ESTHER 9

Verses 2-3: The enemies feared the Jews and Mordecai. This is one of several times in the Bible where fear fell on God's enemies. (Such as Gideon and his 100 men pitted against the Midianites who fled before them, or the fear of the people after seeing the death of Ananias and Sapphira in the Book of Acts). In this case there is an indication that there may have been something in addition to natural fear. After all, the Persians had months to prepare themselves psychologically for the event.

In the NRSV, verse 2b reads “make a stand against.” Any other translations? In the Hebrew, it literally reads “no one stood before them.” It probably means that no one was successful in fighting them, not that they didn't try.

Verses 5-6: It is interesting that verse 5 is left out of the Septuagint, the early Greek version of the text. Other changes were made to make the book “more acceptable” to a later audience.

“Susa the capital” is literally “the palace of Susa. The large number killed here (500) compared to only 300 in the rest of the city (see verse 15) may indicate that the majority of the opposition came from the wealthier and more influential members of society. It may also help to explain why Esther asks for the bodies of Haman's sons to be hung as warning to others.

Verses 7-9: Some who believe that the details are mainly symbolic, not necessarily historical, attempt to translate the names of the enemies so that they stand for things we should kill in our own lives. This is a doubtful approach. Other scholars have suspected that the names of Haman's sons are made up or hopelessly garbled in transmission. One example is the first name listed in verse 7, Parshandatha. However, recently a 5^th century Persian seal was found with the name of the owner inscribed: Prshndt.

It is interesting how the Hebrew text at this point looks on the page:

A                                     and

B                                     and

C                                     and, etc.

The rabbinical explanations for this peculiarity include: (a) an indication that the names are all to be pronounced in one breath and (b) the space in the middle of the page shows that they have no place in the afterlife.

This unusual feature of the Hebrew text appears in one other place in the Bible: the list of conquered kings in Joshua 12:9-24. Woudstra (The Book of Joshua) explains that similar phenomenon by implying that the names of the kings are listed separately in defeat in contrast to their banding together to withstand the Jews. The same intent may be found in the Book of Esther.

Verse 10: “No hand on the plunder” is also mentioned in verses 15-16, so it is obviously an important point that the author wanted to make. Why?

      1. It suggests that the Jews were simply after justice, not revenge or gain.

2. The same logic as Abraham's in Genesis 14:21-23 may apply. They did not want the Persians later on to say that they had helped make the Jews prosperous.

3. There is a third possibility that will be mentioned in a minute after considering the overall structure of the whole book.

The Structure of Esther

A. Three Feasts (1:1-2:17)

1. Wise men’s advice and edict

2. Letters to the provinces

3. Esther is elevated in status

B. Banquet, Gifts to the People (2:18)

C. Villains are Hanged (2:19-23)

D. Haman’s Power, Seeks to Destroy Jews (3:1-6)

E. ADAR Chosen (3:7)

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E'. ADAR Arrives (9:1)

D'. Mordecai’s Power, Jews Destroy Enemies (9:2-10)

C'. Haman’s Sons are Hanged (9:11-15)

B'. Banquet, Gift Giving (9:16-19)

A'. Feast of Purim (9:20-10:3)

1. Mordecai’s advice to the Jews

2. Esther’s letters to the provinces

3. Mordecai is elevated in status

With this symmetrical arrangement to the book in mind, we can now re-visit Chapter 9 in light of its various parallel passages earlier in Esther.

Verse 1: How was the particular day chosen to destroy the Jews? It was a supposed matter of chance, fate and an appeal to the spirits. Did it work out for Haman? All appeals to powers other than God, attempts to control our destiny, will fail or even backfire. The day chosen by lots was far enough in the future that it actually allowed the Jews to prepare for the warfare. There is a strong parallel with Adolf Hitler here. He relied on astrology to plan some of his offensives against the Allies, and look what happened to him. Actually, even attempts to appeal to God in a “magical, controlling” fashion will fail. Just look at the seven sons in Acts who tried to cast out demons in Christ's name.

Verses 2-10: Viewed against the earlier parallel episode, it should probably be read as an example of justice and defense: removing the enemies of God that will try to destroy God's people if given half a chance. How is that a positive example for today's situation? Read Ephesians 6:12. Since our enemies, for the most part, are spiritual and not human as in Esther, we should take this as a lesson in rooting out those things within ourselves that war against God. C. S. Lewis took the same approach in trying to apply the vindictive psalms to our situation today as Christians.

There is another insight into this section gained by reviewing the parallel passage, Esther 3:1-6. Why did Haman hate Mordecai and why did Mordecai refuse to bow to him? It has been proposed that Mordecai had been promoted to Benefactor of the King, a title which, according to the historian Herodotus, meant that he did not have to bow down to anyone but the king himself. A more likely reason is seen in the fact that Haman was said to be an Agagite (Amelekite). Read I Samuel 15:18-19 to understand what that meant.

God criticized King Saul for two reasons: he did not utterly wipe out the Amelekites as commanded and he took plunder. What happens in Esther 9:2-10? Esther sees that all the sons of Haman are wiped out and assures the the Jews take no plunder.

So we see in the Book of Esther not a case of vengeance but just a belated carrying out of God's will 500 years later.

Verses 9:11-15: It is in these verses that the greatest moral criticism of the book is found, and probably rightly so. The Jews go way beyond mere defense of themselves at this point. Compare it again with the parallel passage in Esther 2:19-23. In that earlier passage attempted murderers were caught and executed by hanging. In 9:11-15, sons who may or may not have actively participated in the battle were hanged in disgrace, and borderline opponents were rooted out during the second day. Justice becomes vengeance.

Does that ever happen to Christians today? I think of a Christian brother in a Sunday school class who applauded Hitler's killing of gays. And then there are the news stories of believers who felt justified in bombing abortion clinics and murdering doctors.