Esther

Esther Chapters 9 and 10

The Jews Destroy Their Enemies

Esther 9:1 Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)
2 The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.

The enemies of the Jews were still going to fight against the Jews by the authority of the 1st decree by King Ahasuerus which he signed when Haman talked him into it by make the king think there were people in the land that were dangerous to his kingdom. Reminds me of the time, an American president was persuaded that the leader of Iraq had weapons of mass destruction which as it turned out, there was no weapons. Well, Haman was wrong and the Jewish people were not out to destroy the Persian government at all.

The king couldn't change his decree because of a law of the Medes and Persians that once they made a law, it could not be reversed so after the king found out that he was deceived by Haman, he just made another decree that the Jewish people had the right to defend themselves and fight back if anyone came against them.

In the month of Adar on the 13th day, (probably our month of March), was the day the first decree was to be in force.

Esther 9:3 And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.
4 For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.

The same Mordecai that wept and mourned when the king's first decree was published was the same Mordecai that now was in charge by the authority of King Ahasuerus to rule. He was given the same statis of authority that Haman once had. The people feared him. In fact the rulers of the provinces and officers actually helped him knowing the king was now on the side of the Jewish people since they were the people of his beloved Esther.

Esther 9:5 Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.
6 And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.
7 And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,
8 And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,
9 And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,
10 The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.
11 On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.
12 And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done.
13 Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.
14 And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.

This shows that Haman's sons had a part in his conspiracy against Mordecai, when Haman desired to kill Mordecai and the rest of the Jewish people that he hated.

Esther 9:15 For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.
16 But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,

All through this slaughter of their enemies, they refused to take the spoils of war. They might have refused to do this because of the original commandment of God given to King Saul to wipe out Amalek and not take the spoils. This story is in 1 Samuel 15. Because of Saul's disobedience, he was removed from being king and God had Samuel anoint David to take his place. Haman was a descendent of Amalek. He had the same spirit within him as Amalek had when they fought against Israel many years before. That story is in Exodus chapter 17.

We see from this account that the enemies of the Jews had a choice whether to fight against the Jews or stay home and respect the desire of the king to save the lives of Esther's people. They didn't have to fight against them and be killed.

Esther 9:17 On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
18 But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

They took time to feast and rejoice for their liberty. Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone could live in peace and not have to have walls and towers to keep them safe but just be free to live and raise their families without fear of enemies. When Jesus comes to rule the earth, that is the way it will be. Unfortunately it will not happen until then although there is one that is to come that we call the anti-christ who will gain power by pretending to bring peace but there will be no peace under him after the first 3 and one half years of his rule if my understanding of bible prophecy is correct.

The Feast of Purim Inaugurated

Esther 9:20 And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,
21 To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,
22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.
23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;
24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;
25 But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.
26 Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,
27 The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;
28 And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.
29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.
30 And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,
31 To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.
32 And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.

God commanded Israel to keep the Passover feast which remined them of their deliverance from the plague on Egypt that the first born would die among them. They could escape this plague by placing the blood of a spotless lamb on the door posts of their houses and not going out until the plague was past. That signified the coming of Jesus when the blood He shed was given to cover the sins of all who would just believe and receive Him. He was the spotless, sinless lamb of God.

They kept other feasts ordained by God such as the feast of Pentecost, feast of trumpets, and a few others. Although I don't see any scripture that God ordains the feast of Purim or Hanukah, it was also feasts of rememberance and Thanksgiving for God's deliverance from their enemies.

Purim is still kept by some of the Jewish people today. The books of Daniel, Nehemiah, Ezra and of course this book of Esther is read by those that keep this feast even today. Purim is the name of rememberance of time Haman casts lots to destroy the Jewish people. Pur is another name for lots. They also gave to the poor during this feast.

The Greatness of Mordecai

Esther 10:1 And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.
2 And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto 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 next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.

Like Joseph and Moses many years before, Mordecai started out as someone hated by those that had the power over him, then he was exalted above them all in the long run. By the hand of God a slave can become a king, the weak can become strong, the humble will be exalted. Jesus came as a carpendar's son and was crucified with the thieves. Yet He rose from the grave after 3 days. He now sits on the right hand of God our Father. Jesus will return and rule as King in the latter days. DC

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