Esther 9:2

_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 Jews gathered themselves ... no man could withstand them. The tables were now turned in their favour; and though their enemies made their long-meditated attack, they were not only at liberty to act on the defensive, but through the powerful influence enlisted on their side at court, together with the blessing of God, they were everywhere victorious. THE FEAR OF THEM FELL UPON ALL PEOPLE. This impression arose not alone from the consciousness of the all-powerful vizier being their countryman, but from the hand of God appearing so visibly interposed to effect their storage and unexpected deliverance....

1-19 The enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them by the former edict. If they had attempted nothing against the people of God, they would not themselves have suffered. The Jews, acting together, strengthened one another. Let us learn to stand fast in one spirit, and with one mind, striving together against the enemies of our souls, who endeavour to rob us of our faith, which is more precious than our lives. The Jews, to the honour of their religion, showed contempt of wordly wealth, that they might make it appear they desired nothing except their own preservation. In every case the people of God should manifest humanity and disinterestedness, frequently refusing advantages which might lawfully be obtained. The Jews celebrated their festival the day after they had finished their work. When we have received great mercies from God, we ought to be speedy in making thankful returns...

EXPOSITION RESULT OF THE SECOND EDICT' THE JEWS RESIST THEIR ENEMIES, AND EFFECT A GREAT SLAUGHTER OF THEM, BUT DO NOT LAY HAND ON THEIR GOODS (Esther 9:1). The Jews of all the provinces, having had ample time to prepare themselves, "gathered themselves together in their cities," as the day fixed by the first edict approached (Esther 9:2), and made their arrangements. Their "enemies"_ _no doub

THE JEWS GATHERED THEMSELVES TOGETHER IN THEIR CITIES, THROUGHOUT ALL THE PROVINCES OF KING AHASUERUS,.... Wherever they lived: TO LAY HAND ON SUCH AS SOUGHT THEIR HURT; who not only threatened them what they would do on this day, but were risen up in arms in quest of them: AND NO MAN COULD WITHSTAND THEM, FOR THE FEAR OF THEM FELL UPON ALL PEOPLE; when they understood that Haman was hanged, and Mordecai the Jew advanced, and that the queen herself was a Jew, and that the Jews had the royal grant to act both defensively and offensively; and no doubt but the panic was of God....

THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF ADAR AND THE FEAST OF PURIM CHAPTER 9 _ 1. The resistance and victory of the Jews (Esther 9:1)_ 2. Esther's petition (Esther 9:12) 3. The institution of Purim (Esther 9:17) 4. The messages of Mordecai and Esther (Esther 9:20) Esther 9:1. The fateful day, the thirteenth day of Adar, came and with it the retribution for the enemies of the Jews. On that day they gathered together to withstand all who would assault them. The princes and governors and all other officials of the king helped the Jews,

THE JEWS SUCCESSFUL AGAINST THEIR ENEMIES. Adar 13th, the dreadful day, comes at last. What were the Jews to do? There were many partisans of Haman, some 500 at least in the city alone; there were thousands more in the land, ready to carry out the first decree. Should Mordecai and all Jews sit still and see their wives and children butchered, and be butchered themselves? The Hamanites attack: the Jews defend themselves. There fell of those who attacked, in Shushan itself, some 500, and in all the empire 15,000 as the LXX says, although the Heb. exaggerates and says 75,000. Was this mere wanton bloodshed on the Jews-' part? The tale rather pictured for the suffering people of Judah how their brave comrades, the Maccabees, had faced and fought and felled the cruel armies of Antiochus under Nicanor. And now the writer adds a touch of fine national self-respect, saying: No Jew took booty of...

WITHSTAND. stand before. PEOPLE. the peoples....

Esther 9:1-10. Overthrow of the Jews" enemies The story, omitting the intermediate months of preparation, now passes to the date fixed by the decree for the Jews" overthrow....

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 JEWS SLAY THEIR ENEMIES. INSTITUTION OF PURIM 3. All the rulers, etc.] The great massacre described in href='190 9:16'>Est 9:16 is thus represented as being in part the work of the Persian authorities with the forces at their disposal....