ESTHER CHAPTERS 8-10
GOD ORCHESTRATES
THE PRESERVATION
OF HIS NATION
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Esther 8:1 On that day did the
king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen.
And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her. 2
And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto
Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
Reformation Study Bible
8:1 According to Persian
custom, the property of a traitor was confiscated by the crown.
King Ahasuerus made a gift of
Haman’s confiscated property to Queen Esther. After she explained the
relationship between her and Mordecai, the king elevated Mordecai to
Haman’s former position as second in command to the king. Esther
gave Mordecai complete charge of his enemy’s estate and servants. Just
as Joseph had providentially been made second to Pharaoh
when he had been captive in Egypt and subsequently saved the Jews from drought, Esther
and Mordecai are now put in a position to save their people from complete
destruction.
Esther 8:3 And Esther spake yet
again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears
to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had
devised against the Jews. 4 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward
Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,
The problem of the edict
written by Haman still remained. So, Esther approached the king again to beg for her people.
Esther 8:5 And said, If it
please the king, and if I have favour in his sight, and the thing seem right
before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse
the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote
to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces: 6 For how can I
endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to
see the destruction of my kindred?
Esther asked the king to please
do something to undo this. She asked him to break his own laws to lift this unrighteous,
catastrophic edict. But if he revoked the edict, he would look weak in the eyes
of the Persians.
Esther 8:7 Then the king
Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have
given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows,
because he laid his hand upon the Jews. 8 Write ye also for the Jews, as it
liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the
writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring,
may no man reverse.
King Ahasuerus reminded Esther
and Mordecai how he had recompensed them by turning over Haman’s property to
the king. Then the king reminded Esther and Mordecai that once something is
sealed with the king’s signet ring, it cannot be nullified. He gave his blessing for them
to write a new order that would rectify the situation and seal it with his
ring. He gave them carte blanche to compose a plan that would save his queen
and her people.
Esther 8:9 Then were the king's
scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on
the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that
Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and
rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty
and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and
unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their
writing, and according to their language.
10 And he wrote in the king
Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts
on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:
Mordecai was the author of
these new orders. He had them translated into every dialect spoken in the
various provinces, including Hebrew so the Jews could read it for
themselves. Mordecai now had the power Haman once enjoyed to write an edict in
the name of the king and seal it with the signet ring. The king dispatched these new
orders by the fastest means available, couriers riding the best horses sired by
his own stud horse. He wanted to get the message out quickly for the Jews to
have adequate time to prepare.
Esther 8:11 Wherein the king
granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to
stand for their life, to destroy, to slay and to cause to perish, all the power
of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women,
and to take the spoil of them for a prey, 12 Upon one day in all the provinces
of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which
is the month Adar. 13 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in
every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready
against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 14 So the posts that
rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the
king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.
The new edict, worded much the
same as the original, gave the Jews the right to fight back and even confiscate
the spoils of the battle. It would now be a fair fight instead of a virtual slaughter of the
Jews. Ahasuerus could not think of a plan himself, so the Lord had him
give this task to Esther and Mordecai who definitely rose to the occasion. As Mordecai told Esther previously,
God had elevated her for the purpose of saving her people.
Ponder this: Historically, God
had protected the nation of Israel many times. This particular time is what
makes Esther a “Woman of Christmas” because she saved her nation from
annihilation.
Esther 8:15 And Mordecai went
out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with
a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the
city of Shushan (Susa) rejoiced and was glad. 16 The Jews had light, and
gladness, and joy, and honour. 17 And in every province, and in every city,
whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and
gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became
Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
Mordecai went from sackcloth
and ashes to regal robes. Remember that when Haman’s edict was heralded, it threw the
population of Susa into confusion and chaos. The new edict caused them to burst forth
with joy. The Jews could now hold their heads up as the people of the
queen! The people who had been the Jews’ enemies or had even been on the
fence suddenly wanted to be their bosom buddies. They claimed to be Jews out of fear now
that the Jews had the upper hand.
Ponder This: Mordecai demonstrated faith when he prophesied that Esther was
promoted to queen for this critical time. Look for how God has used seemingly
unrelated circumstances to bring you to your current situation in life. Trust
Him to direct your path, and do not take another step without seeking His will
and way.
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 people were not frightened
of the Jews but of the God of the Jews. God had shown His sovereign power by orchestrating
events to turn the tables on the enemies of the Jews.
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.
Another aspect of this fear of
the Jews is that there is now a Jew as second in command and another Jew as
queen. Whereas Haman the Agagite (Amalekite) had been in control, now Mordecai
has been given that position of authority. King Ahasuerus finally figured out
who the good guys were. God gave not only Esther, but now Mordecai, favor in the
eyes of the king.
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 (Susa) 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 (Susa)
the palace was brought before the king.
In the capital alone, the Jews
killed 500 of their enemies plus all ten of Haman’s sons. They did not plunder the spoils
of their victims because it wasn’t about that for them. It was about preserving
their nation and saving their very lives. The king had given them permission to take
what they wanted. However, when God originally told King Saul to demolish the
Amalekites, He instructed Saul NOT to take any plunder. Saul disobeyed which
led to his downfall. These Jews may have remembered this story and were careful
not to make the same mistake. They learned from Saul’s
disobedience. Their main goal was preservation of the Jewish nation.
Esther 9:12 And the king said
unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in
Shushan (Susa) 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.
King Ahasuerus loved Esther so
much he was willing to grant her heart’s desire as far as is humanly possible. The king had probably lost
many of his own army as well as many citizens of the capital. The king was willing to
vindicate Esther perhaps because of the integrity she had always displayed. As
previously noted, the Lord had given her favor in his eyes. The Lord says,
“Vengeance is mine…” Deuteronomy 32:35, but He seems to be using Esther as the
instrument of carrying out His wrath on the enemies of the Jews.
Esther 9:13 Then said Esther,
If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan
(Susa) 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 Shushanf (Susa); and they hanged Haman's ten
sons. 15 For the Jews that were in Shushan (Susa) gathered themselves together
on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at
Shushan (Susa); but on the prey they laid not their hand.
The queen always prefaces a
request with, “If it pleases the king.” She makes her request humbly. Even when the king is willing
to receive her demands, she never uses a demanding tone. She still shows respect
for the king’s authority. All together 810 men were
killed by the Jews in Susa, but they still took none of their property.
Esther 9:16 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, 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 (Susa) 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.
After annihilating the enemies
who had planned to completely destroy them, the Jews had a big celebration
which involved sharing portions of their feasts with their neighbors. Even the
rural Jews did not take any of the assets of the conquered.
The remainder of the book of
Esther from chapter 9:20 to the end of chapter 10 reads like the “Cliff Notes”
version of the entire story. Mordecai kept a journal and wrote letters about the events
to Jews in all the provinces. Since Haman had originally cast lots (Pur) to
determine the best day to slaughter the Jews, Mordecai and Esther established
the annual feast of Purim to commemorate the time when God elevated a Jewess to
the position of queen of Persia to save her people from annihilation. According
to the notes in the John MacArthur Study Bible, Purim is “the first and last
biblically revealed, non-Mosaic festival with perpetual significance.” In other
words, the other feasts still celebrated by the Jews were established by Moses.
The celebration of Purim today still involves giving to others as well as
feasting.
APPLY THIS TO YOUR LIFE:
1. God is always at work
protecting His people. Even though he disciplined them through allowing them to
be taken captive, He still preserved them. He is also able to preserve you
through trials.
2. God is sovereign and cannot
be thwarted. He used Esther to save His covenant people thus preserving the
nation through whom Jesus, the Messiah, would be born.
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