Today’s passage: Esther 9:1-19
Helpful thoughts:
- In the time between the Mordecai’s edict and the day of Haman’s planned attack, more and more people (Including officials in the empire) rallied around the Jews to protect and fight together with them.
- At the same time, even after all that had transpired, there were people all over the empire who still wanted to attack the Jews, against all odds! Haman was not the only man who hated the Jews.
- At the request of Esther, the Jews in Susa had two days to defeat their enemies. The Jews across the empire fought only on the one day. 75,800 people died.
- We never read of any Jews who were killed on these two days. Remember, the edict allowed the Jews to defend themselves against those who would attack them. Had the Jewish people lost in all of their fighting, the casualties would have gone the other way!
- The Jews had been given permission to take plunder from these victories, yet none of them did (8:11).
Questions to consider:
- In what way was it apparent that God had given the Jews protection and victory on these days? Why did all of this resolve the way that it did?
- How did King Ahasuerus show evidence how he viewed the uniqueness of this event? What would have been the reasoning behind his second offer to Esther in verse 12?
- What do you think the Jews’ refusal to take any possessions/plunder from those who perished would have communicated to the leaders and people of the empire?