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ESTHER 9
page 449
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 themselves, 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. 3 And all the nobles of the provinces, the
highest officers, the governors, and the royal
officials helped the Jews for fear of Mordecai. 4 For 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. 6 In the fortress of Susa itself, the
Jews killed 500 men. 7 They also killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8 Poratha, Adalia,
Aridatha, 9 Parmashta, 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.”
13 Esther responded, “If it please the king,
give the Jews in Susa permission to do again
tomorrow as they have done today, and let
the bodies of Haman’s ten sons be impaled on
a pole.”
14 So the king agreed, and the decree was announced in Susa. And they impaled the bodies of Haman’s ten sons. 15 Then the Jews at
9
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. 9:15 Hebrew
the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, of the ancient Hebrew
lunar calendar. This day was March 8, 473 b.c.; also see note
on 2:16. 9:17 Hebrew on the thirteenth day of the month of
Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested. These days were
March 7 and 8, 473 b.c.; also see note on 2:16. 9:18 Hebrew
killed their enemies on the thirteenth day and the fourteenth
day, and then rested on the fifteenth day, of the Hebrew month
of Adar. 9:19 Hebrew on the fourteenth day of the month of
Adar. This day of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurs
in February or March. 9:21 Hebrew on the fourteenth and
fifteenth days of Adar, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar.
Susa gathered together on March 8* and killed
300 more men, and again they took no plunder.
16 Meanwhile, the other Jews throughout the
king’s provinces had gathered together to defend their lives. They gained relief from all their
enemies, killing 75,000 of those who hated
them. But they did not take any plunder. 17 This
was done throughout the provinces on March 7,
and on March 8 they rested,* celebrating their
victory with a day of feasting and gladness.
18 (The Jews at Susa killed their enemies on
March 7 and again on March 8, then rested on
March 9,* making that their day of feasting and
gladness.) 19 So to this day, rural Jews living in
remote villages celebrate an annual festival
and holiday on the appointed day in late winter,* when they rejoice and send gifts of food
to each other.
The Festival of Purim
20 Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to the Jews near and far, throughout all the
provinces of King Xerxes, 21 calling on them
to celebrate an annual festival on these two
days.* 22 He told them to celebrate these days
with feasting and gladness and by giving gifts
of food to each other and presents to the poor.
This would commemorate a time when the Jews
gained relief from their enemies, when their sorrow was turned into gladness and their mourning into joy.
23 So the Jews accepted Mordecai’s proposal
and adopted this annual custom. 24 Haman son
of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the
• Family
E S THE R 9:28
Something wonderful happened to the
Jewish people in Esther’s time. It was
such a momentous event that it needed to
be remembered beyond Esther’s lifetime.
Thus, the annual Festival of Purim was
established. In decades and centuries to
come, God’s people would recall this great
event through the tradition of the feast and
its story.
Did you ever consider that you may be
the crucial link between the generations
before and after you? Will your grandchildren and great-grandchildren understand and celebrate the many ways in
which God has been gracious to your
family? How will they remember if no
one repeats the story? Establish
traditions that will communicate to
future generations the truths of your
faith and the faithfulness of God.