Esther 8:16
For the Jews it was a time of light and gladness, of joy and honor.
BSB
ASV
The Jews had light and gladness, and joy and honor.
KJV
The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
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, Psa 97:11 and honour: among men; from their neighbours, who before were held in contempt, as a people doomed to destruction.
They were like those that dream; then was their mouth filled with laughter, Ps. cxxvi. One good effect of this deliverance was that many of the people of the land, that were considerate, sober, and well inclined, became Jews, were proselyted to the Jewish religion, renounced idolatry, and worshipped the true God only.
It was but lately that we had Esther and Mordecai in tears and in fears, but fasting and praying; now let us see how to them there arose light in darkness. Haman was hanged as a traitor, therefore his estate was forfeited to the crown, and the king gave it all to Esther, in recompence for the fright that wicked man had put her into and the vexation he had created her,
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.
The walk8
Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.
Through
Psalms 97:11Light shines on the righteous, gladness on the upright in heart.
leads to
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
Through
Psalms 18:28For You, O LORD, light my lamp; my God lights up my darkness.
leads to
For You, O LORD, are my lamp; the LORD lights up my darkness.
when His lamp shone above my head, and by His light I walked through the darkness,
I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These…
the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”
