Esther Chapters 9 & 10

Image by author via lexica.art (AI)

The Jews master their enemies and establish the holiday Purin.

PDF

eBook

Outline

Chapter 9
1-5. The Jews gain the help of the officers and are unobstructed in their defense.
6-11. A record of who was killed on the appointed day.
12-15. Ahasuerus grants the Jews in Shushan an additional day to destroy their enemies.
16-32. Purin is established to commemorate the victory.

Chapter 10
1-2. Summary of Ahasuerus’ reign.
3. Summary of Mordecai’s career.

Reflection

Do you celebrate God’s work in your life?

Lesson

​The Birth of Holidays

Holidays are to remember past events, to celebrate what God has done. They teach us of His power and care for us. It’s easy to become a Martha, overwhelmed by hosting and serving. While such things are important, we must not lose sight of the reason for the occasion (Luke 10:40-42). Keep each holiday in its proper perspective. Ask yourself, Why was that day declared a holiday?

For example, the 4th of July in the US celebrates national independence. Instead of focusing on grilling or fireworks, you can use the day to praise God for letting you live in a free country. Thank Him for protecting the US from its enemy. Thank Him for the ability to live in peace without constant fear of war or raids. No matter the holiday, honor the One who caused the joy.

Similarly, if God has given you a testimony, share it! Whether God has performed some great work or you express the simple joy of salvation, it’s good to stop and celebrate what God has done for you. God appreciates the gratitude. More importantly, such thanksgiving keeps our hearts and minds focused on God, bringing us joy and satisfaction (Luke 17:15-18, Isaiah 26:3).

Verse-by-Verse Study

Chapter 9
1-5. God often uses human means to perform His will. In this case, the provincial rulers and soldiers helped the Jews. Ensuring no harm befell the Jews. Instead of the Jews seeking their enemies to slay them, the most plausible interpretation is that when the Jew’s enemies came against them, the Jews slew them. That is, the verses suggest the Jews joined into one army in a central location to defend themselves. If they had sought out their enemies, they would have had to split into small groups to hunt them down. Verse 16 adds the Jews “stood for their lives,” meaning they stood in defense of their lives. If a Christian must physically fight, it is to be in self-defense against evil.

6-10. According to ancient customs, the victor in combat had the right to the defeated enemy’s goods. By not taking any spoils, the Jews demonstrated to the Persians that they killed only in self-defense. If a Christian must confront an enemy, he should not take advantage of the situation to take that person’s goods—whether physical, monetary, or social. Christians may have to defend themselves but need not do so in spite or with lust.

11-14. In those days, the king’s decree went by horseback, and so only the region around the king could receive an immediate command for the next day. Hence, Esther requested only the Jews in Shushan be permitted to gather together. Noteworthy is that Ahasuerus thought nothing of the five hundred slain; his kingdom must have been so vast he thought the number little. He demonstrated trust in the Jewish people to only slay wicked men. Otherwise, he would not have permitted them a second day to defend their lives. He may have also wanted to end internal strife by permitting those who wanted to murder Jews to come to their own execution.

Verse 16 clearly states the Jews acted in self-defense. Also noteworthy is that Haman’s sons were hanged for their father’s sin; more than likely, Haman’s sons followed in their father’s footsteps with a heart full of pride and hatred. A consequence of sin is that it adversely affects your children.

15-19. Imagine the joy and relief the Jews experienced! For weeks they fretted for their lives, and then, by the humility of one woman, they rose above their enemies to secure their peace. God repeatedly chooses to place the last first and the first last. He chose David, a shepherd rejected by his family, to be king (1 Samuel 16:10-13). He taught the great Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon that he was a lowly animal (Daniel 5:18-21). Even Jesus, rejected by the rulers of His time, sits exalted in heaven (John 1:11, Acts 2:354-36).

The world tends to side with evil, oppressing and rejecting the righteous, but God overrules the world’s decision by elevating who He will. While individual Christians may be persecuted and overcome in this life, this account reveals a spiritual principle: God sees and defends the righteous against evil. Even when all hope appears lost, God can intervene and turn what was meant for evil into good. In recognition of God as the source of their deliverance, the Jews treated the day as a holy day; they feasted and gave gifts (Deuteronomy 16:11-17).

20-28. When God works mightily in your life, it is worth taking time to acknowledge it. The Jews thought the work important enough to become a national holiday. The holiday had a religious connotation because the wording mimics God’s original command for the first Jewish holiday ever instated: the Passover (Exodus 12:14). Looking forward, the account of Purin mirrors the battle of Armageddon when God will use an invasion on Israel to destroy all the wicked on the Earth and establish His righteous kingdom of peace (Isaiah 2:2-4; Ezekiel 38:18-23; Revelation 19:11-15). When God moves, the righteous rejoice, but the evil are destroyed. Make sure you are on the winning side!

29-32. To validate the holiday, Queen Esther placed her seal on the letters. Furthermore, writing the account in “the book” referenced adding the account into the scriptures. Aside from Moses who said he wrote down all God told him in a book as a remembrance of God’s covenant (Exodus 17:14, Deuteronomy 31:24-26), this is the only time the author of a Bible book stated that what he wrote would be part of the Bible. This reveals that, to the Jews, the Bible was viewed as much as a historical book as a spiritual book; their faith and history are one and the same. Is yours?


Chapter 10
1. Ahasuerus needed money, which might explain why he first agreed to Haman’s scheme to destroy a rebellious people and take their riches to the king’s treasury. Historically, he likely was in the middle of a military campaign against Greece and needed funds for the army. Regardless, he enacted a tribute, or taxes, throughout all his provinces.

2. Like the books of Kings and Chronicles, the author referenced historical documents to validate the biblical account. While many believe Esther is a fictional piece, why would the author invite readers to verify the account if it was not historical? While the story is portrayed in a literary manner, the events are historical and should be taken as such. Noteworthy was that Mordecai, by his simple faithfulness to Ahasuerus and Esther, was elevated. God raises the humble, Mordecai and Esther, while abasing the proud, Haman (compare with Proverbs 29:23, James 4:6).

3. Part of Mordecai’s greatness was that he spoke peace to all his seed. Compare with Psalm 34:14; 1 Peter 3:11; and Romans 12:18. When we obey Christ’s command to love God and love our neighbors, we pursue peace. This account has shown, however, that the pursuit of peace is not at the expense of permitting evil to abound; Mordecai and Esther stood up against evil and were rewarded here on earth. While the Christian may never see his reward until he enters eternity, there is often a physical reward such as the respect of peers or promotions. Regardless, if we choose to do what is right, God will see and be pleased.

---

Thank you for reading. Please share what God is doing in your life in the comments below.​

​✧ Printable PDF version available here.
✧ eBook available for purchase here.