Esther Chapter 9 - Tables turned

9:1-4

In response to Esther’s request the king’s edict was carried out. On the day when the enemies of the Jews had hoped to attack them, it was they who became the victims. They were attacked by the Jews. The nobles, satraps and governors helped the Jews. Mordecai also became more powerful.

9:5-19

Many people were killed by the Jews. Now we might have an element of revulsion about this, but the key point is that Satan’s plan was turned completely around.  It is dangerous to attack Israel, for God will act on their behalf. At times He will judge them, as he did with Assyria and Babylon, but God always wants to bring them back to himself. The king reported the news to Esther and invited her to make another request; she asked for the Jews in Susa to be allowed to repeat their actions. This request was granted. There is emphasis on the fact that the Jews did not lay their hands on the plunder. After the killing they had a day of feasting and joy.

Esther 8 - Freedom for the Jews

8:1-17

Haman’s plans and work were completely undone and reversed, just as one day Satan’s plans will all be undone.The king gave Haman’s estate to Esther. Mordecai was also honoured. Esther’s prime concern was for the well being of the Jews, and this too was granted. So the Jews were allowed to protect themselves against anyone who might try to attack them. 

The edict was sent throughout the land and there was great rejoicing among the Jews. “And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them,

Esther 7 - Haman gets his just deserts

7:1-10

So the king and Haman went to Esther’s banquet. During the banquet the king asked Esther what her request was. She asked for her people to be spared, talking about the edict to kill all the Jews. The king wanted to know who had issued such an edict. Esther revealed that it was Haman. The king was angry and Haman was afraid, knowing where all this was going to lead, he pleaded with Esther for mercy. This just made the king even angrier. So Haman ended up being impaled on the gallows he had set up for Mordecai, so Haman was killed.

Esther 6:1-14 - Mordecai is honoured

6:1-14

God was working in the situation. The king could not sleep and decided to read the book of the chronicles. There he read about how Mordecai had exposed a plot to kill the king, and then found out that nothing had been done to reward Mordecai. Haman happened to be around and the king called him in to ask how a man who the king wants to honour should be honoured. Haman thought the king was talking about him. Pride distorts our thinking. So Haaman answered thinking that he was choosing a reward for himself. The king then tells Haman to do all these things for Mordecai. Haman followed these orders. However he was distraught and went home and told his wife and friends what had happened. His advisors and wife warned him against doing anything stupid, for it was futile to oppose the Jews. 

Esther 6 - Haman gets angry

5:1-8

So Esther went to see the king. He was pleased to see her, and asked what her request was, indicating that he would be willing to grant it. She did not ask directly for the Jews to be saved, but to have a banquet, and that Haman should be there. The king was agreeable. So the banquet went ahead, the king knew that Esther the banquet was not the real request. She said she would make known her “real” request at the banquet,

5:9-14

Haman was happy, but this changed when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate. As usual Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman, but Haman restrained his anger. He felt honoured to be invited to the king’s banquet, and boasted about it to his family and friends, he also vented his anger about Mordecai. His wife urged him to set up an enormous gallows for Mordecai. Haman was pleased with the suggestion.

Esther Chapter 4 - For such a time as this

4:1-8

While Esther is the star of the show, Mordecai is perhaps the real star, working in the background. He became aware of what was being planned and was naturally deeply upset. In fact all the Jews became aware of the edict and were equally upset, fasting and weeping. Esther learnt about Mordecai and was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to wear, not realising why he was in sackcloth and ashes. She cared for Mordecai, but did not understand the bigger situation. So she sent one of the king’s eunuchs to find out why he was so distressed. Hathak was the one who went out and Mordecai told him everything. \he also told \hathak to tell \esther to go to the king and plead for her people.

4:9-14

Hathak did this. Esther did not think it was possible for her to go to the king without being summoned, for she could be put to death. Now Esther was also a Jew so she too would be liable to be killed under the edict. Mordecai understood that God had placed her in this position for such a time as this. Haman had been planning, but God also had been planning, and Esther was part of that plan. We also are part of God’s plan.

4:15-171

Esther listened to this, and asked Mordecai to get all the Jews to fast and pray. She would indeed go to the king, “If I perish, I perish”. Mordecai carried out Esther’s instructions.

Esther Chapter 3 - The order goes out to kill all the Jews

3:1-15

The other key event leading up to all that happened was the honouring of Haman the Agagite, this happened about four years after the installation of Esther. The king had also commanded that everyone bow down to Haman. Maybe he was a bit like the Peter Mandelson of his day. Mordecai, however, would not bow down to him This caused talk among the royal officials, they encouraged him to comply, but he refused. tHis was reported to Haman.

Haman was enraged. He was a very proud and hateful man. He also learnt that Mordecai was Jewish, and so he was determined to destroy all the Jews. Haman sought the King’s permission to pursue his vendetta against the Jews, even offering to pay money to the royal treasury. Xerxes agreed, but declined the money. So an order was written out to go to all the provinces to kill all the Jews, and the order was sealed with the king’s seal. So the fate of the Jews seemed to be all set.