Esther 9

Esther 9 describes the culmination of the Jews’ victory over their enemies, as the decree allowing them to defend themselves is carried out. Despite the plot to annihilate them, the Jews are empowered to defeat their adversaries across the Persian Empire. The chapter also covers the institution of the Feast of Purim, a celebration of their deliverance. This day becomes a significant part of Jewish tradition, marking their survival and victory.

Esther 9:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, the time came for the king’s command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them.
2 The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all people.
3 And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and all those doing the king’s work helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.
4 For Mordecai was great in the king’s palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai became increasingly prominent.
5 Thus the Jews defeated all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction, and did what they pleased with those who hated them.

The thirteenth day of Adar was anticipated as a day of destruction for the Jews, but instead, it became the day of their triumph. The Jews gathered to defend themselves and struck down their enemies throughout the Persian Empire. No one could resist them, as fear of the Jews had spread. Mordecai’s influence within the empire was substantial, and his rise to power inspired the provincial leaders to support the Jews. As a result, the Jews won a decisive victory over their adversaries.

Esther 9:6-10 (NKJV)
6 And in Shushan the citadel the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men.
7 Also Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,
8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha,
9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vajezatha—
10 the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews—they killed; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

In the capital city of Shushan, the Jews killed five hundred men, including the ten sons of Haman, the one who had orchestrated the original plot to destroy them. Despite their victory, the Jews chose not to take any plunder, demonstrating that their actions were focused on self-defense rather than personal gain. The execution of Haman’s sons symbolizes the complete downfall of his family and the end of his evil influence.

Esther 9:11-15 (NKJV)
11 On that day the number of those who were killed in Shushan the citadel was brought to the king.
12 And the king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the citadel, and the ten sons of Haman. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is your petition? It shall be granted to you. Or what is your further request? It shall be done.”
13 Then Esther said, “If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do again tomorrow according to today’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the gallows.”
14 So the king commanded this to be done; the decree was issued in Shushan, and they hanged Haman’s ten sons.
15 And the Jews who were in Shushan gathered together again on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and killed three hundred men at Shushan; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

Upon hearing of the Jews’ success, the king offered Esther another opportunity to request further action. Esther asked that the Jews in Shushan be allowed to continue defending themselves for one more day and that Haman’s sons be hanged publicly as a warning. The king agreed, and the Jews gathered again on the fourteenth day of Adar, killing an additional three hundred men. Like before, they refrained from taking any spoils, showing their focus on justice and protection, not material wealth.

Esther 9:16-17 (NKJV)
16 The remainder of the Jews in the king’s provinces gathered together and protected their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of their enemies; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.
17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. And on the fourteenth of the month they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

Across the empire, the Jews defended themselves successfully, killing seventy-five thousand of their enemies. Despite this large number, the Jews did not take any plunder, maintaining their focus on justice rather than profit. On the fourteenth day, they rested and celebrated their deliverance, turning a day that was meant for their destruction into one of feasting and joy.

Esther 9:18-19 (NKJV)
18 But the Jews who were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day, as well as on the fourteenth; and on the fifteenth of the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, who dwelt in the unwalled towns, celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar with gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and for sending presents to one another.

In Shushan, the Jews fought on both the thirteenth and fourteenth days, so they rested and celebrated on the fifteenth day. However, in the rest of the empire, the Jews celebrated on the fourteenth day after their victory. The celebration became a day of feasting, joy, and the exchange of gifts, establishing a lasting tradition in commemoration of their victory and survival.

Esther 9:20-22 (NKJV)
20 And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus,
21 to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar,
22 as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor.

Mordecai formalized the celebration by sending letters to all the Jews throughout the empire, establishing an annual observance on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar. These days commemorated the Jews’ deliverance from their enemies, turning a time of mourning into a time of joy. The feast of Purim was to be marked by feasting, joy, the exchange of gifts, and generosity toward the poor, ensuring that everyone participated in the celebration.

Esther 9:23-25 (NKJV)
23 So the Jews accepted the custom which they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them,
24 because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to annihilate them, and had cast Pur (that is, the lot), to consume them and destroy them;
25 but when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letter that this wicked plot which Haman had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

The Jews accepted the new custom of Purim, recognizing it as a celebration of their survival. Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews had failed, and the king's decree, issued through Esther’s intervention, turned Haman’s evil plan back upon him and his family. The execution of Haman and his sons symbolized the end of the threat, and the casting of the lot (Pur) became a reminder of how God turned the plans of their enemies to their favor.

Esther 9:26-28 (NKJV)
26 So they called these days Purim, after the name Pur. Therefore, because of all the words of this letter, what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had happened to them,
27 the Jews established and imposed it upon themselves and their descendants and all who would join them, that without fail they should celebrate these two days every year, according to the written instructions and according to the prescribed time,
28 that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, and that the memory of them should not perish among their descendants.

The celebration of Purim was established as a permanent part of Jewish culture, named after the "Pur" (lot) that Haman had cast. This feast was to be observed by every generation, ensuring that the story of deliverance would be remembered and celebrated by the Jewish people throughout their history. The events surrounding Purim became a powerful reminder of God's providential care for His people, turning potential destruction into joy.

Esther 9:29-32 (NKJV)
29 Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter about Purim.
30 And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews, to the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,
31 to confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had prescribed for them, and as they had decreed for themselves and their descendants concerning matters of their fasting and lamenting.
32 So the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim, and it was written in the book.

Queen Esther and Mordecai jointly sent out a second letter, reinforcing the observance of Purim with authority. Mordecai's message was sent to all the Jews across the vast Persian Empire, emphasizing the importance of peace and truth. The letter not only confirmed the celebration of Purim but also included instructions for fasting and lamentation, ensuring that the significance of the events would not be forgotten. This formalized decree ensured that Purim would be a lasting memorial of God's deliverance, inscribed in the historical records.