Then the King Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen, and to
Mordecai the Jew
Who was present at the same time, either at the desire of Esther, or by virtue of his office, being now one of those that saw the king's face, ( Esther 8:1 ) ,
behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman;
(See Gill on Esther 8:1),
and him they have hanged upon the gallows;
which he had prepared for Mordecai, ( Esther 7:10 )
because he laid his hand upon the Jews;
intended to do so, and had prepared for it, and wrote letters, ordering their destruction on such a day. Now as the king had shown favour to Esther and Mordecai, and had punished Haman for contriving mischief against them and the Jews, which was publicly known, the people would be fearful of doing anything against them, lest they should incur the king's displeasure, and therefore might make themselves easy about this matter; but, however, to give them all the satisfaction he could, he directs them to do as follows.