Esther

Chapters 5-10

Leon L. Combs, B.S., M.A., M.Div., Ph.D.

Chapter Five

Esther 5:1-5 Now it came about on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace in front of the king's rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room, opposite the entrance to the palace. (2) When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter. (3) Then the king said to her, "What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you." (4) Esther said, "If it pleases the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him." (5) Then the king said, "Bring Haman quickly that we may do as Esther desires." So the king and Haman came to the banquet which Esther had prepared.

The third day would be the last day of the fasting that Esther and those she had requested join her in the fasting. The fast probably lasted from the evening of the first day until the morning of the third day for about forty or forty five hours. She now feels spiritually prepared for what she has to do. She put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace. This would be a location where the king when sitting on his throne would immediately see her. She risked her life being and standing in the inner court without being summoned by the king. But when the king saw her he was so pleased at her appearance that he immediately extended the golden scepter to Esther and she came forward and touched the top of the scepter. The LXX expands on the first two verses considerably as it reports that Esther fainted when she saw the anger on the king’s face at her appearance. It reports that the king sprang from his throne and embraced her as he assured her that she was safe before him.

Certainly this response of the king to Esther’s uninvited appearance is another act of the providence of God. She was now safe from any penalty for coming before him in the inner court without being summoned. The king knew that this was an unusual event and assumed that something was troubling her to cause her to take the risk of coming before him. He offered to give her half of the kingdom if that would meet her needs at this point. This is probably not an offer that should be taken literally but is a way of saying that she has pleased him and he wants to please her. This reminds us of the similar offer by Herod after Herodias’s daughter pleased him with a dance: And he swore to her, "Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom." (Mark 6:23)

We might expect her to immediately plead for help in saving her relatives and herself but she had a plan for approaching a solution to this problem by another route. Verse four has the three words “may the king” but most translations have it stated as “let the king” and that is very

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interesting for the initial letters of each word spell “Yahweh”! A few copies even have these letters in bold to cause attention to the word for God and if this is what the author intended then he does include the name of God in his manuscript although in coded form. Of course it is not necessary to use such cryptic codes to find God in the story for He is everywhere for those who have the indwelt ability to see Him dealing with all the situations.

She did not directly answer Xerxes but invited him and Haman to come now to a banquet that she had prepared for them. She may have included Haman in the invitation to lull him into a false sense of security as he would think that he was now in the inner circle with the king and his queen. Certainly he could not suspect the catastrophe that would soon come upon him. The king immediately ordered that Haman be called to quickly come do as Esther had requested. So Esther now had her party complete.

Esther 5:6-11As they drank their wine at the banquet, the king said to Esther, "What is your petition, for it shall be granted to you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done." (7) So Esther replied, "My petition and my request is: (8) if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and do what I request, may the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king says." (9) Then Haman went out that day glad and pleased of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate and that he did not stand up or tremble before him, Haman was filled with anger against Mordecai. (10) Haman controlled himself, however, went to his house and sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh. (11) Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the number of his sons, and every instance where the king had magnified him and how he had promoted him above the princes and servants of the king.

As they were drinking their wine at the banquet the king asked to know the nature of Esther’s request. He again states that he would even give her half of the kingdom if that would fulfill her needs. We can’t help but wonder what Haman would think about this offer from the king as granting such a request would seriously cut into his authority. But Esther again postponed answering the king. Instead she invited the king and Haman to a second banquet the next day when she said she would then reveal her request to the king. Haman left this first banquet in high spirits as he felt he had been extended a high honor by being invited to the queen’s private banquets with the king.

His euphoria was short lived when he saw Mordecai in the king’s gate and he did not show him great respect and honor by not standing up and trembling before him. Since Mordecai was in the gate, he had to have exchanged his sackcloth for his usual clothes. Haman managed to control himself as he went to his house and sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh. His wife’s name is a Persian name that means either “golden” or “one with disheveled hair”! I am going to choose the latter. He told them about the great honor that had been bestowed upon him by being invited to the queen’s banquets with the king. He continued to extol his many virtues, the glory of his riches, the number of his sons, and every instance where the king had magnified him. He also told them how the king had promoted him above the princes and servants of the king. What a show of self-righteousness and aggrandizing that may have even bored his friends. This boasting

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would only accent his later humiliation and may remind us of: Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. (Prov 16:18)

Esther 5:12-14Haman also said, "Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the banquet which she had prepared; and tomorrow also I am invited by her with the king. (13) "Yet all of this does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate." (14) Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, "Have a gallows fifty cubits high made and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it; then go joyfully with the king to the banquet." And the advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.

He continued bragging by telling them how the queen invited nobody else to come with the king to her banquet and that he had been invited to a second banquet the next day. He was so caught up in his own estimation of his importance that he could not think of any negative reasons for being invited to such banquets. In spite of all these statements of his achievements he was still seething at seeing Mordecai the Jew sitting in the king’s gate. Just seeing one Jew who would not bow down before him was enough to take away his joy at his status in the kingdom. His wife and friends told suggested a plan to him that would remove the source of his irritation. They told him that he should have a gallows erected 75 feet in height and in the morning to ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. He could then go joyfully with the king to the banquet. The height of the gallows seems exorbitant and some scholars do not take it seriously but it seems appropriate to the vanity of Haman and his desire for revenge that would make a statement to all who saw it. Haman was very pleased with this suggestion so he had the gallows made being sure that the king would approve his request.

Chapter Six

Esther 6:1-5During that night the king could not sleep so he gave an order to bring the book of records, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. (2) It was found written what Mordecai had reported concerning Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs who were doorkeepers, that they had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. (3) The king said, "What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?" Then the king's servants who attended him said, "Nothing has been done for him." (4) So the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him. (5) The king's servants said to him, "Behold, Haman is standing in the court." And the king said, "Let him come in."

The Book of Esther is filled with fortuitous coincidences that bring about the salvation of the Jews and we can be certain that these are examples of the hand of God even though He is not mentioned. If Xerxes had been able to fall asleep none of the following events would have occurred. He must have been really bored to want to read from the book of records. What do you read when you have trouble going to sleep? These annals have been called by many names such

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as “the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles”, “the Record Book, the Chronicles”, etc. The Hebrew translated literally reads “the book of remembrances, the words/matters of the days”. The Persians were great record keepers of all the events so that any meritorious events that had not been rewarded were properly compensated. He also just happened to read about some actions of Mordecai before he fell asleep! The records stated how Mordecai had revealed a plan by two of the king’s eunuchs to kill King Xerxes.

This news really woke him and he asked how Mordecai had been rewarded for such an action that saved his life. Those people attending the king told him that he had not received any rewards for this action. It certainly speaks highly of Mordecai that he had not requested any reward for his revealing of this plot against the king. It also is a poor reflection on the king for not having rewarded this action previously. The king then asked for the identity of anyone who happened to be in the court. Remember that this is late at night and we might wonder why he would ask for the identity of anyone in the court. It also seems strange that Haman would be in the court at this time although we know he was anxious to ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on his gallows that he had built at his house. These two events (the king making such an inquiry and Haman being in the court) are more evidences of the providence of God to save His people. The king’s servants knew that Haman was in the court so they told the king and he told them to let him come into his bedchamber.

Esther 6:6-11So Haman came in and the king said to him, "What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?" And Haman said to himself, "Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?" (7) Then Haman said to the king, "For the man whom the king desires to honor, (8) let them bring a royal robe which the king has worn, and the horse on which the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown has been placed; (9) and let the robe and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble princes and let them array the man whom the king desires to honor and lead him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, 'Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.'" (10) Then the king said to Haman, "Take quickly the robes and the horse as you have said, and do so for Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king's gate; do not fall short in anything of all that you have said." (11) So Haman took the robe and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, "Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor."

Haman then came into the bedchamber to see the king and Xerxes asked him what should be done by the king to honor someone the king highly respects. Remembering from the previous discussions how well Haman thought of himself, helps us understand why Haman thought of himself as the only one that the king should want to so honor. It is one of the great ironies of these events that Haman was to decide how the person he desired to hang would be so honored. Haman was certainly extremely vain but he had considerable wealth so, as he thought he would be the one rewarded, he made a suggestion involving parading this person through the streets of Susa for all to see how great he was. He suggested that the person be given a royal robe that had been worn by the king and a horse that the king had ridden. Both of these honors were the highest to be awarded to someone. The horse would have a royal crown on its head and this

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would become a practice as many Persian and Assyrian drawings show such horses wearing crowns on their heads. He then suggested that one of the king’s most noble princes would lead the man on horseback through the city square and proclaim before him: “Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor”.

Certainly Haman had visions of himself being paraded through the streets of Susa with such an honor so that all the people would better understand how great he was. The king liked this suggestion very much so he told Haman to do as he suggested with Mordecai the Jew being so paraded thought the streets of Susa. The king knew that Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate so he told Haman to quickly do as he suggested. The king told him to not neglect doing anything he had suggested to honor Mordecai. It seems rather strange that the king would so honor a Jew when he had enacted a decree to destroy all the Jews in his kingdom but here again is the work of God in saving His people. Haman had no choice but to obey the king so he arrayed Mordecai appropriately and led him around the streets of Susa making the required proclamation so all would know how great Mordecai was being honored by the king. It does not seem that the king knew of the animosity between Haman and Mordecai but the public did and this reversal would have been quite a shock to all the residents. It seems impossible to adequately describe the chagrin and mortification Haman must have experienced as he robed Mordecai and led him through the streets. We can also speculate about how Mordecai felt during this process. He was being remembered by the king, adulated by the people, and saw the humiliation of Haman. We are not told how Mordecai reacted to this situation; however Mordecai was a humble person who would not have reacted negatively toward Haman.

Esther 6:12-14Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried home, mourning, with his head covered. (13) Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish origin, you will not overcome him, but will surely fall before him." (14) While they were still talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hastily brought Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared.

Mordecai returned to his previous position at the king’s gate as he was still a Jew waiting for the execution of the edict of Haman. Haman hurried home; mourning with his head covered perhaps trying to hide who he was and so nobody would see his face in such a mourning state. He told his wife and all his friends all that had happened to him as he probably expected some sympathy and comfort. However that is not what happened. They essentially told him that his downfall had already started because of his thoughts against Mordecai and that if Mordecai was really a Jew then he would surely fall before him. Most commenters think that the editor is here injecting into the mouths of Haman’s friend the Jewish belief in the ultimate victory of the Jews over the Amalekites. Also the people would be aware of the revival of the Jews since the time of Cyrus when they were returning to Jerusalem. Many versions except the Vulgate add “for God is with him” at the end of verse 13. Zeresh stated an important truth. After the Babylonian conquest of the Edomites, they did not survive as a distinct people although they were not carried into captivity. His friends tell him that he will not survive his attack of Mordecai as they probably

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realize that the God of the Jews is against him. Martin Luther was once asked what argument he would use to prove the validity of the Bible he said: “The Jews”.

His discussion with his wife and friends was interrupted as the king’s eunuchs arrived and quickly brought him to Esther’s banquet. Because of all that had happened to him, he may have forgotten about the banquet or did not want to attend for fear that he might display the humiliation he had experienced. He may have also remembered his wife’s statement: “before whom you have started to fall”. It was common for guests to be escorted to special events so the appearance of the eunuchs for that purpose would not have seemed threatening to Haman.

Chapter Seven

Esther 7:1-5 Now the king and Haman came to drink wine with Esther the queen. (2) And the king said to Esther on the second day also as they drank their wine at the banquet, "What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done." (3) Then Queen Esther replied, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me as my petition, and my people as my request; (4) for we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed and to be annihilated. Now if we had only been sold as slaves, men and women, I would have remained silent, for the trouble would not be commensurate with the annoyance to the king." (5) Then King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther, "Who is he, and where is he, who would presume to do thus?"

Esther invited the king and Haman to come dine with her. While enjoying the wine, the king again asked her the identity of her petition. “On the second day” does not mean the banquet lasted two days but that this is the second banquet. As noted, he has previously generously agreed to whatever her request might be up to half the kingdom. Esther knew that she was risking a lot in her request so she prefaced it with her desire to please the king as she dared not presume upon the good will of Xerxes. Rather than initially unveiling the identity of Haman as the culprit, she told the king that the life of her and her people have been identified for destruction, to be killed, and to be annihilated. She reveals to him that she would be one of the people killed in the pogrom. The king must have been startled and perplexed at her telling him that her life was in danger since she did not yet tell him her national origin.

The verb translated “sold” in verse 4 can be used in a general sense to mean “turned over to enemies” however here it probably alludes to the monetary agreement between Haman and the king. She says that if she was only being sold as slaves she would have kept silent for such a penalty would not be worthy of bothering the king. There must have followed a period of silence as the king grasped that she was to be one of the people killed by his decree. A very careful reading of chapter three shows that Haman never mentioned the Jews so it may be the king was unaware of the full consequences of his decree. But then he asked her who had planned such an awful event. Either he was unaware of the full meaning of his involvement with Haman or he felt he had been duped by the arrangement.

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Esther 7:6-10Esther said, "A foe and an enemy is this wicked Haman!" Then Haman became terrified before the king and queen. (7) The king arose in his anger from drinking wine and went into the palace garden; but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm had been determined against him by the king. (8) Now when the king returned from the palace garden into the place where they were drinking wine, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, "Will he even assault the queen with me in the house?" As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. (9) Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs who were before the king said, "Behold indeed, the gallows standing at Haman's house fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai who spoke good on behalf of the king!" And the king said, "Hang him on it." (10) So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, and the king's anger subsided.

Without hesitation Esther told the king that the adversary and enemy was this wicked Haman, meaning the man sitting before them. Haman then became terrified before the king and the queen. He had no understanding previously that his decree against the Jews would also be against the king’s beautiful wife to whom he was devoted. Certainly he realized that he was doomed. The enraged king stood up from drinking the wine and went into the palace garden probably to collect his thoughts so as not to act in anger. Haman could not have chosen a worse time to get up and go to Queen Esther to beg for his life as he realized that his death was imminently going to be proclaimed by the king. A Targum adds that the angel Gabriel pushed Haman on the couch as the king walked back into the room! Regardless of exactly what happened, it appeared to the king as if Haman was attacking Esther as she sat on the couch. People reclined on couches at their feasts and Haman probably grabbed the feet of Esther and kissed them as he was begging for forgiveness. There is a lot of irony here as Haman had demanded that Mordecai bow before him and now he is at the feet of Esther. When the king saw this scene, he almost exploded in anger as he proclaimed that Haman was assaulting the queen while he was still in the house.

I am sure he could imagine that Haman was angry at Esther for her accusation and the scene seemed to be telling the king that Haman was attacking her. As soon as these words left the mouth of the king the servants or court officials rushed over and covered the face of Haman. The action of covering the face of a person about to be executed is still done in the Middle East today and certainly the meaning is that the person is condemned to die. One of the king’s eunuchs, Harbonah, knew about the gallows that Haman had constructed to hang Mordecai so he told the king about it. This is probably the same Harbonah as mentioned in 1:10 and indicates that Haman had no friends in the court of the king. Telling the king that Haman had knowingly plotted the death of a man who had saved the life of the king was sufficient reason for the king to carry out the hanging of Haman so he said for them to hang him on it. Haman was probably immediately carried to the gallows at his own house and hanged. Thus a “measure for measure” justice (Exo 21:24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,) was accomplished and the anger of the king waned.

Chapter Eight

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Esther 8:1-6 On that day King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews, to Queen Esther; and Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had disclosed what he was to her. (2) The king took off his signet ring which he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman. (3) Then Esther spoke again to the king, fell at his feet, wept and implored him to avert the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite and his plot which he had devised against the Jews. (4) The king extended the golden scepter to Esther. So Esther arose and stood before the king. (5) Then she said, "If it pleases the king and if I have found favor before him and the matter seems proper to the king and I am pleasing in his sight, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king's provinces. (6) "For how can I endure to see the calamity which will befall my people, and how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?"

Persian law allowed the state to confiscate the property of those condemned as criminals so, on the day of the hanging of Haman, Xerxes gave the property of Haman to Queen Esther. Esther had also told the king her relationship to Mordecai so he had him brought into the court. The text does not tell us the exact details that Esther revealed to the king about her relationship to Mortdecai but she probably revealed her identity as a Jew. Xerxes had removed his ring from Haman and now he gave it to Mordecai who was now the prime minister with powers to act in the name of the king. Mordecai was now one of the select groups of courtiers with the right to access to the king’s presence. Esther also appointed Mordecai in charge of Haman’s property. Poetic justice has been now practiced as Haman lost his life on the gallows he had planned for the execution of Mordecai and Mordecai was now in charge of Haman’s property.

A severe problem still remained. As long as Haman’s plan to execute all Jews was still law, the lives of all the Jews including Esther and Mordecai were still in jeopardy. So Esther threw herself before the king and wept and begged him to avert the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite. The king extended the golden scepter to Esther so that she could stand before the king. She then showed proper difference to the power and position of the king as she did not assume she could ask anything of him. She asked him to please find a way to revoke the letters written by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which called for the pogrom of the Jews living in the province of the king. She told the king that she could not endure seeing the destruction of all her people. Of course such destruction would also extend to her and Mordecai. She was very diplomatic in this request for a Persian law could not be reversed. She put all the blame on Haman as she avoided blaming the king.

Esther 8:7-10So King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, "Behold, I have given the house of Haman to Esther, and him they have hanged on the gallows because he had stretched out his hands against the Jews. (8) "Now you write to the Jews as you see fit, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's signet ring; for a decree which is written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's signet ring may not be revoked." (9) So the king's scribes were called at that time in the third month (that is, the month Sivan), on the twenty-third day; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the

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Jews, the satraps, the governors and the princes of the provinces which extended from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to every province according to its script, and to every people according to their language as well as to the Jews according to their script and their language. (10) He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horses, riding on steeds sired by the royal stud.

The king began by reminding Esther and Mordecai that he had given the house of Haman to Esther and that Haman had been hanged on the gallows because he had declared war on the Jews. He then asked Mordecai to write to the Jews in whatever way he thought best to remove the destructive plan from the Jews. He told Mordecai to seal the document with the king’s ring so that it would become a decree that could not be revoked. The former decree could only be revoked by another decree sealed with the ring of the king. The royal secretaries were immediately called in to write the document in the legal language required. It was the twenty-third day of the third month, Sivan (May-June) and so two months and ten days after Haman had issued his order. They wrote out the orders given by Mordecai to the Jews and to all other government officials in all the Persian Empire. It was sent out in all the languages of the province including the language of the Jews so nobody could plead ignorance as to the order of Mordecai. He had been given authority by Xerxes so he wrote in the name of the king and sealed it with the signet ring of the king. The letters were then sent by strong, fast horses without delay to all the empire. Verse 9 is the longest verse in the Hagiographa (the writings of the OT that includes Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and all other books not in Gen to Deut, Josh to 2 Kings and Isa to Malachi).

Esther 8:11-14In them the king granted the Jews who were in each and every city the right to assemble and to defend their lives, to destroy, to kill and to annihilate the entire army of any people or province which might attack them, including children and women, and to plunder their spoil, (12) on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (that is, the month Adar). (13) A copy of the edict to be issued as law in each and every province was published to all the peoples, so that the Jews would be ready for this day to avenge themselves on their enemies. (14) The couriers, hastened and impelled by the king's command, went out, riding on the royal steeds; and the decree was given out at the citadel in Susa.

We are now told what was contained in the letters that were sent out to everyone. It seems strange to us that the Jews were told that they could defend themselves rather than stating that the previous decree had been cancelled. However a Persian law could not just be cancelled. The Jews were given the legal right to defend themselves from anyone, even an army of people or province attacking them. They could defend themselves even against any children or women and they could then plunder the spoil of those they defeated. This is in essence giving them the right to war against those waring against them acting upon the first decree. This new decree is almost a paraphrase of the edict by Haman. The day set apart for their defense of themselves was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar. This is the same day as set apart for the killing of the Jews (3:13). This is certainly “measure for measure” retaliation although it is difficult to understand how the king could have legally allowed one subset of his people to slaughter another

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group. Probably the result would be that many of the people inclined to act upon the first decree would be greatly discouraged from any action. However we will see that the Jews killed many other people in the provinces. The decree was issued in every province to all the people as the couriers went riding on royal horses. The decree was also issued at the citadel in Susa.

Esther 8:15-17Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a large crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. (16) For the Jews there was light and gladness and joy and honor. (17) In each and every province and in each and every city, wherever the king's commandment and his decree arrived, there was gladness and joy for the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many among the peoples of the land became Jews, for the dread of the Jews had fallen on them.

Mordecai then left the king and went into the city wearing the royal robes and a large crown of gold relating to his new position in the empire. The Jews then celebrated as the huge load of the pogrom had been lifted from their shoulders. As the word of the new decree spread throughout the empire there was joy for the Jews. They had a great feast and proclaimed a holiday. Also many of the people in the area who were not Jews became Jews because they were afraid of the Jews. Becoming a Jew may just mean sympathizing with them or it could mean that many people adopted the Jewish practices. It was now more dangerous to not be a Jew! Most Jewish proselytizing occurred in the intertestamental period and in NT times such as mentioned by Paul: And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women. (Acts 17:4) We also know that there was a mixed multitude of people who came out of Egypt during the Exodus: A mixed multitude also went up with them, along with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock. (Exo 12:38)

Chapter Nine

Esther 9:1-4 Now in the twelfth month (that is, the month Adar), on the thirteenth day when the king's command and edict were about to be executed, on the day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, it was turned to the contrary so that the Jews themselves gained the mastery over those who hated them. (2) The Jews assembled in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm; and no one could stand before them, for the dread of them had fallen on all the peoples. (3) Even all the princes of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and those who were doing the king's business assisted the Jews, because the dread of Mordecai had fallen on them. (4) Indeed, Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai became greater and greater.

In the providence of God, Esther became queen for “such a time as this” (Esther 4:14 "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty

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for such a time as this?"). Haman had cast lots to choose the day for the destruction of the Jews but a proverb expresses the truth of such events (Pro 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.) God will not let His people be totally destroyed (Jer 30:16 'Therefore all who devour you will be devoured; And all your adversaries, every one of them, will go into captivity; And those who plunder you will be for plunder, And all who prey upon you I will give for prey.) We see such even in modern times such as during WWII. We can be sure that even in a world where God seems to be absent He is present and acts in His time.

Nine months have elapsed since the issuing of the second decree and the day arrived when both decrees could be executed (3:7, 13; 8:12). The day had originally been set aside for the destruction of the Jews but now the tables were turned and the Jews had the upper hand over the people who hated them. It seems that there was much more widespread anti-Semitism than was originally stated when it seemed that such hatred was mainly just by Haman. The Jews were now on the offensive as they assembled in all their cities to attack any of their enemies. Nobody was able to stand does not mean that they failed to attack but it means they were not able to prevail before the Jews since a fear of them had fallen on all the peoples. The nobles and other political leaders helped the Jews because of their fear of Mordecai who had become a prominent person in the house of the king and his reputation had spread throughout the empire. He had become very powerful in his brief tenure as prime minister. In a similar fashion as to the fall and rise of Joseph, Mordecai had gone through troubles and now was in a position to help his fellow countrymen.

Esther 9:5-10Thus the Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying; and they did what they pleased to those who hated them. (6) At the citadel in Susa the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men, (7) and Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, (8) Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, (9) Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizatha, (10) the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jews' enemy; but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

The Jews now showed no mercy on their enemies as they massacred those who hated them as the king had not imposed any restraints on their actions. It seems they did not limit themselves to self-defense but hunted and destroyed any whom might bring harm to them or their families. Verses 2-4 indicate that the majority of the Persians chose not to attack the Jews so we wonder about the identity of these people who were the enemies of the Jews. They could be mercenaries striking in loyalty to Haman or they could be people who hated the Jews and would prosper at their decline. We do know that the retribution is only on those who hated the Jews. This seems to be an action by people who had a long history of unjustified persecution. Christians cannot use this event as permission to destroy our enemies for we are under the teachings of Jesus. We are not under a theocracy. There is indeed a separation of church and state in their allowed actions. For example, the death penalty has been given to the state and not the church: for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. (Rom 13:4) The OT contains many teachings needed by all Christians but our application of it must be in the context of the entire Bible and we cannot do anything that would be in opposition to the teachings of Jesus.

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At the citadel of Susa the Jews killed 500 men and also killed the ten sons of Haman whose Persian names are recorded here and nowhere else in the OT. It may seem that 500 being killed is a large number but it is a small percentage of the population of Susa so we can assume that most of the inhabitants supported the Jews. In the Hebrew text the names of the sons are written in two columns and some think that is because of the order of the hangings. The Jews did not take any plunder in Susa though the edict gave them explicit permission to do so. It seems their restraint shows their motive was not for personal enrichment but as an action primarily against their Amalekite enemies. Remember if Saul had killed the Amalekite king, Haman and his sons would not have existed so Haman and his sons were enemies of the Jews. The Jews may also be trying to be very careful not to disobey God as Saul had done when he took plunder from the Amalekites (1 Sam 15:17-23). They had man’s authority to take plunder but they mainly must obey God.

Esther 9:11-15On that day the number of those who were killed at the citadel in Susa was reported to the king. (12) The king said to Queen Esther, "The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman at the citadel in Susa. What then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! Now what is your petition? It shall even be granted you. And what is your further request? It shall also be done." (13) Then said Esther, "If it pleases the king, let tomorrow also be granted to the Jews who are in Susa to do according to the edict of today; and let Haman's ten sons be hanged on the gallows." (14) So the king commanded that it should be done so; and an edict was issued in Susa, and Haman's ten sons were hanged. (15) The Jews who were in Susa assembled also on the fourteenth day of the month Adar and killed three hundred men in Susa, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

The king was not informed as to the number of people killed in Susa but he shows no remorse or even much interest in his people being killed. He reports the information to Queen Esther about the killing of five hundred people and the ten sons of Haman. He does inquire of her as to what the Jews had done in other parts of his provinces. He also asked her for any other petition she might have as he is mainly concerned with keeping his queen happy. However this time he did not say “up to half the kingdom” as he had said previously. She did not answer his question about the number of people killed in the rest of the provinces although the author gives that number later. She demurely requested two items from the king. She asked for the Jews to be given an extra day to carry out their actions as allowed by the new decree and for the ten sons of Haman to also be hanged on the gallows. Apparently she wanted to be certain that the enemies of the Jews had all been removed from around the capital. The king granted the requests by Esther and so issued an order for the ten sons of Haman to be hanged. Since they were already dead the purpose must have been to display their bodies for all to see what happens to enemies of the Jews. The Jews of Susa then assembled again on the fourteenth day of the month Adar and killed three hundred men in Susa. However they did not take any plunder from the families of these additional people killed.

Esther 9:16-19

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Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king's provinces assembled, to defend their lives and rid themselves of their enemies, and kill 75,000 of those who hated them; but they did not lay their hands on the plunder. (17) This was done on the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing. (18) But the Jews who were in Susa assembled on the thirteenth and the fourteenth of the same month, and they rested on the fifteenth day and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing. (19) Therefore the Jews of the rural areas, who live in the rural towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a holiday for rejoicing and feasting and sending portions of food to one another.

In all other locations in the Persian Empire the Jews gathered to defend themselves against their enemies and killed 75,000 Persians who hated them but they did not take any plunder. This seems like too large a number and some scholars think the word “thousand” may have meant families or clans. If this means 75 families the total number would have to include cousins, in-laws, etc. and could be a total of several thousand. The Septuagint gives the total to be 15,000 and the Targums state 10,107 totals. The author wanted to emphasize the greatness of the victory of the Jews over their enemies.

This took place on the 13th of Adar as was allowed in the second decree. They all rested on the 14th of Adar and declared it a day of feasting and rejoicing. The Susa Jews gathered on the 13th and the 14th of Adar to kill those who hated them according to the second decree and to the extension given Esther by the king. Their declared day of feasting and rejoicing was then on the 15th of Adar. This explains why, in the days of the author, the Jews celebrated the Feast of Purim on different days of Adar. In addition to feasting and rejoicing they also gave portions of food to each other.

Esther 9:20-23Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, (21) obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually, (22) because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor. (23) Thus the Jews undertook what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them.

To make these events an official part of the records of the Persian Empire, Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in all of the provinces of Xerxes. The letters were probably posted in a prominent place in all the gates of the cities. In this letter he made the celebration of this victory an obligation as they were to celebrate on both the 14th and the 15th of Adar every year. This was a time that turned sorrow into gladness and so deserved an official Jewish holiday. They were to feast, rejoice, and send portions of food to each other and to give gifts to the poor. From that time on, the Jews did exactly as Mordecai had told them to do in his letters. Hebrew texts further state that the roll of Esther was to be read in unwalled towns on the 11th, 12th, and 13th or 14th day of Adar and in walled towns on the 15th. This section ends by stating that all Jews in the provinces did as Mordecai had instructed.

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Esther 9:24-28For Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the adversary of all the Jews, had schemed against the Jews to destroy them and had cast Pur, that is the lot, to disturb them and destroy them. (25) But when it came to the king's attention, he commanded by letter that his wicked scheme which he had devised against the Jews, should return on his own head and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. (26) Therefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. And because of the instructions in this letter, both what they had seen in this regard and what had happened to them, (27) the Jews established and made a custom for themselves and for their descendants and for all those who allied themselves with them, so that they would not fail to celebrate these two days according to their regulation and according to their appointed time annually. (28) So these days were to be remembered and celebrated throughout every generation, every family, every province and every city; and these days of Purim were not to fail from among the Jews, or their memory fade from their descendants.

The author now summarizes the events leading up to the establishment of the annual Feast of Purim. Haman, an Amalekite and the enemy of the Jews, had thrown the Pur to determine the date on which the Jews were to be killed (3:7). The Pur is the Babylonian word for “lot” and such was often used in ancient cultures dating back to at least 2000 B.C. Probably verses 24-25 contain the essence of Mordecai’s letter to the Jews. The king is given a lot of credit for what transpired. When Xerxes learned what was really meant by the first decree he signed that Haman had developed, he turned the tables on Haman and had him hanged on the gallows (7:10; 9:14). His sons were also killed as a result of the second decree and then Esther asked Xerxes to have the sons also hanged on the gallows. Since this is a summary, the time difference between the deaths of Haman and his sons is not mentioned. However, it seems that Haman and his sons were all hanged apparently as a unit for all to see.

From this time forward these two days are to be called Purim after the name of the devise used by Haman, the Pur, to determine the day of killing of the Jews. This is the first time that the author explicitly names the celebration time Purim after the plural form of Pur. As a result of the letter by Mordecai, the Jews took it upon themselves to observe the 14th and 15th days of Adar as a required festival. This festival is to be observed by all Jews and those who attach themselves to them (meaning proselytes to the Jewish faith) annually. Thus this became the first official festival for which there is no basis in the Torah. The author further stated that these days of Purim were required celebrations for all Jews and their descendants so that all the events will never be forgotten. A list of all days and seasons authorized by Mosaic Law can be found in Lev 23:1-44; 25:1-17. Today Purim is still celebrated by Jews but on the 14th day of Adar that can vary between February 25 and March 25. In some places the 15th day of Adar is called Shushan Purim and is then celebrated. The 13th day of Adar is called the Fast of Esther.

Esther 9:29-32Then Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter about Purim. (30) He sent letters to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, namely, words of peace and truth, (31) to establish these days of Purim at their appointed times, just as Mordecai the Jew and

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Queen Esther had established for them, and just as they had established for themselves and for their descendants with instructions for their times of fasting and their lamentations. (32) The command of Esther established these customs for Purim, and it was written in the book.

Queen Esther and Mordecai (identified as a Jew) then wrote under their full authority to confirm the establishment of a national Jewish holiday called Purim. It is not known what is meant by a second letter about Purim except that the first letter had been written only under the authority of Mordecai so now perhaps they want all to know that the Queen also endorses this event. Verse 30 begins with the word “he” so Mordecai sent this letter to all the Jews in all the Persian Empire stating that the words of the letter are in peace and truth. They are solidly establishing this Jewish festival to be call the days of Purim. The letter states that the days are to be established just as Mordecai and Queen Esther had established them in the earlier letter. They further state that these days are for feasting and mourning as they are to remember all the events as they transpired under them. It seems that the mourning is for the fact that a first decree had been issued for their killing and it is known that by the ninth century A.D. the Jews were observing the 13th day as a fasting day called Esther’s fast in memory of that first decree. The author ends this chapter by stating that the Feast of Purim had been confirmed by Queen Esther and so was written in the scroll so that it would be available for future generations for verification. Since so much was passed on verbally it was important to have such memorable occasions to be verified in a written scroll to be maintained forever.

Chapter Ten

Esther 10:1-3 Now King Ahasuerus laid a tribute on the land and on the coastlands of the sea. (2) And all the accomplishments of his authority and strength, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia? (3) For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews and in favor with his many kinsmen, one who sought the good of his people and one who spoke for the welfare of his whole nation.

The book closes with a statement of the greatness of Xerxes and Mordecai. The king had the ability to impose tribute on all the lands and coastlines of his kingdom meaning all the Mediterranean area. All of his accomplishments are recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia as well as the greatness of Mordecai who the king had appointed second in command. The author further states that Mordecai the Jew was second in command to King Xerxes and he was great in favor among all the Jews as he worked for the good of his people and he was the one who spoke for the welfare of the entire nation. The word “welfare” can mean “completeness”, “wholeness”, “harmony”, or “fulfillment” and not to have the meaning that is used in our time to refer to the government taking care of all the needs of the people. In the Scripture it has a spiritual as well as a physical meaning. Mordecai is singled out for praise for

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two reasons. First he worked for the good of the people rather than only for his advancement. We remember that he did not ask for praise for saving the life of the king as such reward only happened after Esther told the king about the previous event. Second he spoke up for the welfare of the Jews. It is often dangerous to speak out for the needs of people in a hostile environment but God needs people who will speak up when His people are in danger or when injustice is rampant in society.

The main theme of the book is the deliverance of God’s people from destruction but the end result of this is the establishment of the Festival of Purim. God’s name is not mentioned at all in the book but it is obvious that He is behind all the events leading to the peaceful end for the Jews as pictured in the book. There have been many times when the Jews were in great danger but God has always miraculously saved them although many have died. He remains faithful to His statement to Abraham: And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." (Gen 12:3) Today, as in all time, it is only those who have eyes to see and ears to hear who can understand some of how God is working in the world today. This book is certainly a praise to the providence of God and we can see His work in all of it even though His name is never mentioned.

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