Esther 9 & 10

1-10 11-15 16-32 10:1-3

1-10

So in the last chapter all of the Jews were celebrating their victory but the order was not reversed, but it did authorized them to strike back at their enemies. Now the month and day has come and both edicts come into effect but instead of the enemies of the Jews being able to destroy them all of the governors and royal agents are on the Jews side. In the intervening months word has spread about Esther’s ethnicity and Mordecai’s power has grown and grown so all of the people that may at one time been on the side of Haman are now on the side of the Jews. Not everyone though as just in the capital alone 500 men were killed by the Jews, assisted by the people that have joined them, in addition to all 10 of Haman’s sons are killed as well, they may have been leading the anti Jewish charge in the capital as retribution for downfall and death of Haman. But although the Jews have the right to take the spoils, they lay no hands on the plunder. A few things can be said about this, one this is in direct opposition to what Saul did when he was charged with the destruction of the Amalekites, he spared what he deemed good and took what he thought was profitable. This could have also been in respect to Ahasuerus as he would claim the property and spoils of all that were killed if the Jews do not.

11-15

Instead of being upset that 500 men were killed in the capital along with the 10 sons of Haman Ahasuerus seems happy and wonders how many have been killed in the rest of the kingdom. He then again asks Esther what she wants and promises her that it will be done. Esther asks for two things, for all of the Jews and their allies to continue the assault on the enemies of the Jews for another day and also for the sons of Haman to be put on the gallows for everyone to see, could be the very same gallows that Haman had built and was hung on. Ahasuerus agrees and makes the decree so the 10 sons of Haman are put on display on the gallows and the fight continues for another day leading to 300 more killed in the capital and again they did not take the plunder. Was Esther right for asking for this? Was it her desire to see God exulted over their enemies or was it petty revenge on Haman and his allies? Was she doing what Saul did not and finish off the Amalekites or was she just angry?

16-32

The rest of the Jews in the other provinces and cities fared much the same as in the capital and the total killed in the rest of Ahasuerus’ kingdom was 75,000 and just like in the capital none of the Jews laid their hands on any of the plunder. Queen Esther’s wish to continue the fighting does not go out to all of the kingdom so the day after the fighting, the 14th of Adar the people celebrate by feasting and having a day of rest and gladness. The Jews in the capital city since they continued the fighting on the 14th have a day of feasting on the 15th. Mordecai makes a decree that all of the Jews celebrate their deliverance from Haman’s plot on the 14th and 15th of Adar in perpetuity and since Haman castes lots or Pur to pick the day of his attempted genocide the new celebration will be called Purim. In the beginning of this study we learned that God is not mentioned anywhere in Esther but if you read what Mordecai wrote of the new celebration Esther 9:24-25 “For Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur (that is, cast lots), to crush and to destroy them. But when it came before the king, he gave orders in writing that his evil plan that he had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.” King Ahasuerus is not specifically named, just the king, if a Persian read this he or she would probably think Ahasuerus but when the Jews read it would they jump to Ahasuerus or would they interpret “But when it came before the King” as this was the work of God? Also Ahasuerus really had nothing to do with the decree for retaliation or Haman’s sons being put on the gallows, one was the plan from Mordecai and Esther and the other was Esther’s request. Ultimately it is all Gods providence but you have to wonder how much of the celebration of Purim that is instituted here is God centered and how much is man centered, we can also say the same thing today about Christmas and Easter or any celebration we have, do we give God the glory all the time?

10:1-3

1.Chapter 10 is a postscript on the tale of Esther, King Ahasuerus continues being a gentile king and imposes taxes as he sees fit across his kingdom. Mordecai becomes more and more powerful and his deeds are written in the books of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia.

This brief notice invites us to go back and reconsider the extent of the reversal that has happened for the Jews. Yes, the Jews have received rest from their enemies all around … except for one enemy, Ahasuerus himself. It was his callous indifference that enabled Haman’s edict to be signed into law in the first place, because he believed his vizier’s statement that it was not in his best interests to give this people rest (i.e. leave them alone; Esth. 3:8). Haman received his just deserts, and God the Great King intervened to give his people the rest that King Ahasuerus would have denied them. King Ahasuerus himself remained untouched, however. He was still in charge, still exercising his power and might in his own interests.

Iain M. Duguid, Esther and Ruth, ed. Richard D. Phillips and Philip Graham Ryken, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2005), 121.

Less than ten years later Ahasuerus is assassinated and there is no more details about Esther and Mordecai. What Mordecai did for less than a decade on behalf of Isreal, Jesus Christ will do for all eternity as the Prince of Peace.