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!