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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;)

People want power over people.  The enemy of the Jews could hardly wait until the twelfth month and 13th day.  It was the day the enemy looked forward to.  Contrary the Jews had control over 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.

The Jews are ruling in a pagan land.  The people of God had a right to protect themselves if someone tried to harm them.  When we use force to protect ourselves, it is only used if someone is wanting to harm us.  Unlike Haman, he had pride, and force was his way of thinking to control the Jews.

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.

Mordecai a man of conviction, became well known.  People feared Mordecai and that gave the Jews the confidence they desired.  When we live with standards, it becomes a hedge of protection that will is noticeable.

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.

The Jews did not want to harm anyone, however, they had the right to protect themselves.

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,

10 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.

11 On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.

12 And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done.

  500 people plus the ten sons of Haman is a lot of people to have died in one day needlessly.  When the king heard of the 510 who were dead, he asked Esther what more was needed?  The king ruled over provinces from Ethiopia to India and he wanted to know the state of the lives of the enemies there too. 

13 Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.

14 And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.

The sons of Haman were already dead.  Esther wanted it known to all people that their lives had been taken.  Many commentators have reasoned more than one comment on why this might have taken place.  I am not sure why she chose to take this measure.  However, the king gave her permission and she carried it out and did not hide it from the books of the registry.

15 For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.

After Jews defended themselves, they had a right to take the prey to keep for themselves.  The Jews did not want what their enemy had even when the law permitted it.  The Jews perhaps thought if the person who wanted me dead had anything I needed, I would rather go without than to be reminded that my enemy once held what I need in his hands.  Or could it be that the Jews said, I don't need a collection from my enemy?  What I now own and that is my right to live, all else is mere junk to me.  I do not know why they did not collect when it was theirs for the taking.  The word of God should be as such if necessary, I'd rather not have the good that is connected to this world even if I have a right to it.

The king gave the next day that Esther asked for to complete what needed to protect the Jews and ca.  

16 But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,

17 On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

18 But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

20 And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,

21 To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,

22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

This is the Jewish letter to celebrate life written by Mordecai.  Mordecai told the Jews to celebrate every year in commemoration of Jews's survival of a genocide.

23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;

24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;

25 But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

26 Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,

27 The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;

28 And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.

Mark the calendar!  Celebrate!  God wiped the thought of the past from the people and gave them a new future worth celebrating!  They had a reminder of the victory won and every year they had a feast to memorialize the day of Pur!

29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.

30 And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,

31 To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.

Esther used her authority to confirm the Jewish Holiday.  As the old testament is our first letter the confirmation of the new testament confirms the 1st by sending us the 2nd letter authorized by Jesus Christ.

32 And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.

This chapter showed the warrior, no non-sense, unexpected, firmness of God.  Esther and Mordecai were a team from start.  Awarded by God, Mordecai became a father to a savior.  Esther criticized by some and esteemed by others.  Esther had no mom or dad.  She came in a queen without the pomp and circumstance of royalty.  She did not reveal who she was until it was time.  When her role was needed to save her people she was cautious but did not hesitate.  When she saw the need, she responded with the guidance of her counselor.  She made the right decisions even if it made some question her motive.  She was beautiful and misunderstood.  She knew her God and her God knew, that she knew Him.


My Minute Song

Esther 9


A little girl born

 With no mom or dad

But her story unfolds 

and many are glad


A cousin adopted her

 and took her in

She was more 

then his next of kin


She saw what was wrong 

And wanted things right

She listened well

Nothing missed her sight


The king heard her voice

and granted her request

It was more to Esther 

Then the way she dressed


She made decisions

That you had to respect

Though misunderstood

But did what was best



Esther was a woman 

who was used by God

She was a queen and warrior

and she fought real hard


Esther with Mordecai

by her side

are honored by Jews

With no genocide.







 

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