Esther - Lesson 9-10

• Final review:

• Chapter 1 of Esther introduces King Ahasuerus as a king over the Persian empire around 484-481 BCE ruling from the capital city of Susa.

  • This was a time the empire was preparing to go to war with the Greeks.

  • The second part of Chapter 1 unveils Queen Vashti’s refusal of the command from King Ahasuerus to come display her royal crown and her beauty, and how an edict was brought by the 7 advisors to the King for the disgrace brought upon the King and kingdom.

• In Chapter 2 we were introduced to Esther and Mordecai as the search for a new queen was carried out.

  • Esther is crowned queen and Mordecai saves the life of the king.

• Chapter 3 introduces Haman, who is elevated by king Ahasuerus, and shunned by Mordecai, and displays he is the enemy of the Jews with intensions to exterminate them from the kingdom.

• Chapter 4 displays the response to Haman’s edict of Jewish extermination by Mordecai; the Jews’ mourning, and Esther’s decision to approach the king.

• Chapter 5 The king receives Esther to his court and desires to honor her wishes while Haman is focused on Mordecai’s death.

• Chapter 6 Is the beginning turning point in the narrative. Human’s plot is reversed as Mordecai is honored and not eliminated.

• Chapter 7 Esther reveals to King Ahasuerus Haman’s plans for the extermination of the Jews and ultimately he is hanged on the gallows he made for Mordecai.

• Chapter 8 has Mordecai replacing Haman in his position serving the king and becoming manager of the home given to Esther by the king.

  • The king can’t revoke Haman’s edict as Esther requests. Mordecai writes a new edict for the defense of the Jews.

Esth. 9:1 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.
Esth. 9:2 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.
Esth. 9:3 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.
Esth. 9:4 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.

• Verse 1 unfolds identifying the time as happening in the twelfth month called Adar, on the thirteen day.

  • This was the day clearly defined in was is described as the king’s command and edict as a day of action.

• The plan for the enemies of the Jews was to gain the mastery over them or as Haman’s edict endorsed it was to kill the Jews and take their plunder.

  • The overview of verse 1 says the opposite happened and the Jews were victorious over those who hated them.

• Verse 2 details how this victory was achieved recording how the Jews assembled in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

  • The Jews were specifically gathering to defend themselves from those who sought to harm them.

  • This might indicate the Jews living outside the cities gathered with the Jews inside the cities to help provide support to their fellow Jews.

• As the Jews gather together the description is there was no one that could stand before them.

• The reason for the outcome for the Jews is because the dread of the Jews had fallen on all the peoples.

• Verse 3 describes support for the Jews coming from all the princes of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and those who were doing the king’s business assisted the Jews.

  • These leaders supported the Jews because they were afraid not to support Mordecai as they feared him.

• Verse 4 explains why these leaders had come to fear Mordecai as he was great in the king’s house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai became greater and greater.

  • It has been nine months since the edict was issued by Mordecai directing the defense of the Jews to occur on the thirteenth of Adar.

• Mordecai appears to have done the work of his position before the king gaining notoriety with those who are in positions of power.

Esth. 9:5 Thus the Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying; and they did what they pleased to those who hated them.
Esth. 9:6 At the citadel in Susa the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men,
Esth. 9:7 and Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,
Esth. 9:8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha,
Esth. 9:9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizatha,
Esth. 9:10 the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jews’ enemy; but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.
Esth. 9:11 On that day the number of those who were killed at the citadel in Susa was reported to the king.

• Verse 5 details that on the day defined in both edicts the Jews throughout the kingdom struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying; and they did what they pleased to those who hated them.

• There were still those in the kingdom who had determined they would seek to attack the Jews in spite of the edict allowing the Jews to gather to defend themselves.

  • It did not end well for the enemy of the Jews.

• These would be people not represented by the leadership in the provinces as verse 3 indicated the leaders gave their support to Mordecai.

• Verse 6 clarifies specifically at the citadel in Susa the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men.

• Verses 7-9 adds 10 individuals by name who were killed; Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizatha.

• Verse 10 informs us these were the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jews’ enemy.

  • The Jews did not lay their hands on the plunder. There would have been significant plunder as Haman had been a very wealthy individual and by extension his sons would have inherited much of his wealth when he was hanged on the gallows by king Ahasuerus.

  • There would no financial incentive to be obtained by the Jews in their action against their enemies only self preservation.

• In verse 11 the king receives a report of the number of those killed at the citadel of Susa.

Esth. 9:12 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.”
Esth. 9:13 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.”
Esth. 9:14 So the king commanded that it should be done so; and an edict was issued in Susa, and Haman’s ten sons were hanged.
Esth. 9:15 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.
Esth. 9:16 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.
Esth. 9:17 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.
Esth. 9:18 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.
Esth. 9:19 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 verse 12 the king identifies he knew about the five hundred men killed and about the ten songs of Haman killed in the citadel of Susa and now wants to know what had happened in the rest of the kingdom.

• Before the king receives a report of the impact of Mordecai’s edict in the kingdom he asks what Esther’s petition would be now. King Ahasuerus adds that her petition would be granted.

• Verse 13 details Esther’s request, “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.”

• Esther wishes to complete the job in the capitol of Susa of removing anyone who desired to kill the Jews.

  • This day was not a day given in the original edict from Haman to attack the Jews but Esther is requesting this additional day to finish removing the enemies of the Jews who were still in Susa.

• Esther also wants the bodies of Haman’s dead sons displayed on gallows as a warning to anyone who would think to come against in the Jews in the future.

  • The second reason to have the ten son’s visible may be to demonstrate those who lead the attacks against the Jews are dead.

  • When the number ten is used in the scriptures it signifies a testimony or witness of something.

    • 10 Commandments,

    • 10 plagues on Egypt,

    • 10 elders called by Boaz to witness for him at the gate

    • 10 days testing Daniel and his friends,

    • Prophetic books give 10 kings, or 10 diadems or 10 horns, Parables include 10 virgins, 10 talents, 10 silver coins, 10 slaves with 10 minas ruling 10 cities, 10 lepers healed

  • The 10 sons of Haman were killed during the thirteen of Adar and now Esther’s desire is to have the bodies hanged as a testimony of what happens to those who come against the Jews.

  • Verse 14 clarifies the king commanded with an edict in Susa that Haman’s ten sons were to be hanged.

• In verse 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.

  • Susa was the capital and the seat of government in the Persian empire there may have been more enemies gathered here for this event.

    • This was a final power struggle.

  • There is a specific reference to the Jews not laying their hands on the plunder.

  • This would be an expected outcome for any victor and this would have made a positive impression on those who took notice of how the Jews were different in this situation.

  • The Jews were not acting with any monetary incentive only defending themselves from their enemies.

• Verse 16 details that outside of Susa in the king’s provinces the Jews had assembled to defend their lives and rid themselves of their enemies.

  • The Jews killed 75,000 of those who hated them.

  • It is repeated here that the Jews did not take any plunder.

  • The Jew’s enemies were still focused on their destruction and had still gathered to attack them.

  • The influence of Haman’s sons may have been the organization of these actions.

• The number 75,000 seems very large but remember the Persian kingdom was vast to include 127 provinces.

  • If there were enemies in all the provinces that would be about 600 per province though it is doubtful all the provinces were the same size or that the numbers were equally distributed.

• The Jews again did not take the plunder which would be the normal outcome in such a defeat of one’s enemies.

  • This is a testimony for the Jews to those in the kingdom.

• Verse 17 identifies the 75,000 men attacked the Jews on the thirteen day of the month of Adar and that is the day the Jew’s defended themselves.

  • After the day of defeat of their enemies on the fourteenth day they rested and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing.

• In verse 18 based on the king’s command the Jews who were in Susa assembled on the thirteenth and the fourteenth of the same month.

  • They did not rest until the fifteenth day and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing.

• Verse 19 indicates this is why 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.

  • This day was a day of rejoicing versus what could of been a day of sorrow and mourning.

  • This day was to be celebrated with feasting versus what could have been fasting.
    This day there was to be sharing portions of food with each other versus having things taken away as plunder.

Esth. 9:20 Then 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,
Esth. 9:21 obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually,
Esth. 9:22 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.

• In verse 20 the commemoration of these events is secured by Mordecai as he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far.

• Verse 21 clarifies what Mordecai desire the Jews to do in obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually.

• In verse 22 the reason for the annual celebration was because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies.

  • This was a time which turned for the Jews from sorrow to gladness and from mourning into a holiday.

  • Because the Jews experienced gladness they were to make these days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

    • Gifts to the poor may be a way to help everyone have the opportunity to celebrate even those who could not otherwise afford to participate in the celebration.

    • All Jews saved all Jews celebrate.

Esth. 9:23 Thus the Jews undertook what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them.
Esth. 9:24 For 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.
Esth. 9:25 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.
Esth. 9:26 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,
Esth. 9:27 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.
Esth. 9:28 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.
Esth. 9:29 Then Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter about Purim.
Esth. 9:30 He sent letters to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, namely, words of peace and truth,
Esth. 9:31 to establish these days of Purim at their appointed times, just as Mordecai the Jew and 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.
Esth. 9:32 The command of Esther established these customs for Purim, and it was written in the book.

• Verse 23 is a beginning of an overview of what has taken place including answering questions for those who might not have been familiar with the details of the events.

• The first thing of importance is to establish the Jews completed what they started removing the enemies of the Jews, their actions were justified as they responded within the edict given to them by Mordecai.

• Now in verse 24 the justification for the edict to be written by Mordecai as well as the need for the destruction of the Jew’s enemy is established.

  • First it is established Haman is an Agate and an adversary of the Jews.

  • Secondly he schemed against the Jews with the goal of destroying them.

  • Finally Haman had utilized the casting of lots referred to as Pur in his desire to destroy them.

    • The casting of lots was to determine the day the destruction was to be carried out.

    • This day the enemy believed was chosen with the aid of the supernatural by casting of lots.

    • The enemy does not comprehend the sovereign control of events established by God.

Prov. 16:33  The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the LORD.

• God is in control of the outcome of every decision.

  • Verse 25 is a high level overview of what the king’s part in the decisions were.

• First is the clarification the king had not been aware of what Haman was planning to carry out against the Jews.

  • The king then commanded in a letter (written by Mordecai) to reverse the intention of Haman’s edict.

    • This was still at the command of the king.

  • The king was responsible for Haman being hanged on the gallows.

  • The king was responsible for Hamas’ sons bodies being hanged on the gallows.

  • This is also a demonstration of what God has spoken to Abraham in Genesis 12:3:

Gen. 12:3 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.”

• Those who would bless the Jewish nation would be blessed and those who would curse this nation would be cursed.

  • We see this fulfilled in Esther:

Esther 9:26 The name given to these days because of what happened and witnessed by the Jews of that time was Purim taken from the name Pur.

• Verse 27 establishes this custom was for the Jews who had experienced the miracle of being saved from their enemies.

  • It was also to be celebrated for two days by their descendants for future generations to be reminded of this miracle from God.

  • It was for the Gentiles who had joined with the Jews in defending them from their enemies.

  • This was a celebration that was to be remembered every year moving forward in the future. It was never to be forgotten.

• Verse 28 again established these days were to be a remembrance and a celebration for every generation so that it would not fade from their memory.

• In verse 29 the letter establishing the celebration and giving the reason for the celebration was done by Queen Esther and Mordecai.

• In verse 30 The letters are described as words of peace and truth sent to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus.

  • The purpose of the letter defined in verse 31 was to first establish the days of Purim at their appointed times using what Mordecai and Esther had established, and then shared with their descendants including when they had fasted and their lamentations.

• Verse 32 The command to establish the customs for Purim is credited to Esther.

  • This was recorded in the book.

  • There is no definition of the book to know what book is being referred to here.

• Chapter 9 is the overview of the impact of these events on the Jews and the establishment of Purim.

  • This was of significant importance as this was the first time a feast to be celebrated perpetually for the Jews was being established outside of those given in the Torah.

Esth. 10:1 Now King Ahasuerus laid a tribute on the land and on the coastlands of the sea.
Esth. 10:2 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?
Esth. 10:3 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.

• Chapter 10 gives an overview of how the events impacted the non Jews of the kingdom.

  • In verse 1 King Ahasuerus required a tribute or tax to be collected.

  • In verse 2 King Ahasuerus receives credit for the accomplishments of Mordecai as he was the one who advanced him to a great position in the kingdom.

• The list of the accomplishments were written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia.

  • Remember this kingdom was known for recording every noteworthy event in their archives and the scriptures confirm this narrative would have been included in these pages of their history.

• Verse 3 reminds the reader that Mordecai was second in command of the kingdom under King Ahasuerus.

  • Mordecai was seen as great among Jews and seen in good light by his kinsmen.

  • Finally the legacy of Mordecai is that he sought the good of the Jews and he cared about all the people in the entire kingdom.

• The book of Esther is the sole reason for the celebration for the Jews known as Purim.

  • One of the traditions during the celebration of Purim is to read the book of Esther in home celebrations and in some synagogues.

• The Book of Esther is one of five Scrolls contained in the Megillot found in the third section of Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible.

• Often when the reading occurs the audience is encouraged to participate by making happy noises when the hero and heroine are mentioned and likewise booing when Haman’s name is mentioned.

• A second common theme in the celebration of Purim is the wearing of masks, like some folks celebrate Halloween.

  • There are some that trace this back to the role playing of the characters of the story of Esther and other who say the disguise is a picture of how God was not mentioned in the story of Esther but was clearly behind the scene the entire time. Behind “a cloak of the nature order”

• A third common feature in the celebration is delivering gifts to a friend usually food, known as mishloach manot, Hebrew for “sending portions to one another”  At least two foods should be given to represents gifts in the plural sense.

• Two common foods shared during Purim are Hamantashen and kreplach.

  • Hamantashen is a triangular pastry with filling, originally done with poppy seeds then moved to prunes and now it can be any type of jam or nuts or chocolate.

• The kreplach is a Jewish ravioli filled with minced meat, garlic, onion and spices.

• Gifts can also to be sent to someone who is considered a poorer Jew or a person in need.

• Fourth is celebrating with a festive meal called the Seudah.

  • Jews are to eat, drink and be merry.

• For some there can be a day of fasting preceding the celebration of Purim, however there is to not be fasting on the day of Purim.

• There is an acceptance that no eulogies are to be spoken on Purim.

• Some lessons to take away from the study of Esther:

  • God initiates all things to accomplish His Will.

  • We are to be responsive to His prompting as Mordecai and Esther were.

  • God will bring about His Will because He alone is sovereign over His creation.

  • We are to be in alignment with His Will.

Prov. 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
Prov. 3:6  In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.

• God will acknowledge the man whom He desires to honor.

• God will protect His people His way (Jews and Christians)

• God’s Word is irrevocable

• We are to be in perpetual worship of all God has done in our lives as our testimony to His goodness, as the celebration of Purim demonstrates for us.

• God is an active God in the lives of mankind. He loves us!

1John 4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
1John 4:16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
1John 4:17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.
1John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
1John 4:19 We love, because He first loved us.

• He has not left us alone in this world and He is coming back;

Heb. 10:35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
Heb. 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
Heb. 10:37  FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,
HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.
Heb. 10:38  BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH;
AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.

• I pray that you know this God as your savior through His son Jesus and you know the Love of this God though which you will desire to honor and serve Him with every part of your life.

Luke 10:27 And he answered, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
Luke 10:28 And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE.”