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Texts -- Esther 9:1-16 (NET)

Context
The Jews Prevail over Their Enemies
9:1 In the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar ), on its thirteenth day , the edict of the king and his law were to be executed . It was on this day that the enemies of the Jews had supposed that they would gain power over them. But contrary to expectations , the Jews gained power over their enemies . 9:2 The Jews assembled themselves in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to strike out against those who were seeking their harm . No one was able to stand before them, for dread of them fell on all the peoples . 9:3 All the officials of the provinces , the satraps , the governors and those who performed the king’s business were assisting the Jews , for the dread of Mordecai had fallen on them. 9:4 Mordecai was of high rank in the king’s palace , and word about him was spreading throughout all the provinces . His influence continued to become greater and greater . 9:5 The Jews struck all their enemies with the sword , bringing death and destruction , and they did as they pleased with their enemies . 9:6 In Susa the citadel the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men . 9:7 In addition, they also killed Parshandatha , Dalphon , Aspatha , 9:8 Poratha , Adalia , Aridatha , 9:9 Parmashta , Arisai , Aridai , and Vaizatha , 9:10 the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha , the enemy of the Jews . But they did not confiscate their property . 9:11 On that same day the number of those killed in Susa the citadel was brought to the king’s attention. 9:12 Then the king said to Queen Esther , “In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman ! What then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces ? What is your request ? It shall be given to you. What other petition do you have? It shall be done .” 9:13 Esther replied , “If the king is so inclined , let the Jews who are in Susa be permitted to act tomorrow also according to today’s law , and let them hang the ten sons of Haman on the gallows .” 9:14 So the king issued orders for this to be done . A law was passed in Susa , and the ten sons of Haman were hanged . 9:15 The Jews who were in Susa then assembled on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar , and they killed three hundred men in Susa . But they did not confiscate their property . 9:16 The rest of the Jews who were throughout the provinces of the king assembled in order to stand up for themselves and to have rest from their enemies . They killed seventy-five thousand of their adversaries , but they did not confiscate their property .

Pericope

NET
  • Est 9:1-17 -- The Jews Prevail over Their Enemies

Bible Dictionary

  • Mordecai

    [nave] MORDECAI A Jewish captive in Persia, Esth. 2:5, 6. Foster father of Esther, Esth. 2:7. Informs Ahasuerus of a conspiracy against his life, and is rewarded, Esth. 2:21-23; Esth. 6:1-11. Promoted in Haman's place, Esth. 8:1...

  • Month

    [nave] MONTH Ancient use of, Gen. 7:11; 8:4. Twelve months reckoned to a year, 1 Chr. 27:1-15. 1. Abib (April). The Jewish calendar began with, Ex. 12:2; 13:4; Deut. 16:1. Passover instituted and celebrated in, Ex. 12:1-28; 23:1...

  • Haman

    [nave] HAMAN Prime minister of Ahasuerus, Esth. 3:1. Plotted against Esther and the Jews, thwarted by Esther and Mordecai, hanged, Esth. 3-9.

  • Israel

    [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...

  • Esther

    [nave] ESTHER, called also Hadassah. Niece of Mordecai, Esth. 2:7, 15. Chosen queen, Esth. 2:17. Tells the king of the plot against his life, Esth. 2:22. Fasts on account of the decree to destroy the Israelites; accuses Haman to ...

  • Servant

    [nave] SERVANT Distinguished as bond servant, who was a slave, and hired servant. Bond Laws of Moses concerning, Ex. 21:1-11, 20, 21, 26, 27, 32; Lev. 19:20-22; 25:6, 10, 35-55; Deut. 15:12, 14, 18; 24:7. Kidnapping forbidden, D...

  • Retaliation

    [nave] RETALIATION. Ex. 21:23-25; Lev. 19:18; Lev. 24:17-22; Deut. 19:19-21; Psa. 10:2; Prov. 20:22; Prov. 24:29; Prov. 26:27; Isa. 33:1; Matt. 5:38-44; Matt. 7:1, 2; Luke 9:52-56; Rom. 12:17, 19; 1 Cor. 6:7, 8; 1 Thess. 5:15; 1 P...

  • Minister

    [nave] MINISTER An officer in civil government. Joseph, Gen. 41:40-44; Ira, 2 Sam. 20:26; Zabud, 1 Kin. 4:5; Ahithophel, 1 Chr. 27:33; Zebadiah, 2 Chr. 19:11; Elkanah, 2 Chr. 28:7; Haman, Esth. 3:1; Mordecai, Esth. 10:3; 8-9; Danie...

  • Parshandatha

    [ebd] an interpreter of the law, the eldest of Haman's sons, slain in Shushan (Esther 9:7).
    [isbe] PARSHANDATHA - par-shan-da'-tha, par-shan'-da-tha (parshandatha; Septuagint Pharsan, or Pharsanestan; perhaps from the Persian fratsna-data, "given by prayer"): One of the sons of Haman (Est 9:7).
    [smith] (given by prayer), the eldest of Haman?s ten sons who were slain by the Jews in Shushan. (Esther 9:7) (B.C. 473.)
    [nave] PARSHANDATHA, son of Haman, Esth. 9:7.

  • Parmashta

    [ebd] strong-fisted, a son of Haman, slain in Shushan (Esther 9:9).
    [isbe] PARMASHTA - par-mash'-ta (parmashta'; Septuagint Marmasima, or Marmasimna): One of the sons of Haman (Est 9:9).
    [smith] (superior), one of the ten sons of Haman slain by the Jews in Shushan. (Esther 9:9) (B.C. 473.)
    [nave] PARMASHTA, son of Haman, Esth. 9:9.

  • Shushan

    [isbe] SHUSHAN - shoo'-shan (shushan; Sousan, Sousa): 1. Position, Eytmology and Forms of Its Name: This city, the Susu or Susan of the Babylonians, and the native (Elamite) Susun, is the modern Shush (Sus) in Southwestern Persia, ...
    [nave] SHUSHAN 1. Capital of the Medo-Persian empire, Esth. 1:2, 3; 8:15. 2. King's palace at, Neh. 1:1; Esth. 1:2, 5; 2:5, 8; 4:8, 16; 8:14, 15; 9:11, 15.

  • Adar

    [ebd] large, the sixth month of the civil and the twelfth of the ecclesiastical year of the Jews (Esther 3:7, 13; 8:12; 9:1, 15, 17, 19, 21). It included the days extending from the new moon of our March to the new moon of April. ...
    [nave] ADAR 1. Twelfth month in Jewish calendar, Ezra 6:15; Esth. 3:7; 8:12; 9:1. 2. Son of Bela, 1 Chr. 8:3. 3. See: Hazar-Addar.

  • Poratha

    [isbe] PORATHA - po-ra'-tha, por'-a-tha (pora-tha'): One of the sons of Haman (Est 9:8). The etymology is uncertain; perhaps from the Persian purdata, "given by fate."
    [smith] one of the ten sons of Haman slain by the Jews in Shushan the palace. (Esther 9:8)
    [nave] PORATHA, son of Haman, Esth. 9:8.

  • Aridatha

    [isbe] ARIDATHA - ar-i-da'-tha, a-rid'-a-tha ('aridhatha'): A son of Haman (Est 9:8). It may be related to the Persian Hari-data, "given by Hari." The Septuagint reads Pharadatha.
    [smith] sixth son of Haman. (Esther 9:8)
    [nave] ARIDATHA, son of Haman, Esth. 9:8.

  • Adalia

    [isbe] ADALIA - a-da-li'-a ('adhalya', probably a Persian name, meaning unknown): One of the ten sons of Haman who were put to death by the Jews (Est 9:8).
    [smith] (a fire-god), the fifth son of Haman. (Esther 9:8)
    [nave] ADALIA, son of Haman, Esth. 9:8.

  • Vajezatha

    [ebd] purity; worthy of honour, one of Haman's sons, whom the Jews slew in the palace of Shushan (Esther 9:9).
    [smith] (strong as the wind), one of the ten sons of Haman whom the Jews slew in Shushan. (Esther 9:9) (B.C. 473.)
    [nave] VAJEZATHA, son of Haman, Esth. 9:9.

  • Aridai

    [isbe] ARIDAI - ar'-i-di, a-rid'-a-i ('aridhay: a son of Haman (Est 9:9)): The name may be related to the Persian Hari-dayas, "delight of Hari"; the text is very uncertain.
    [smith] (the strong), ninth son of Haman. (Esther 9:9)
    [nave] ARIDAI, son of Haman, Esth. 9:9.

  • Arisai

    [isbe] ARISAI - ar'-i-sai, a-ris'-a-i ('aricai): Probably a Persian word of unknown meaning. One of Haman's sons, slain by the Jews (Est 9:9).
    [smith] (lion-like), eighth son of Haman. (Esther 9:9)
    [nave] ARISAI, son of Haman, Esth. 9:9.

  • Aspatha

    [isbe] ASPATHA - as-pa'-tha ('acpatha'): One of the ten sons of Haman (Est 9:7) (Pers aspadata, "given by a sacred horse," according to Thesaurus, Add. 71, after Pott and Benfey).
    [smith] third son of Haman. (Esther 9:7)
    [nave] ASPATHA, son of Haman, Esth. 9:7.

  • Dalphon

    [isbe] DALPHON - dal'-fon (dalphon, "crafty"): The second of the ten sons of Haman, slain by the Jews (Est 9:7).
    [smith] (swift), the second of the ten sons of Hamam (Esther 9:7) (B.C. 610.)
    [nave] DALPHON, son of Haman, Esth. 9:7.
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Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • The Israelites were not to punish children for the crimes their parents committed. To do so charged them with guilt unjustly.". . . it was a common thing among heathen nations--e.g., the Persians, Macedonians, and others--for...
  • I. God's preparations 1:1-2:20A. Vashti deposed ch. 11. The king's feast 1:1-92. The queen's dismissal 1:10-22B. Esther elevated 2:1-201. The plan to replace Vashti 2:1-42. Esther's selection 2:5-113. The choice of Esther as ...
  • This chapter records the providential circumstances whereby Esther was able to rise to her influential position with the Persian king."Though no mention is made of God's providence, it nevertheless plays a prominent part, and...
  • Mordecai's mourning may have been the only thing that disturbed Esther. She may have known nothing about the decree. On the other hand she may have known of both and concluded that since the king did not know that she was a J...
  • The king gave the Jews permission to defend themselves by killing their enemies. Evidently this meant that they not only met attack with resistance but in some cases initiated attack against those who they knew would destroy ...
  • John heard praise of God in heaven that interrupted his narration of the outpouring of the bowls of wrath briefly.16:5 The "angel of the waters"evidently refers to the angel responsible for the sea and fresh water, the superi...
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