Day 140: Esther 7-10

(The previous post covered Esther's second request of the king and Mordecai being spared from Haman.)

Esther 7
¹ So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
² And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

(The king asked Esther, a third time, what her request was. And again, up to half the kingdom.)

³ Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:
⁴ for we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king's damage.

(Esther requested her life and the life of her people be saved. Notice, Esther positioned the request as protection for the king's wife. How could Ahasuerus turn this down?)

⁵ Then spake the king Ahasuerus and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?

(Ahasuerus essentially agreed to Esther's request and wanted information so he could fulfill it. Ahasuerus still did not know she was a Jewess. This critical question that led to the Featured Story Resolution was the fourth hidden Name of God. EHYEH: "Who is he, and where is he." God's Hand was clear in this specific circumstance.)

⁶ And Esther said, An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

(Esther told Ahasuerus it was Haman, while Haman was sitting there. It looked like Haman did not know she was a Jewess. Would Haman had asked for the decree if he knew Esther was a Jewess?)

⁷ And the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.

(Ahasuerus immediately went to the garden to think. He had recently promoted Haman and trusted his advice. Ahasuerus' leaving caused Haman to begin begging for his life from Esther because he knew kings did not abruptly leave banquets unless something drastic was going to happen.

This verse also contained the fifth and final hidden Name of God. JHVH: "that there was evil determined against him." Can you see God's Hand in all of these hidden passages?)

⁸ Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the couch whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he even force the queen before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.

(In Haman's desperation, he was on the bed with Esther begging for his life. The king walked in and pronounced judgment on Haman by having his face covered. This meant Haman was no longer worthy to be looked at and was condemned to death.)

⁹ Then said Harbonah, one of the chamberlains that were before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman hath made for Mordecai, who spake good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. And the king said, Hang him thereon.

(One of the household servants pointed out the gallows Haman made for Mordecai as a solution to the king's death sentence. Notice, the servant knew about Haman's plan.)

¹⁰ So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.

(Haman was hung on the gallows he made for Mordecai and the king’s anger was gone. The Featured Story Conflict seemed to be Resolved: Haman was no more, but what about the law that could not be repealed?)




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.

(The Israelites triumphed over the Amalekites. Esther told Ahasuerus of her relationship to Mordecai.)

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.

(Justice: The king gave his ring to Mordecai, the same ring he had given to Haman.)

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 to Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose, and stood before the king.
⁵ And she said, If it please the king, and if I have found favor 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 that are in all the king's provinces:

(Esther formally asked the king for letters to be sent that would respond to the decree made by Haman.)

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?
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 to the Jews, as it pleaseth 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.

(The king agreed to this and had his seal placed on the letters.)

⁹ Then were the king's scribes called at that time, in the third 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 satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, a 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.

(The decree to have the Jews killed was given on Nisan 13 (April). The decree to oppose it was given almost two months later, on Sivan 9 (June). All 127 provinces were notified.)

¹⁰ And he wrote the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by post on horseback, riding on swift steeds that were used in the king's service, bred of the stud:
¹¹ wherein the king granted the Jews that 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, their 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.

(Solution: The letters told the Jews to defend themselves and destroy all the people who would assault them. This decree was in addition to the first decree. Since the first decree could not be reversed, some of the people who would attempt to carry out the decree could be deterred by the second decree which was made by Mordecai. Was this Mordecai's idea or God's?)

¹³ A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published unto all the peoples, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

(A copy of the letter was sent to the whole kingdom.)

¹⁴ So the posts that rode upon swift steeds that were used in the king's service went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment; and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace.
¹⁵ And Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan shouted and was glad.
¹⁶ The Jews had light and gladness, and joy and honor.
¹⁷ And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. And many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews was fallen upon them.

(Haman's messengers went on foot. Mordecai's went on animals so they could get the message out faster. Notice, Mordecai was in royal clothing instead of sackcloth. Many of the people in the land became Jews because of the fear that fell upon them. Remember, under the Law, anyone could become a Jew, not just people of Jacob's lineage. So, there were now even more Jews who could respond to the people who tried to carry out the first decree.)




Esther 9
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.

(The Jews went on the attack against any one who would assault them. No man could withstand them because of the fear the people had of the Jews.)

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 of 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.

(Resolution: The Jews destroyed all their enemies. So, what was meant for bad, ended up getting rid of all the enemies of the Jews.)

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 Jew's enemy, slew they; but on the spoil they laid not their hand.

(Haman's ten sons were slain along with 500 enemies in the palace.)

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.

(The king asked Esther again what she wanted and it would 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.

(Esther wanted Haman's ten sons hanged on 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 Adar, and slew three hundred men in Shushan; but on the spoil they laid not their hand.
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.

(The Jews from all 127 provinces gathered together on Adar 13 (March) and slew 75,000 men, but they would not take the spoils. Then they rested the next day.)

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.
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.

(The 14th and 15th day of the month Adar were called Purim (the feast of Purim) and the Jews ordained these days for a feast every year.)

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 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.

(This yearly feast was a man-made feast and different than the seven God ordained yearly feasts in Leviticus 23.)

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.

(Esther and Mordecai sent out a second letter to make sure all the Jews knew the queen of the Persian empire was a Jewess and attained this position in order to save all the Jews. Ahasuerus was not embarrassed by this fact. In Daniel 6, Ahasuerus' and Esther's son, Darius, believed in God and even supported Daniel while he was in the lion's den.)




Esther 10
¹ And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.
² And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?

(The books of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia contained the promotions of Mordecai.)

³ For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.

(Mordecai was second in the kingdom and great among the Jews...during the time Daniel was second in the larger Chaldean kingdom!)

(The Book of Esther was the twelfth of the twelve books that made up the historical section of the Old Testament. This book told the story of how God used Esther to not only spare His People, but birth a son, Darius, that would have a son (Cyrus) make the decree to rebuild the temple and the city of Jerusalem...the circumstances documented in the previous two books: Ezra and Nehemiah. Through the circumstances of this story, we saw the effects of a "chess match" between God and Satan. In the first book of the poetic section of the Old Testament, we will see the causes of a "chess match" between God and Satan.)

Day 141