Ruth and Esther — Unit 9

Esther 8–10 — Deliverance, Conquest, and Purim

Observations

God's vengeance is perfect. Haman is hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai; Mordecai assumes Haman's place in royalty, even using the king's signet ring to sign a new decree; Mordecai gains all of Haman's estate; and the Jews annihilate those who wished to kill them, including Haman's ten sons. All the evil Haman planned comes back on him and his supporters.

Notice Esther's address to the king on behalf of her people — she gives him deference, falling at his feet and weeping. Mordecai refused to bow to Haman, so they had no problem honoring those they felt deserved it.

She says, 'If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor before him, and the matter seems proper to the king, and I am pleasing in his sight.' These phrases show her wisdom and her standing with her husband the king.

8:11: the king granted the Jews the right to assemble and defend their lives, to destroy any force that might attack them, including that force's own children and women, and to plunder. The decree mirrors, almost word for word, the earlier decree against the Jews (3:13) — the sword Haman forged for the Jews is turned back on those who would wield it against them. It is a hard mercy to read, and honest interpreters have wrestled with it; the text does not soften it, and neither should we. Note the Jews were given permission to plunder — we'll return to that.

As throughout the story, events come in pairs: for a second time Mordecai is arrayed as royalty, but now it becomes permanent.

8:17: 'There was gladness and joy for the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many among the peoples of the land became Jews, for the dread of the Jews had fallen on them.' The 'dread' is really fear of the Jewish God who saves His people. They became proselytes hoping to gain that same protection.

Even the princes, satraps, and governors doing the king's business assisted the Jews.

The dread of Mordecai: everyone in power now understands Mordecai the Jew is second only to the king.

In Susa they kill 500 men, including Haman's sons — but they do not plunder. They only rid themselves of those who would kill them.

9:13: Esther asks that the next day also be granted and that Haman's sons be hanged on the gallows — either another plot was uncovered or the work was unfinished; the hanged bodies stood as a warning. The next day they killed 300 more in the city, still without plundering.

In the provinces the Jews killed 75,000 — evidence of widespread anti-Semitism — but again they did not plunder.

The Jews celebrated on the 14th and 15th depending on where they lived, feasting, sending portions of food to one another, and giving gifts to the poor.

Mordecai and Esther wrote to establish the holiday, called the command of Esther; it became a custom for them and their descendants and all allied with them — the Feast of Purim.

Pur became a symbol of God using circumstances to deliver His own — hence the disciples casting lots to replace Judas.

Xerxes was an orthodox Zoroastrian — monotheistic with a dualistic good/evil system, a precursor to later religious intolerance. He destroyed Babylon's idol Bel Marduk, the god for which Mordecai is named. So for Esther to plead for her people twice was a huge risk.

But Xerxes clearly loved Esther and would do anything for her. Mordecai and Esther elevated the status of being Jewish, because all had seen God's providence and salvation for the Jews.

Why would anyone still carry out the first decree after receiving the second? That is strong anti-Semitism indeed.

Tom Constable notes: the absence of explicit reference to God helping His people does not deny His help; it reflects the attitude of Jews who ignored God's commands through Isaiah and Jeremiah to return to the land. They had pushed God aside, as Mordecai and Esther had to some extent — yet God remained faithful to His promises despite His people's unfaithfulness.

Interpretations

Seldom do we get to see God's vengeance when we feel wronged. Usually life is more fluid, sticky, and ambiguous than a good story — especially for Christians, who are constantly self-examining and seeking the Spirit's guidance. Here the villain is readily exposed, right and wrong are mostly clear, and we see God's retribution on those who would harm His chosen people.

One of the most encouraging thoughts is that our salvation depends not on us but on a loving God who desires to save His children regardless of how badly we fail.

That 'many became Jews' raises how we share the gospel today. We rarely see a complete reversal of evil, but there are everyday miracles. God reveals Himself today by our reflecting the light of Christ — loving others and proclaiming truth in kindness, gentleness, and love; entering the dark places of pain, poverty, injustice, sickness, and sin not to condemn but to share Christ's love; a community defined by self-sacrificial love.

Remain upright in conduct — don't take the spoils. In everything we either glorify Christ or blaspheme His name; act accordingly with love.

Let us not push God aside in our lives but keep Him our focus, and not quench the Holy Spirit within us.

Applications

Are we truly a reflection of God's light? His love for people was beautiful and ever-present, but so was His truth — He always spoke the truth in love, and many turned away. We should expect no different. People will know we are Christians by our love, but love alone is not the whole of it.

Am I prepared to share my testimony of what Christ has done in my life?