Esther 8:3-9:10
“And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.” (Esther 8:3)
Haman had been executed, but the laws he had pushed through were still in effect, granting anyone who murdered Jews and took their property immunity from prosecution. Esther went to the king, begging him to undo or block those laws.
“Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king, And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces: For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?
Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.” (Esther 8:4-8)
Under Persian law, there was no congress or supreme court, and the king himself could not change and edict once it was signed and sealed. The king understood Esther’s distress, and reminded her he had destroyed Haman and given authority to Mordecai with his seal ring. He instructed them to decide what actions would minimize the damage and write whatever would accomplish that and seal it with his seal, so that it would be equally unchangeable.
“Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries: Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey, Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.” (Esther 8:9-13
While they couldn’t reverse the law Haman had written, Mordecai could write a law authorizing the Jews to unite to defend themselves and execute their enemies. The law was published to all one hundred twenty seven provinces , in all the different languages so everyone would know about it
“So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace. And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and )with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.” (Esther 8:14-17)
The entire government complex at the palace of Shushan had been troubled by the decrees Haman had made. While they would enforce the law because it was their job, they considered it bad policy and were opposed to it. When they read Mordecai’s decree and knew that Mordecai had been named Prime Minister in Haman’s place, the entire city rejoiced.
The Jews rejoiced to know they would not be punished for defending themselves. Many of the people throughout the empire turned to Judaism because of their fear of what happened to the Jew’s enemies. Mordecai and Esther caused a whole nation to know about God by their faith.
“Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;) The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.
And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater. Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.” (Esther 9:1-5)
Knowing they had immunity for murdering and robbing the Jews, their enemies didn’t hesitate to attack them, clearly identifying themselves. While they couldn’t bring criminal charges against the attackers, Persian officials could supply weapons and man power to help protect the Jews. As a result the enemies were destroyed. While the law couldn’t be reversed, it could be nullified.
“And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men. And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha, And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha, And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha, The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.” (Esther 9:6-10)
In the palace city itself, five hundred men were killed attacking the Jews. Among them were all ten of Haman’s sons as a result of the old grudge against the Jews. To cause your family to be destroyed because you carried a grudge about something that happened a hundred or more years ago seems to me the height of stupidity, and especially since Jesus said, “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” in Matthew 6:15.
“And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.” (Esther 8:3)
Haman had been executed, but the laws he had pushed through were still in effect, granting anyone who murdered Jews and took their property immunity from prosecution. Esther went to the king, begging him to undo or block those laws.
“Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king, And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces: For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?
Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.” (Esther 8:4-8)
Under Persian law, there was no congress or supreme court, and the king himself could not change and edict once it was signed and sealed. The king understood Esther’s distress, and reminded her he had destroyed Haman and given authority to Mordecai with his seal ring. He instructed them to decide what actions would minimize the damage and write whatever would accomplish that and seal it with his seal, so that it would be equally unchangeable.
“Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries: Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey, Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.” (Esther 8:9-13
While they couldn’t reverse the law Haman had written, Mordecai could write a law authorizing the Jews to unite to defend themselves and execute their enemies. The law was published to all one hundred twenty seven provinces , in all the different languages so everyone would know about it
“So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace. And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and )with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.” (Esther 8:14-17)
The entire government complex at the palace of Shushan had been troubled by the decrees Haman had made. While they would enforce the law because it was their job, they considered it bad policy and were opposed to it. When they read Mordecai’s decree and knew that Mordecai had been named Prime Minister in Haman’s place, the entire city rejoiced.
The Jews rejoiced to know they would not be punished for defending themselves. Many of the people throughout the empire turned to Judaism because of their fear of what happened to the Jew’s enemies. Mordecai and Esther caused a whole nation to know about God by their faith.
“Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;) The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.
And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater. Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.” (Esther 9:1-5)
Knowing they had immunity for murdering and robbing the Jews, their enemies didn’t hesitate to attack them, clearly identifying themselves. While they couldn’t bring criminal charges against the attackers, Persian officials could supply weapons and man power to help protect the Jews. As a result the enemies were destroyed. While the law couldn’t be reversed, it could be nullified.
“And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men. And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha, And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha, And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha, The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.” (Esther 9:6-10)
In the palace city itself, five hundred men were killed attacking the Jews. Among them were all ten of Haman’s sons as a result of the old grudge against the Jews. To cause your family to be destroyed because you carried a grudge about something that happened a hundred or more years ago seems to me the height of stupidity, and especially since Jesus said, “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” in Matthew 6:15.
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