Book of Esther
Chapter 8 Part 13
July 22, 2012
“On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her” (Esther 8:1). Did you notice last week in Esther chapter 7 that, after the queen had revealed Haman’s villainous plot against the Jews, she never called for Haman’s death? It was Harbonah who suggested Haman be hanged on his own gallows in his own courtyard that he’d had built from which he planned to hang Mordecai. The king left the wine banquet in anger. When he returned he saw Haman grabbing Esther pleading for his life. Harbonah, knowing all that was going on, suggested that Ahasuerus hang Haman on the gallows he had built for Mordecai. Haman was hanged.
That’s not the end of the story. There is so much more to learn.
“On that day” when Haman was hanged, the king gave Esther the house of Haman. This would include the property and money about which Haman had so proudly boasted. There would be no honorable mention for Haman in the annals of the kingdom. His position, his wealth, his property and his household, which would include his servants and slaves, now belonged to Esther.
All I can learn about what happened to Haman’s wife, Zeresh comes from the Midrash Esther, or the ancient commentary about the Book of Esther. It states that after Haman had been hanged in his back yard, Zeresh fled with 70 of his sons and they became beggars in the streets. This goes to show that we cannot rely on money to save our lives or our souls. Money, like life, can be fleeting.
Esther told King Ahasuerus how Mordecai was related to her, then, she invited Mordecai to come in and personally meet the king. Mordecai was honored by the king and promoted to become the king’s closest advisers. If King Ahasuerus had any doubt whether Esther was a Jewess or not from her earlier mention, this made it pointedly clear.
“And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman” (verse 2). Before Haman was taken away to the gallows, the king retrieved his signet ring from his hand and replaced it on his own finger. This was a final, complete severing of the king’s friendship with Haman and the removal of all Haman’s authority. It was like getting a dishonorable discharge from service. This ring was then placed on Mordecai’s hand which effectively transferred all Haman’s authority and power within the kingdom to his worst enemy’s hand, literally. Apparently Haman had not learned the biblical principle as stated in Luke 6:31, “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.” In this case, it could have read, “Whatever you don’t want done to you, don’t plan it for others.”
Esther made Mordecai steward of the house of Haman. All the responsibility for running the estate was now his. (This dude was busy! He still held his position in the gate among the Jews, now was second in command to the king, and now, on top of that, he was the estate manager for Esther!)
There is still more story to come.
“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” (verse 3). Esther was overcome with sadness for her people. She once again risked the king’s discontent as she entered the throne room without being summoned. This time she fell, sobbing, to the floor before the king with tears flowing. She was there to ask for the decree of Haman to be nullified that was made against her people. The time was growing short until the death knell would sound for the Jews in the kingdom. If something wasn’t done to change Haman’s wicked plan, his death would be useless; her people would still perish. I can imagine that Esther’s heart was heavy with grief as ours should be for our fellow humans as we realize so many of them will perish before, during and after the Tribulation.
“Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,” (verse 4). Oh how this king must have loved his queen. Once again he held out the invitation that saved Esther’s life, his scepter. Seeing the king’s hand reaching forward the scepter, Esther rose and went closer.
“And said, If it please the king, and if I have 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:” (verse 5). See here again, Esther rose before the king knowing she had found favor with him, yet still spoke with humility to him. She didn’t presume that, because she had found favor with the king one day that she would again today. This demonstrated to the king that Esther was submissive to him and his authority over her. If it please the king, and if I have favour in his sight” which was a given as she wasn’t carried away by the servants. And again, Esther didn’t waste the king’s time. She got right to the point, made her request, and waited for his response.
Her request was that the edict which Haman had written allowing, even encouraging, the citizens of the kingdom to hunt the Jews down throughout the provinces and kill them like rabid animals be revoked. Esther wanted King Ahasuerus to write a letter countermanding the letter Haman had signified using the king’s ring and had sent out throughout the land. She not only wanted it annulled. She wanted it reversed. Notice too that Esther never mentions the king’s involvement in the decree sent out. She easily could have said, “I want the letter Haman wrote, with your approval, stopped.” But she didn’t. That would have been antagonistic and served no purpose.
Lesson from Esther: Learn from this, my friends. We all need to learn how to respond to others without accusation, stating only the facts. The king’s involvement was in the past. Esther was focusing on the present to find a way to save her people. Our vision must be on the present with a focus toward the future.
“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?” (Verse 6) Once again Esther aligns herself with the Jewish nation. Esther made it clear to the king that Haman’s decree was evil and would not only bring the Jews into slavery, but, if allowed to go forth, would cause them to be annihilated. She wanted King Ahasuerus to know this would devastate her. She would not be able to endure the pain of such a great loss and would surely die.
Another lesson from Esther: If this young queen was willing to lay her life on the line twice to save her people, how much more should we as Christians be willing to lay our lives, our reputation, our friendships on the line to see the people of this world saved? Esther wept before her King begging for the physical salvation of her people. As children of the kingdom of God, we should weep before our King Jesus pleading for the salvation of the souls of our families, our friends, our neighbors. Amen?
“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” (verse7). Notice now that Mordecai was right there with Esther and the king. It doesn’t make it clear if he’s the invited guest of the queen or there in his office as adviser to the king. It doesn’t matter either way. Esther and Mordecai are now united before the king on behalf of the Jews.
King Ahasuerus pointed out a fact to Esther and Mordecai. When he had found out from Esther what Haman had planned against the Jews he had Haman killed. After he was dead, he gave Esther all that Haman had possessed. Esther turned control of it over to the care of Mordecai.
“…because he laid his hand upon the Jews” doesn’t mean Haman physically laid his hands on a Jew to kill him. I doubt that pride-filled arrogant man would dirty his hands in such a physical way. It means that the decree he wrote and his intent to kill all the Jews was as if he had laid hands on them and killed each one. He will one day face the Lord and be held accountable for his evil intentions against God’s chosen race.
“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” (verse 8). I believe that King Ahasuerus was assuring Esther and Mordecai that he was willing to help them any way he could. He now knew he was speaking with Jews, so he made things plain and clear for them about Persian law. (I’m sure Esther and Mordecai already knew this as they had lived most of their lives in Shushan.) Once a law was written and sealed by the kings of Media and Persia, it could never be abolished. Whatever they chose to write as the new decree from the king would not undo what had been previously written and sent out by Haman, but it would overrule it. The new decree would reverse the results Haman had so desperately wanted to see.
It was as though Ahasuerus told Esther and Mordecai, “Ok, you two. I want you to put your heads together and come up with a new letter to be sent out that will benefit the Jews of this entire kingdom. Make sure that what you include is sound and just for all people because this decree will never be revoked either.”
Book of Esther
Chapter 8 Part 14
July 29, 2012
“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” (Esther 8:9). The same scribes that had come to write out Haman’s decree were once again called in to write out a decree to the rulers of the 127 provinces of the kingdom (India to Ethiopia, 2835.9 air miles) that would reverse Haman’s decree. This was done about 2 months and 10 after the original order went out. Unlike Haman’s decree, this one from Mordecai was to be delivered to the leaders of the Jews also
Notice that the new decree was not dictated by Esther, but by Mordecai. As second in command in the entire kingdom, he had the authority to write such a decree and the ring with which to seal the document. He also had knowledge of the 70 languages needed to reach the people. John Gill said that the distress the Jews felt at Haman’s decree “was a just rebuke upon them for not returning to their own land when they might, as well as for other sins.”
The letter they would receive from Mordecai would relieve the Jews of the stress caused by the first one. Having more than 9 months before the day of slaughter that was ordered by Haman would give the Jews time to prepare for the enemy. You see, although Mordecai’s letter would go out to give the Jews freedom and the right to make weapons to defend themselves with, many would take advantage of Haman’s decree to do harm to the Jews out of greed. Remember, Haman’s decree could never be erased because it was sealed with the king’s signature and ring. Let’s read Daniel 6:8, “Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.” Anyone killing a Jew would be within legal rights as stated in that previous decree. Only new orders could help the Jews. The Jews in the kingdom were prosperous due to their diligence and hard work, and the people were so jealous they were willing to be part of the slaughter.
Sound familiar? We no longer hear much about it, but missiles are sent crashing into Israel frequently. This is the latest I can find. “July 28: Two rockets had been fired from the Gaza Strip and "exploded in an open area in the Eshkol Regional Council. No injuries or damage were reported as resulting directly from the explosions, however a woman received a light injury ‘while running to a shelter.’" Can you imagine living like that? Those Middle Eastern, Muslim nations want Israel wiped off the map. Now even Russia and China are looking enviously at Israel because of the recent discovery of vast amounts of oil and natural gas in that land.
This decree from Mordecai was also sent to the magistrates in the kingdom. They were to understand that this new decree allowed the Jews to defend themselves, their families and their property. No Jew who killed anyone attacking them was to be penalized. Can you imagine what would have happened to the Jews if the magistrates and soldiers were like out government now? They write decrees (laws) and bills that are so long and cumbersome, even the politicians who have to vote on them either don’t read them or don’t understand them. Praise God the people in charge in Persia were conscientious about their responsibilities.
The decree was to be written in the language of each province. This verse specifically points out that it was to be written “to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.” Hebrew is written in unusual characters, not in letters as we use.
“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:” (verse 10) Mordecai had the letter signed in King Ahasuerus’ name and sealed with his ring. This gave authority and authenticity to the decree and made in irreversible as Haman’s was.
The letters were sent locally by “post” or foot runners. They were also sent on horseback and mules to areas outside the runners range. And they were sent on camels and dromedaries to the farthest distances. Interestingly, I received an email about camels just yesterday that says camels can carry a man across the dessert 100 miles in one day! Even at that rate, it would take those riders almost a month to deliver their letters to the furthest reaches of the kingdom.
“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” (verses 11: 12). In essence, King Ahasuerus approved civil war in his provinces. The foolishness lay in their laws. If their “constitution” allowed for the king’s decrees to be abolished or revoked, this would never have happened. The second letter dictated by Mordecai, signed and sealed in the king’s name, would have overruled the first letter from Haman. Instead, it now took armed conflict in every province to assure the safety of the Jews.
This second decree was well thought out. It not only gave the Jews the right to gather as an army, but it also gave them to kill their attackers and take all they owned after their death. If women and children took part in the attack, they too would be killed. This decree, as the one before it, was good for one day only. Everything had to be accomplished in the day Haman had selected by casting lots; that is, Adar 13, the end of the year.
“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” (verse 13). “All people” is every nation, tongue and tribe that resided within the kingdom. Anyone who could read this new decree from the king understood what was coming in just 9 months. Those who could not read heard it published by the town criers of the day. One way or another, every person in the kingdom knew what was coming. Both sides were given ample time to decide how they were going to play this out.
Israel now stands on a precipice. The leaders of that country, God’s chosen nation, have to make a choice. Will they begin a pre-emptive strike against Iran’s nuclear power plant, or wait to see how Iran will act once they have the nukes available to fire into Israel. Let me tell you this. When they have the capability, they will use it. Not only will they fire on the Zionist country, Israel, but on the infidel country, the United States. I truly believe the leaders in Iran have the same visions of grandeur Hitler had. They want to wipe out Israel and everyone who is not Muslim.
Muslims are already taking over European countries like France. These people have come to New York in droves. They gather for prayer in the streets with their butts in the air stopping traffic until they are well pleased to leave. Can you even predict what would happen if Christians knelt in the middle of a New York street, holding up traffic, to pray? Muslims have special prayer rooms in schools facing “mecca” where the teachers and kids can pray. Where is the Christian prayer room? What time are they allowed to leave class to go pray? Businesses have to allow Muslims to stop work to go pray. How many Christians receive this same courtesy?
“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” (verse 14). Those carrying the new letter all over the province were dispatched with urgency to hurry the letter so that the Jews would be able to ready for the coming battle. The decree was even read and posted in the palace and in the town of Shushan where the palace was located.
“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” (verse 15). Mordecai went out and rode through the city, not in pride as Haman once did, but in humility to show himself to his family and friends. Rather than showing his superiority to the people, he showed his position of trust with the king. Mordecai was dressed in the white and blue of the kings, but the crown he wore was like that of a prince. Some commentators say the “great crown of gold” was actually a neck chain. They get this from Daniel 5:29 where is reads, “Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.” It’s possible it was a chain, but I like going with the text and will believe it was a crown.
The people of Shushan, not just the Jews, celebrated the fact that Haman was dead and Mordecai, a good man of God, was placed in his position. I’m sure that many of the people were like us and could not kill just because someone was a certain nationality.
“The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour” (verse 16). The first decree brought darkness to the Jews. Their spirits and souls were heavy with fear. Now that they had read or heard the new decree written by Mordecai, the Jews had light. Their spirits and souls were uplifted and made happy. They had “gladness” which is cheerfulness and joy which is delight at the deliverance from the killing decree. Seeing Mordecai attired royally brought honor to the Jews amongst the other people.
“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” (verse 17). As the letter reached each province where the Jews lived, there was gaiety and celebration among them. They feasted and rejoiced in their escape from certain death. It was a death sentence commuted on the largest of scales.
When the people of the kingdom read or heard the new decree, they were scared. Many of them knew stories about the deliverance of God on these people and knew that Haman’s death and the new decree were from this God of Israel. Many of them turned to Judaism, being circumcised and observing all their rites, ceremonies and feast days.
