The Jews Defend Themselves in Persia

The day set for the Jews' destruction became the day of their deliverance. Across the Persian Empire they stood for their lives, and sorrow was turned to feasting.

Haman had obtained a royal decree to destroy all the Jews of the Persian Empire on the thirteenth day of the month Adar. After Esther's intercession and Haman's fall, a second decree in the king's name allowed the Jews in every city to gather and defend themselves on that same day. When it came, 'it was turned to the contrary'. The Jews gathered in their cities, no one could withstand them, and the rulers of the provinces helped them because the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them. In Shushan they killed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman, and the next day three hundred more; in the provinces they killed seventy-five thousand of their foes. Each time the text notes they laid no hand on the spoil. The days that followed became the feast of Purim, days of feasting and gladness.

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Details

Era: Exile & Return
Category: Exile & Return
Participants: The Jews of Persia vs. their enemies across the empire
Outcome: Jews' enemies defeated, Haman's sons hanged, Purim established
Divine Intervention: No

Key Chapters

Esther 9 The Feast of Purim 6 min read The day Israel's enemies hoped to destroy them becomes the day they are overcome...

Key Passages

Turned to the Contrary

Esther 9:1-10

The day Israel's enemies hoped to destroy them becomes the day they are overcome.

N¹ow 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;)

² 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. ³ 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. ⁴ 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. ⁵ 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. ⁶ And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men. ⁷ And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha, ⁸ And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha, ⁹ 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.

Rest from Their Enemies

Esther 9:11-19

Sorrow is turned into feasting and gladness, and the Jews remember their deliverance with joy.

O¹¹n 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. 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. 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. 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.