Courage for Life for Women - Flipbook - Page 20
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EsthEr 9
the governors, and the nobles of all the
127 provinces stretching from India to
Ethiopia.* The decree was written in the
scripts and languages of all the peoples
of the empire, including that of the Jews.
10
The decree was written in the name of
King Xerxes and sealed with the king’s
signet ring. Mordecai sent the dispatches by swift messengers, who rode
fast horses especially bred for the king’s
service.
11
The king’s decree gave the Jews in
every city authority to unite to defend
their lives. They were allowed to kill,
slaughter, and annihilate anyone of any
nationality or province who might attack
them or their children and wives, and to
take the property of their enemies. 12 The
day chosen for this event throughout all
the provinces of King Xerxes was March 7
of the next year.*
13
A copy of this decree was to be issued
as law in every province and proclaimed
to all peoples, so that the Jews would be
ready to take revenge on their enemies on
the appointed day. 14So urged on by the
king’s command, the messengers rode
out swiftly on fast horses bred for the
king’s service. The same decree was also
proclaimed in the fortress of Susa.
15
Then Mordecai left the king’s presence, wearing the royal robe of blue and
white, the great crown of gold, and an
outer cloak of fine linen and purple. And
the people of Susa celebrated the new decree. 16The Jews were filled with joy and
gladness and were honored everywhere.
17
In every province and city, wherever the
king’s decree arrived, the Jews rejoiced
and had a great celebration and declared
a public festival and holiday. And many of
the people of the land became Jews them-
selves, for they feared what the Jews
might do to them.
The Victory of the Jews
So on March 7* the two decrees of
the king were put into effect. On that
day, the enemies of the Jews had hoped to
overpower them, but quite the opposite
happened. It was the Jews who overpowered their enemies. 2 The Jews gathered in
their cities throughout all the king’s provinces to attack anyone who tried to harm
them. But no one could make a stand
against them, for everyone was afraid of
them. 3And all the nobles of the provinces,
the highest officers, the governors, and
the royal officials helped the Jews for fear
of Mordecai. 4For Mordecai had been promoted in the king’s palace, and his fame
spread throughout all the provinces as he
became more and more powerful.
5
So the Jews went ahead on the appointed day and struck down their enemies with the sword. They killed and
annihilated their enemies and did as they
pleased with those who hated them. 6In
the fortress of Susa itself, the Jews killed
500 men. 7 They also killed Parshandatha,
Dalphon, Aspatha, 8Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha—10 the ten sons of Haman son of
Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But
they did not take any plunder.
11
That very day, when the king was informed of the number of people killed in
the fortress of Susa, 12 he called for Queen
Esther. He said, “The Jews have killed
500 men in the fortress of Susa alone, as
well as Haman’s ten sons. If they have
done that here, what has happened in the
rest of the provinces? But now, what more
do you want? It will be granted to you; tell
me and I will do it.”
8:9b Hebrew to Cush. 8:12 Hebrew the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, of the ancient Hebrew
lunar calendar. The date selected was March 7, 473 B.C.; also see note on 2:16. 9:1 Hebrew on the thirteenth day of the
twelfth month, the month of Adar, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was March 7, 473 B.C.; also see note on 2:16.
God is our deliverer
8:1–9:19
P R A Y • Abba Father, you are my deliverer. Help me to trust you and not give in to fear and worry.
O B S E R V E • Since the king’s original decree could not be revoked, a new decree was written
to lessen the harm it would do. The second decree permitted the Jewish people to defend themselves and to plunder the property of anyone who attacked them. Swift messengers were sent
to inform the Jews of the new decree so they could be ready on the appointed day. On March 7,
the Jews overpowered their enemies, and there was a great celebration.
I N T E R P R E T • If Haman’s plan had succeeded, the Jews would have been destroyed—and
Jesus, our deliverer, might never have been born. But God chose Esther to be queen so that
through her he could save his people and accomplish his plan of deliverance. Just as God delivered the Jewish people from total annihilation, there is no sin, situation, or suffering that God
cannot deliver us from.
A P P LY • Overcome obstacles:
In your journal, describe the
sins, situations, and suffering
you need deliverance from (9:2).
Write a prayer asking God to
deliver you. • Grasp God’s love
for you: Read Psalm 40:17. In the
margin, describe how knowing
that God is your deliverer helps
you understand his love for you.
What additional COURAGE steps
will you take because you know
that God is your deliverer?
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