SEV Biblia, Chapter 8:17
Y en cada provincia y en cada ciudad donde llegó el mandamiento del rey, los judíos tuvieron alegría y gozo, banquete y día de placer. Y muchos de los pueblos de la tierra se hacían judíos, porque el temor de los judíos había caído sobre ellos.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Esther 8:17
Verse 17. Many-became Jews; for-fear] These were a species of converts not likely to bring much honour to true religion: but the sacred historian states the simple fact. They did profess Judaism for fear of the Jews, whether they continued steady in that faith or not. IT is only the Gospel which will not admit of coercion for the propagation and establishment of its doctrines. It is a spiritual system, and can be propagated only by spiritual influence. As it proclaims holiness of heart and life, which nothing but the Spirit of God can produce, so it is the Spirit of God alone that can persuade the understanding and change the heart. If the kingdom of Christ were of this world, then would his servants fight. But it is not from hence.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came , etc.] As they did to every province in the realm, and to every city in the province, where there were any Jews: the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day ; they expressed their joy on this occasion by keeping a festival, which in their language is called a good day; and such an one is annually kept by them unto this day, on account of their deliverance; of which (see Esther 9:27,28) and many of the people of the land became Jews ; or were proselyted, as both the Targums and Jarchi interpret it; they embraced the Jewish religion, and submitted to the rites and ceremonies of it; were circumcised, as in the Septuagint version, and so were proselytes of righteousness; and indeed no other could they be, dwelling in their own land; many of them very probably were serious in it, observing the wonderful manner in which the Jews were delivered; wherein manifestly appeared to them the providence of God, the hand of the Supreme Being, and from hence concluded their God must be the true God, and they his favourite people, and their religion most correct; though others might only do it to gain the favour of Esther and Mordecai, who had now such great power and influence at court: for the fear of the Jews fell upon them ; lest they should be slain by them, in virtue of this new edict.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-17 - Mordecai's robes now were rich. These things are not worth notice, but as marks of the king's favour, and the fruit of God's favour to his church. It is well with a land, when ensigns of dignity are made the ornaments of serious piety. When the church prospers, many will joi it, who will be shy of it when in trouble. When believers have rest and walk in the fear of the Lord, and the comfort of the Holy Ghost they will be multiplied. And the attempts of Satan to destroy the church, always tend to increase the number of true Christians __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ובכל 3605 מדינה 4082 ומדינה 4082 ובכל 3605 עיר 5892 ועיר 5892 מקום 4725 אשׁר 834 דבר 1697 המלך 4428 ודתו 1881 מגיע 5060 שׂמחה 8057 ושׂשׂון 8342 ליהודים 3064 משׁתה 4960 ויום 3117 טוב 2896 ורבים 7227 מעמי 5971 הארץ 776 מתיהדים 3054 כי 3588 נפל 5307 פחד 6343 היהודים 3064 עליהם׃ 5921
