Esther 9

CHAPTER Esther 9:1-9

REVIEW QUESTIONS

What is the purpose of the Jews gathering in their cities?

How did the princes and satraps and governors help the Jews?

How far did the Jews go in destroying those who hated them?

What is peculair about the Masoretic listing of the ten sons of Haman?

Why did Esther ask for a second day for killing those who hated the Jews?

What does the exactness of the names and numbers of those slain say about the source of the book of Esther?

7. Why were there two days for the celebration of the feast of Purim?

CHAPTER Esther 9:20-32

REVIEW QUESTIONS

How did Mordecai settle the issue of which day would be kept as a feast day?

What are Haman’s ears?

Why did the Jews name the feast, Purim?

Why do you think the Jews of all ages have perpetuated the feast of Purim inasmuch as it is not in the O.T. Law?

What was the point of Mordecai and Esther sending a second letter concerning the feast of Purim?

Esther 9:1-5

X. Preservation of the Jews, Esther 9:1-19

A. Power

TEXT: Esther 9:1-5

1

Now in the twelfth month, which 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, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have rule over them, (whereas 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 was fallen upon all the peoples.

3

And all the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and they that did the king’s business, helped the Jews; because the fear or Mordecai was fallen upon them.

4

For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went forth throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.

5

And the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did what they would unto them that hated them.

Today’s English Version, Esther 9:1-5

The thirteenth day of Adar came, the day on which the royal proclamation was to take effect, the day when the enemies of the Jews were hoping to get them in their power. But instead, the Jews triumphed over them. In the Jewish quarter of every city in the empire the Jews organized to attack anyone who tried to harm them. People everywhere were afraid of them, and no one could stand against them. In fact, all the provincial officialsgovernors, administrators, and royal representativeshelped the Jews because they were all afraid of Mordecai. It was well known throughout the empire that Mordecai was now a powerful man in the palace and was growing more powerful. So the Jews could do what they wanted with their enemies. They attacked them with swords and slaughtered them.

COMMENTS

Esther 9:1-2 Reversal of Massacre: For comments on the date for assault upon the Jews see our comments on Esther 8:9-14. The Jews prepared as their enemies prepared and they were surely aware of one another’s preparations for they both had nearly nine months to make preparations for the great struggle. Those who hated the Jews and anticipated slaughtering and plundering their families and goods suffered a calamitous reversal. The Hebrew word shelot translated rule in verses one and two, means more precisely, prevail over.

The Jews gathered in their cities through all the provinces. This does not mean there were cities set aside for exclusive habitation by the Jews, but cities where Jews had formed an element in the population. It was not the intention of the Jews to provoke hostility by going where they did not belong. They were not the aggressors. They simply knew that for purposes of defense, there would be strength in numbers, so they grouped together in any city or town where enough Jews lived to organize their resistance. They were so well organized and highly motivated no man could withstand them. They fought with such ferocity, all the people of the Persian empire stood in awe and fear of them. The Jews were faced with the possibility of total extinction. It was all precipitated by personal prejudice and a personal vendetta. There were no great issues of territorial infringements, rebellions, or national sovereignty involved. The war against them was irrational, unjust and genocidal. They had done nothing whatsoever to deserve such murder. Right was on their side. They fought with abandon to preserve their race and to uphold the justness of the cause.

Esther 9:3-5 Regency of Mordecai: In addition to the fervor with which the Jews fought against those who attacked them, they had on their side the Queen (Esther) of the empire and Mordecai, prime-minister to the king. Many ruling and administrative officials of the Persian empire helped the Jews. One of the reasons behind the aid of the officials of the provinces is their fear or respect for the position of Mordecai, the Jew. Mordecai’s authority was, of course, equal to that which Haman had possessedsecond to the emperor. In addition, Mordecai’s greatness was much more enhanced and respected because he cared for others and used his office for their sake and not his own glory as Haman had done (cf. Esther 8:2; Esther 8:15; Esther 10:3). Esther 9:4 is somewhat different in the Septuagint, reading thusly: For the decree of the king was being enforced that he (Mordecai) should be reputed in all the kingdom. And, strangely enough, Esther 9:5 is entirely omitted from the Septuagint. The Hebrew word ratzah is translated what they would in Esther 9:5, but the Hebrew word has more the connotation, what was good or acceptable, as they saw fit. The Hebrew resistance was not unbridled willfulness, but they were able to defend themselves against their enemies to whatever extent they deemed necessary. Their enemies were defeated on every hand, but the Jews did not plunder their enemies propertyalthough the Jews had official sanction to do so!

Esther 9:6-15

B. Progress

TEXT: Esther 9:6-15

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 Vaizatha,

10

the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jews-’ enemy, slew they; but on the spoil they laid 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 then 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 that 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 a decree was given out in Shushan; and they hanged Haman’s ten sons,

15

And the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month of Adar, and slew three hundred men in Shushan; but on the spoil they laid not their hand.

Today’s English Version, Esther 9:6-15

In Susa, the capital city itself, the Jews killed five hundred people. Among them were the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews: Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha. However, there was no looting. That same day the number of people killed in Susa was reported to the king. He then said to Queen Esther, In Susa alone the Jews have killed five hundred people, including Haman’s ten sons. What must they have done out in the provinces! What do you want now? You shall have it. Tell me what else you want, and you shall have it. Esther answered, If it please Your Majesty, let the Jews in Susa do again tomorrow what they were allowed to do today. And have the bodies of Haman’s ten sons hung from the gallows. The king ordered this to be done, and the proclamation was issued in Susa. The bodies of Haman’s ten sons were publicly displayed. On the fourteenth day of Adar the Jews of Susa got together again and killed three hundred more people in the city. But again, they did no looting.

COMMENTS

Esther 9:6-10 Names: The Masoretic text requires that the names of the ten sons of Haman be written in a perpendicular column on the right-hand side of the page, with the vav (and), on the left-hand side. The origin of this may be from the tradition that the ten sons were hanged on a tall stake, one above the other. It is also traditional that when the book of Esther is read at Purim celebration, the names of the ten sons plus the word ten are all to be read in one breath, because, as the Talmud states, they all died together.

All the names except Adalia have Persian meanings: Parshandatha means given to Persia; Dalphon means arrogant; Aspatha means horse; Poratha means having many chariots; Aridatha means liberal; Parmashta means greatest; Arisai means to conquer; Aridai means to give; and Vaizatha means strong as the wind. Since much of the book of Esther has as its source the royal chronicles, the author was probably impressed with the importance of these ten sons of the former prime-minister and decided such documentation would be beneficial for all subsequent readers. The listing of the names certainly fits in with the precise and exact character of the whole book of Esther.

In Esther 9:10 we are told that the Jews did not lay their hands on the property of those they killed. The edict given by Haman (Esther 3:13) was that the Jewish victims should have their property plundered. When Xerxes allowed Mordecai to give official permission to the Jews to resist the massacre, permission was also given (Esther 8:11) to plunder the property of their attackers. The fact that the Jews did not seize the property of those they killed in their resistance is mentioned a number of times (Esther 9:10; Esther 9:15-16) in order to emphasize that they were concerned only with defending themselves. They were not motivated by greed in the grizzly work of lethally defending their lives.

Esther 9:11-15 Numbers: The king received an official report of the number slain. It was customary even in ancient days to keep a body count. In the Babylonian transcript of the Behistun Inscription the numbers of those slain in battle are given with precise exactness (546, 2024, 4203, etc.). The king was careful to keep himself informed on the progress of the resistance. Because of this, the Jews knew they were not left to kill indiscriminately.

The area of the hill where the palace complex stood was more than 100 acres. Archaeologists have found the ruins of many houses in this area. It was probably densely populated. It is not at all improbable that 500 men (Esther 9:6) would be slain in their attempt to attack the Jews within the palace complex itself.

When the king heard the number slain within the walls of the acropolis (hill area), he immediately informed Esther (probably to prove to her that he most certainly had the best interests of his queen and her people at heart). He also knew this initial success of the Jewish resistance would not be all that was needed to wipe out the violence aimed at the Jews. So the king offers further assistance to whatever extent his queen has determined to be needful. Perhaps Mordecai had information that a second day of purging the city of those plotting violence against the Jews would be necessary, Susa was, after all, the chief capital and would naturally be the center of anti-Jewish violence. Mordecai knew how matters really stood, and as prime-minister advised the queen of Persia, that another day would be necessary to rid the capital city of the avowed murderers. It is really doubtful that Esther would have made this request for another day without the prompting of Mordecai. The request for making the dead bodies of Haman’s sons public spectacles was to provide a strong deterrent to any non-Jews who had not participated in the violence but might be contemplating it! Capital punishment of those convicted of capital crimes is both biblical and practical. Capital punishment serves not only as a deterrent but also produces a proper execution of justice (see our Special Study, The Christian and War, Isaiah, Vol. II, pg. 72, College Press).

Ancient cities usually consisted of a walled portion (sometimes with an acropolis or hill where the governmental complex stood) and an unwalled portion. Many people lived in houses outside the city walls and usually fled inside the walls when sufficiently warned in advance of an enemy’s approach. The 300 slain (Esther 9:14) on the day following the slaying of the initial 500 were probably people residing outside the palace complex, perhaps outside the walls of Susa. The necessity of taking two days in the capital city of Susa to dispatch all those who would attack the Jews apparently resulted in a difference in days of celebrating the victory (cf. Esther 9:19). The Jews of Susa could not rest on the 14th of Adar with those in other places of the empire for they had to continue their struggle against their foes on that day.

Esther 9:16-19

C. Peace

TEXT: Esther 9:16-19

16

And 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 them that hated them seventy and five thousand; but on the spoil they laid not their hand.

17

This was done on the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

18

But the Jews that were in 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 do the Jews of the villages, that dwell in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

Today’s English Version, Esther 9:16-19

The Jews in the provinces also organized and defended themselves. They rid themselves of their enemies by killing seventy-five thousand people who hated them. But they did no looting. This was on the thirteenth day of Adar. On the next day, the fourteenth, there was no more killing, and they made it a joyful day of feasting. The Jews of Susa, however, made the fifteenth a holiday, since they had slaughtered their enemies on the thirteenth and fourteenth and then stopped on the fifteenth. This is why Jews who live in small towns observe the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a joyous holiday, a time for feasting and giving gifts of food to one another.

COMMENTS

Esther 9:16-17 Cessation: Out in the provinces (which included the entire Persian empirefrom Asia Minor to India) the Jews organized and mobilized themselves. With the help of the Persian officials who had Persian and provincial troops at their command, the Jews killed 75,000 people who had attacked them on the 13th day of Adar. The LXX has the number 15,000 here rather than 75,000 and some critics have declared the Hebrew text to be incredible. Rawlinson says that the number 75,000 is believable. When one considers the vastness of the empire, the wide dispersion of the Jewish communities within that empire, the fact that the Persian officials throughout the empire gave aid to the Jews (probably with their troops), and the fact that the Persian officials were not all that careful to preserve the lives of provincials, one must admit that the number 75,000 is more credible than 15,000. The Jews killed 800 in the city of Susa alone. Multiply that number by 94 cities and you have slightly over 75,000. Do not forget there were 127 provinces in the empire (Esther 8:9). The author repeats the fact that the Jews did not plunder the properties of their dead enemies.

They needed only one day out in the provinces to kill all those who hated them; that was all done on the 13th of Adar (February-March). On the day following (while the Jews in the capital city of Susa were still fighting) these Jews of the provinces rested and declared a holiday. The Hebrew word nucha is translated rest. Nucha is more generic than shavat (Sabbath). Nucha connotes physical repose and tranquility while shavat denotes the legislative, ceremonial, spiritual rest.

Esther 9:18-19 Celebration: The circumstances of the struggle within the city of Susa (two days duration) resulted in a difference regarding the date of the day of rejoicing between the Jews of the capital city Susa, and the Jews of the provinces. The Jews of Susa could not rest until the third day which was the 15th of Adar; the provincial Jews rested on the 14th of Adar. When Esther and Mordecai attempted to set up a national celebration for this great deliverance some difficulty arose as to which day would be set aside for all Jews to commemorate it. It was diplomatically decided that both days would be kept (Esther 9:21).

We may learn the following lessons from this chapter:

When justice and truth is on the side of a people, they command the respect of reasonable men.

The forces of human government are ordained of God as tools for preservation of ordered society.

The consequences of a man’s evil is often suffered by his offspring.

While it may be ethical to preserve the sanctity of human life by force, it is not ethical to take by force another’s property.

Memorializing great victories of justice with holidays has didactic benefit for future generations.

Esther 9:20-22

XI. Purim Instituted, Esther 9:20-32

A. Practiced

TEXT: Esther 9:20-22

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 enjoin 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 had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

Today’s English Version, Esther 9:20-22

Mordecai had these events written down and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, throughout the Persian Empire, telling them to observe the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar as holidays every year. These were the days on which the Jews had rid themselves of their enemies; this was a month that had been turned from a time of grief and despair into a time of joy and happiness. They were told to observe these days with feasts and parties, giving gifts of food to one another and to the poor.

COMMENTS

Esther 9:20-22 : Mordecai’s proclamation settled the issue of which Jews would keep which days of the Feast of Purim; all Jews were to keep it both days. At the time of Josephus it appears the Jews were uniformly keeping Purim (Antiq. VI:13). In Hasmonean times the feast was known as the Day of Mordecai (2Ma. 15:36). The day is still kept by Jews all over the world. Purim is classified as a minor festival and work is permitted on its day. There is a Yiddish saying that as a high temperature does not denote serious illness neither is Purim a festival.

The main feature of Purim is the unique chanting (different than the Pentateuch or the Haphtarah) of the Megillah (scroll) of Esther both evening and morning, with its accompanying blessings and hymns. The four verses of redemption (Esther 2:5; Esther 8:15-16; Esther 10:3) are read in louder voice than the other verses. It is customary for the children to hiss and boo and stamp their feet and make noises with specially made rattles every time the name of Haman is mentioned. When the name of Esther or Mordecai is mentioned they cheer. At some celebrations an effigy of Haman is burned. At least two portions of food (often confectionery) is sent to a friend, and one must give a present of money to at least two poor men. A special festive meal is eaten on Purim evening of boiled beans and peas (commemorating Daniel’s pulse diet, Daniel 1:12), and three-cornered pies known as hamantaschen (Haman’s ears). One Jewish-Babylonian teacher named Rava has said that a man is obliged to drink so much wine on Purim that he becomes incapable of knowing whether he is cursing Haman or blessing Mordecai. The more ascetic-minded rabbis tried to explain this away, but liberal imbibing of alcohol is generally encouraged on Purim. Among the masses it became almost a general rule that on Purim everything is allowed. It became customary to have plays and carnivals on the day and people dressed up in costumes, fancy dress, masquerading and often times men were dressed as women and women dressed as men.

Esther 9:23-28

B. Perpetuated

TEXT: Esther 9:23-28

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 plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;

25

but when the matter came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he had 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 of Purim, after the name of Pur. Therefore, because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and that 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 that it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to the writing thereof, and according to the appointed time thereof, 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 remembrance of them perish from their seed.

Today’s English Version, Esther 9:23-28

So the Jews followed Mordecai’s instructions, and the celebration became an annual custom. Haman son of Hammedathathe descendant of Agag and the enemy of the Jewish peoplehad cast lots (purim, they were called) to determine the day for destroying the Jews; he had planned to wipe them out. But Esther went to the king, and the king issued written orders with the result that Haman suffered the fate he had planned for the Jewshe and his sons were hanged from the gallows. That is why the holidays are called Purim, the word for lots. Because of Mordecai’s letter and because of all that had happened to them, the Jews made it a rule for themselves, their descendants, and anyone who might become a Jew, that at the proper time each year these two days would be regularly observed according to Mordecai’s instructions. It was resolved that every Jewish family of every future generation in every province and every city should remember and observe the days of Purim for all time to come.

COMMENTS

Esther 9:23-26 a Symbolism: Among the more esoteric and mystical Jews (known as the Kabbalists) and the modern hassidim, much is made of Purim as the celebration of God at work, as it were behind the scenes, unlike Passover which celebrates God’s more direct intervention. The lots of Purim are compared with the lots cast on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:8), so what men call fate or luck is, in reality, a manifestation of Jehovah’s providential care.

It does appear from the text (Esther 9:26) that the reason the festival is named Pur (lots) is because Hainan’s lots turned out to be his undoing. On the basis of God’s redemptive deliverance documented in the past, it would be logical for any believing Jew to think that the massacre planned through the casting of lots by Haman was reversed by the providence of God as He worked behind the scenes.

Esther 9:26 b - Esther 9:28 Solemnity: This feast was not commanded by the Law and was, in fact, legislated by a Jew who had chosen to remain among the Diaspora. It is interesting that the feast was accepted and perpetuated among the more rigidly conservative Jews who returned to Judea after the captivities. But apparently Joiakim, High Priest at that time (Nehemiah 12:10-12), must have given his approval to the feast and adopted it into the ritual of the nation, or it would not have become so universally accepted and perpetuated.

Mordecai must have taken special care to impress on all Jews through the whole world of that day the solemnity of the reason for the holiday and the imperative need for its perpetuation for all succeeding generations or it would have long since fallen into disuse. It is still observed by most Jews today. The Adloyada carnival in Tel Aviv has been a prominent feature of Purim observance in modern Israel. The words ad de-lo yada mean, Until one no longer knows the difference between Blessed be Mordecai and Cursed be Haman.

Esther 9:29-32

C. Posted

TEXT: Esther 9:29-32

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 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 appointed times, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had ordained for themselves and for their seed, in the matter of the fastings and their cry.

32

And the commandment of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.

Today’s English Version, Esther 9:29-32

Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai, also wrote a letter, putting her full authority behind the letter about Purim, which Mordecai had written earlier. The letter was addressed to all the Jews, and copies were sent to all the 127 provinces of the Persian Empire. It wished the Jews peace and security and directed them and their descendants to observe the days of Purim at the proper time, just as they had adopted rules for observance of fasts and times of mourning. This was commanded by both Mordecai and Queen Esther. Esther’s command, confirming the rules for Purim, was written down on a scroll.

COMMENTS

Esther 9:29-32 : Apparently Mordecai’s first letter was more in the form of suggestions about commemorating their deliverance with a day of festivities. The suggestions having been approved and adopted by the Jews of the whole Persian empire, both Mordecai and Esther now lead the prestige of their official proclamation to the Feast of Purim.

Included in these official letters from the queen and the prime-minister of all Persia where declarations of peace and pledges of truth. This seems to be a proclamation to the whole Persian empire that the violence is over and there will now be peace (especially for the Jews) based on truth so long as Esther and Mordecai retain their positions of authority and power.

Esther 9:31 suggests that the Jews of the provinces had added to their form of commemorating Purim certain observances with respect to fasting and wailing (probably mourning the Jews killed in the struggle). The letters of Mordecai confirmed their practices as kosher, (acceptable).

Some commentators think the book of Esther 9:32 is the Book of Esther. Others think it means nothing more than it was committed to writing. We think it probably refers to the documentation of this empire-wide Jewish observance in the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia (cf. Esther 2:23; Esther 6:1; Esther 10:2).

We may learn the following lessons from this chapter:

What may be intended as a very spiritual festivity may be turned into mere festivity.

It is probably better not to institute religious observances where the revealed Word of the Lord has not instituted them.

One of the best ways to express gratitude for providential deliverance is to give to the poor.

There is precedent from past historical deliverances by the providence of God that men may expect His providence to be working in the vindication of truth and justice in events throughout history.