Esther 9:1–19 (May 21, 2025)

The Jews Destroy Their Enemies

9 Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's command and edict were about to be carried out, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them. 2 The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could stand against them, for the fear of them had fallen on all peoples. 3 All the officials of the provinces and the satraps and the governors and the royal agents also helped the Jews, for the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them. 4 For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces, for the man Mordecai grew more and more powerful. 5 The Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and did as they pleased to those who hated them. 6 In Susa the citadel itself the Jews killed and destroyed 500 men, 7 and also killed Parshandatha and Dalphon and Aspatha 8 and Poratha and Adalia and Aridatha 9 and Parmashta and Arisai and Aridai and Vaizatha, 10 the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, but they laid no hand on the plunder.

11 That very day the number of those killed in Susa the citadel was reported to the king. 12 And the king said to Queen Esther, “In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed 500 men and also the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! Now what is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what further is your request? It shall be fulfilled.” 13 And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the Jews who are in Susa be allowed tomorrow also to do according to this day's edict. And let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows.”[a] 14 So the king commanded this to be done. A decree was issued in Susa, and the ten sons of Haman were hanged. 15 The Jews who were in Susa gathered also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and they killed 300 men in Susa, but they laid no hands on the plunder.

16 Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king's provinces also gathered to defend their lives, and got relief from their enemies and killed 75,000 of those who hated them, but they laid no hands on the plunder. 17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made that a day of feasting and gladness. 18 But the Jews who were in Susa gathered on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and rested on the fifteenth day, making that a day of feasting and gladness. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in the rural towns, hold the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day for gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and as a day on which they send gifts of food to one another.

Footnotes

Esther 9:13 Or wooden beam; also verse 25 (see note on 2:23)

Summary

Chapter 9 marks the fulfillment of the reversal that has been building throughout the book. The date that had been fixed for the destruction of the Jews—the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar (v.1)—has come. But instead of defeat, God gives His people victory.

The narrator emphasizes God's sovereignty shown through the "reversal."

“Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's command and edict were about to be carried out, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them.” (v.1).

This victory is not rooted in some sort of political cleverness or military strength, but in God’s providence, shown in the fear of the Jews and of Mordecai spreading throughout the empire (v.2–4). Almost killed, but now Mordecai is second only to the king, and the dread of his influence causes even governors and satraps to support the Jews (v.3).

In Susa alone, the Jews kill 500 of their enemies, and later, the ten sons of Haman are also executed (v.6–10). Interestingly, the Jews do not lay hands on the plunder (vv.10, 15, 16)—a repeated point that emphasizes this was not about personal gain but divine justice ("holy war"). For example, King Saul was told to eradicate Amalek (cf. 1 Samuel 15), but Saul disobeyed God, resulting in God being dishonored. Again, the Jews were not meant to profit from their enemies' downfall.

This section ends with rest and rejoicing:

“They rested and made that day a day of feasting and gladness” (v.17).

The reversal has been completed, but its memory will be preserved in worship for generations to come.

Who Is God?

God is the Divine and Covenant Warrior, who fights for His people and secures their rest ("sabbath").

Even though sometimes He seems silent, He is not absent in battle, even when no miracles appear. The quiet sovereignty that has governed this book now brings visible results. The reversal of power and the restraint shown by the Jews show us that this was not merely political but theological.

God turns the plans of the wicked on their heads (cf. Psalm 33:10–11).

He honors His covenant even when His people are in exile.

He provides victory without vengeance, righteous judgment without corruption.

And He gives rest. This is not rest earned by works, but rest given by grace. Just as Israel once celebrated deliverance from Egypt with feasting, so now they mark this new deliverance with joy.

What Is Our Guilt?

Our guilt lies in forgetting that the battle belongs to the Lord—that justice is His, not ours.

We are quick to fight for ourselves, but slow to trust in God's timing. We often seek victory that serves our pride rather than one that reflects God's righteousness.

Like the enemies of the Jews, we sometimes oppose God’s people and purposes out of envy, fear, or ignorance.

Like Saul in 1 Samuel 15, we may obey partially, in order to personally profit in what God meant to be holy.

We are often unwilling to wait for God's vindication. We rush to defend ourselves, retaliate, or prove our worth.

We forget that obedience and restraint are required for those who seek to worship God.

How Does the Gospel and Grace Shine?

The grace of God shines in this passage not only in victory, but in how victory is handled.

The Jews’ refusal to touch the plunder is not just a historical detail—it is a theological proclamation. Their actions declare: “This was God's victory, not ours.”

This anticipates the gospel pattern:

Evil rises with confidence.

God’s people appear defenseless.

But through divine reversal, the enemy is defeated, and God's people are delivered.

Jesus, too, faced a fixed day of destruction. On the very day the powers of darkness thought they had gained the mastery, the reverse occurred—and death was defeated by resurrection.

And like the Jews in Susa, we do not fight to earn salvation. We receive it. The battle is the Lord’s. The victory is His. And the rest that follows is a gift of grace, not a reward for merit.

A Thanksgiving Prayer

Righteous and victorious Abba Father,

Thank you that the plans of the wicked cannot stand against your purposes. Thank you that even when evil seems strong and inevitable, you are working for our good and your glory.

We confess that we often forget you are the one who fights for us. We take matters into our own hands. We seek our own vindication. But you call us to trust, to obey, and to wait.

Thank you for the Christ, who won the battle we could never fight. Thank you that, through His death and resurrection, we have rest that cannot be taken away.

Teach us to live with holy restraint and confident faith—remembering that your justice is perfect, and your timing is good.

May we be a people who celebrate your victories with joy and give you all the glory.

In Jesus’ name we pray.