Enemies
The Jews had enemies throughout the Persian kingdom. The enemies were going to kill the Jews but a new edict from the king allowed the Jews to retaliate.
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1. It was back in chapter 3:7 when Haman had cast the pur (lot) to choose the day when the Jews would be annihilated.
Read Esther 3 Haman
As it turned out though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them.
“The teaching that those who try to destroy the Jews will be destroyed appears repeatedly in the Scriptures.” (Breneman, Mervin, The New American Commentary, Volume 10 Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther: [Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1993], 358) Jeremiah 30:16
2. The Jews were ready to defend themselves.
“The Jews had time to prepare since the edict of Mordecai was published months before this date.” (Breneman, 358)
Their enemies had attacked but the Jews prevailed against their enemies.
3. “Now Mordecai, one of their own, is by the side of the king. Haman, who would have put the Jews to death is gone. The very throne that had once condemned the Jews now protects them.” (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume II: [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 576)
Mordecai
4. For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces.
Mordecai was very important in the kings’ house and throughout the region.
“The gospel is what saves men today. The gospel is what Someone has done for us…If we do not place our trust and faith in Christ, there is no hope for us at all. Now, you may break some bad habits, you may forsake evil, you may go to church, you may take part in the Lord’s Supper; and you may still be miserable. The only way to have real peace is to take God at His Word and believe His message. When you believe it, there is salvation.” (McGee, 577)
5. “This passage is the climax of the narrative. The primary theme of the story is the survival of the Jews. This passage presents the detail of their survival.” (Breneman, 359)
6. This verse tells us the number of enemies killed in Shushan the palace.
7-10. The names of the ten sons of Haman are listed.
The Jews did not take any spoils from the land.
“The Jews were careful not to use material gain as the reason for their action. They simply defended their right to live.” (Breneman, 360)
Enemies killed
11-12. The king knew the number killed in Shushan the palace.
Also, he wanted to know how many were killed in the other parts of the kingdom.
“The king still asked Esther what further request she had, but this time he did not add ‘up to half the kingdom.’” (Breneman, 360)
13. Esther asked the king to extend the order for the next day in Shushan.
“Apparently the Jews wanted to clear the palace area of all their enemies.” (Breneman, 360)
14. “The king’s permission was needed to hang publicly Haman’s sons…Since they were already dead, this act must have been for the purpose of displaying their bodies (vv. 7-10).” (Breneman, 360)
15. The next day the Jews slew three hundred men who were their enemies.
In this article Scripture quotations are taken from KJV except as noted.
Breneman, Mervin, The New American Commentary, Volume 10 Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1993
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume II: Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
