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Texts -- Esther 9:1-22 (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 . 9:17 All of this happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar . They then rested on the fourteenth day and made it a day for banqueting and happiness .
The Origins of the Feast of Purim
9:18 But the Jews who were in Susa assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth days, and rested on the fifteenth , making it a day for banqueting and happiness . 9:19 This is why the Jews who are in the rural country – those who live in rural cities – set aside the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a holiday for happiness , banqueting , holiday , and sending gifts to one another . 9:20 Mordecai wrote these matters down and sent letters to all the Jews who were throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus , both near and far , 9:21 to have them observe the fourteenth and the fifteenth day of the month of Adar each year 9:22 as the time when the Jews gave themselves rest from their enemies – the month when their trouble was turned to happiness and their mourning to a holiday . These were to be days of banqueting , happiness , sending gifts to one another , and providing for the poor .

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Tatnai

    [ebd] gift, a Persian governor (Heb. pehah, i.e., "satrap;" modern "pasha") "on this side the river", i.e., of the whole tract on the west of the Euphrates. This Hebrew title pehah is given to governors of provinces generally. It ...

  • 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.

  • 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...

  • Purim

    [smith] (lots), the annual festival instituted to commemorate the preservation of the Jews in Persia from the massacre with which they were threatened through the machinations of Haman. (Esther 9:1) ... It was probably called Purim b...
    [nave] PURIM, a feast instituted to commemorate the deliverance of the Jews from the plot of Haman, Esth. 9:20-32.

  • PUNISHMENTS

    [isbe] PUNISHMENTS - pun'-ish-ments ('awon, "fault," "iniquity," "punishment for iniquity," "sin" (Gen 4:13; Lev 26:41; Job 19:29; Ps 149:7; Lam 4:22; Ezek 14:10 margin; Am 1:3,6,9,11,13; 2:1,4,6), `onesh, "tribute," "fine," "punis...

  • PERIZZITE

    [isbe] PERIZZITE - per'-i-zit, pe-riz'-it (perizzi; Pherezaios): Signifies "a villager," and so corresponds with the Egyptian fellah. Hence, the Perizzite is not included among the sons of Canaan in Gen 10, and is also coupled with...

  • OFFICER

    [isbe] OFFICER - of'-i-ser: In the King James Version the term is employed to render different words denoting various officials, domestic, civil and military, such as caric, "eunuch," "minister of state" (Gen 37:36); paqidh, "perso...

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • Lieutenant

    [ebd] (only in A.V. Esther 3:12; 8:9; 9:3; Ezra 8:36), a governor or viceroy of a Persian province having both military and civil power. Correctly rendered in the Revised Version "satrap."

  • 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...

  • 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.

  • GOVERNOR

    [isbe] GOVERNOR - guv'-er-ner: The word "governor" is employed in English Versions of the Bible in rendering a great variety of Hebrew and Greek words. In certain cases strict consistency is neither observed nor possible. 1. In the...

  • Feasts

    [nave] FEASTS Ancient customs at: Men alone present at, Gen. 40:20; 43:32, 34; 1 Sam. 9:22; Esth. 1:8; Mark 6:21; Luke 14:24; women alone, Esth. 1:9. Men and women attend, Ex. 32:6, with vs. 2,3;Dan. 5:1-3. Riddles propounded at,...

  • FAME

    [isbe] FAME - fam (shem, shema`; akoe, pheme): "Fame" has the twofold meaning, (1) of report or rumor, (2) of renown or reputation (in the Old Testament it is not always easy to distinguish the two senses). "Fame," shema`, "fame," ...

  • 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 ...

  • Deputy

    [ebd] in 1 Kings 22:47, means a prefect; one set over others. The same Hebrew word is rendered "officer;" i.e., chief of the commissariat appointed by Solomon (1 Kings 4:5, etc.). In Esther 8:9; 9:3 (R.V., "governor") it denotes a...

  • Banquet

    [ebd] a feast provided for the entertainment of a company of guests (Esther 5; 7; 1 Pet. 4:3); such as was provided for our Lord by his friends in Bethany (Matt. 26:6; Mark 14:3; comp. John 12:2). These meals were in the days of C...

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • This feast (Heb. Sukkot) was another very joyous occasion for the Israelites. It was the third fall festival. It commemorated the Israelites' journey from Egyptian bondage to blessing in Canaan. Its other names were the Feast...
  • 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...
  • "Crown"(v. 15) should be "turban."Mordecai's clothing reflected his important position in the government.Evidently Mordecai read the second decree at a public meeting in Susa. Contrast the Jews' reaction here with their respo...
  • 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 ...
  • Evidently Mordecai issued the decree establishing the feast of Purim some time after the slaying of the Jews' enemies (v. 20). His proclamation united the two days on which the Jews had defended themselves (Adar 13 and 14) in...
  • 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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