the sun hath influence from heaven to feed it, and therefore is not so soon blown out. Like as together with manna there fell a dew, so together with temporal mercies and deliverances there is a secret influence of God to a spiritual heart, as there was to these good Jews, and thence their so well-rooted gladness. It was such as did not only wet the mouth, but warm the heart, smooth the brow, but fill the breast; it was more inward, as the windows of Solomon’s temple were wider within than without. Whereas, on the contrary, the wicked’s joy is but in the face only, and not in the heart, 2Co 5:12 , it is but the hypocrisy of mirth, like a counterfeit complexion. It is but a cold armful, , as Lycophron said of an ill wife; or, as Lamech’s second wife’s name was Zillah, that is, the shadow of a wife, so is this the shadow of gladness, the substance is wanting.

And honour ] Heb. weight, account, esteem. The poor Jews, formerly slighted, were now highly honoured; chari et rari, as Isa 43:4 , bright and glorious, as the word signifieth, Job 31:26 , precious and ponderous, so that their name was much set by, as 1Sa 18:30 . This was the Lord’s own work, for it is he that gives credit, and fashioneth men’s opinions; he, besides wisdom, gave Solomon honour.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

light. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for joy.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

Jews: Est 4:1-3, Est 4:16, Psa 30:5-11

had light: That is, prosperity and hope. The dark cloud which had so long hung over them was dispelled; and again the sunshine of prosperity beamed upon them. Est 9:17, Psa 18:28, Psa 97:11, Pro 4:18, Pro 4:19, Pro 11:10, Isa 30:29, Isa 30:30, Isa 35:10

Reciprocal: Psa 34:5 – and were Psa 118:27 – showed Jer 2:23 – thou art a swift Act 9:31 – were multiplied

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Est 8:16. The Jews had light Light is often put for gladness, as 2Sa 22:29, and Job 18:5-6, because it is pleasant, and disposeth a man to joy. And gladness, and joy Here the sacred writer explains the former metaphor, by two words signifying the same thing, to denote the greatness of the joy. And honour Instead of that contempt under which they had lain.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

8:16 The Jews had light, and {l} gladness, and joy, and honour.

(l) He showed by the words that follow, what this light was.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes