Across the Land

Esther 9:1-19 

Welcome! Today we continue in the book of Esther, chapter 9. First, I would like to give a summary of key events of the book, and in so doing, I am going to present the entire book as a chiasm (or chiasmus). If you are not familiar with this term, let me explain. A chiasm is a literary structure of the form A B C C’ B’ A’; that is, there is some sort of “reverse parallelism” between the first half and the second half of the story. That is, the first half has a sequence of events, and the second half has a related sequence of events but in reverse order. Sometimes chiasms have the form A B C X C’ B’ A’. Now, chiasms are open to interpretation. Although they are based on Scripture, they do not in and of themselves bear the weight of the plain meaning of Scripture. I would neither say that they are “found” in Scripture nor that they are “created” by interpreters, but instead I would say that what is going on is somewhere in between. Chiasms, when brought out of Scripture, have the effect of highlighting certain things we might miss; typically, the center of a chiasm is a main or highly emphasized point; in a story, it is often the climax. I would say that God writes history using chiasms, and I believe that studying them helps me increase my wonder of and appreciation for the Bible, which, as Scripture, says, is “God-breathed” even though written by (or maybe a better word is through) men.

So here is a chiasm of Esther:

A. The greatness of Xerxes

He is described as the ruler over 127 provinces from India to Cush, essentially the entire known populated world at that time (with a few exceptions, such as Greece).

  B. Two banquets of the Persians

The first banquet is given by Xerxes himself and lasts 180 days. The second is given by his wife, Vashti.

    C. Vashti is removed

Vashti refuses to come when the king drunkenly commands her to come so he can show her off. This leads to an edict pronouncing her banishment. (And at that time there was a rule above all other rules that no edicts could be undone; this was likely because the king was to appear like a god, and gods don’t make mistakes. Undoing a rule could lead to the people rising up to overthrow the king.)

      D. Esther identifies as a Gentile/months of waiting

The king realizes he wants another wife, so young women were taken to the king’s city and prepared for an upcoming beauty pageant of sorts. The women had to wait for months as they first underwent training and beauty preparations. Esther is one of those taken. She is Jewish, an adopted daughter of Mordecai, but she chooses to not identify herself as a Jew. Ultimately, she wins and becomes queen.

        E. Haman is honored

Haman works for the king. He is an Agagite, which means he is a descendant of Amalek, an Amalekite. The Amalekites had attacked the Israelites savagely in Exodus, and in response, God decreed that a time would come when they would be “blotted out” (Exodus 17, Numbers 24, Deuteronomy 25). We have a hard time understanding this, but these people were not only exceptionally evil in their practices, but they also posed an existential threat to the Israelites. The time for this came at last when Saul was king. But he disobeyed God’s commands, and they continued to cause problems for Israel, for example stealing the women and children of David’s band of followers while they were at the battle against the Philistines that led to the death of Saul. As the later events of Esther show, Haman and other descendants continue to hate the Jews and seek their destruction. In any case, Xerxes honors Haman by making him second in command, second only to the king himself.

          F. Edict issued against the Jews

Haman wants everyone to bow to him like he is a god or king himself, and Mordecai refuses. Upset, Haman, without giving details, manages to get the king to give him the power to do what he wants to the Jews, and he issues an edict decreeing that all people are to kill all the Jews throughout the empire on a future date months away.

            G. Mordecai asks Esther to help

Mordecai and the other Jews mourn publicly. Esther summons Mordecai, who asks her to speak to the king. Esther is nervous, because coming unsummoned can lead to death, but she bravely agrees to go, saying “If I perish, I perish.”

              H. Esther’s first banquet/Mordecai soon to be impaled

Esther goes to the king, who does not respond in anger but asks her what she wants. She invites the king and Haman to a banquet. At the banquet she invites them to another banquet the next day. Afterwards, Haman again sees Mordecai, who again did not show deference to him. Haman then gets his people to build a giant pole to impale Mordecai on.

                X. The great reversal: Mordecai is honored instead of Haman

That night the king cannot sleep. He has someone read an account of his kingdom to him, and he is reminded that a man (who happens to be Mordecai) saved his life by foiling a plot against him. He asks if this person has been rewarded and learns that he has not. He summons Haman and asks him what should be done for someone who deserves to be rewarded. Thinking the king meant himself, Haman suggests a grand parade. The king agrees and tells Haman to summon Mordecai for this honor! Haman has no choice but to comply! This is the middle of the chiasm and is arguably the climax of the account. Up until this point, the news for the Jews only became worse and worse. Suddenly, it reverses.

              H’. Esther’s second banquet/Haman is impaled

At the second banquet, Esther accuses Haman of seeking to murder her and her people, including Mordecai, who has just been honored. The king storms out, and Haman tries to beg for his life with Esther, but in doing so falls all over her. The king comes out at just that moment and thinks he is trying to molest her. One of the king’s servants mentions the huge pole that Haman had just built for impaling Mordecai, and the king tells them to impale Haman on it!

            G’. Xerxes asks Mordecai to help

Xerxes gives Mordecai the position previously held by Haman. Esther reminds Xerxes of the edict against her people. Xerxes knows he cannot just reverse his decision, as no edict can be reversed. He asks Mordecai to help, to find a way to fix the situation, and gives him authority to do so.

          F’. Edict issued against the enemies of the Jews

Mordecai gives out an edict that grants the Jews in every city to gather and protect themselves, to arm themselves, and to kill any people who would try to attack them. He also gives them permission to plunder their possessions. The date on which this was allowed was the same date as that of the previous edict that had commanded the death of all Jews. This edict went out throughout the kingdom.

        E’. Mordecai is honored

Locally, in Susa, the people rejoiced when they heard the news, and Mordecai was honored.

      D’. Gentiles identify as Jews/months of waiting

This new edict puts the people in an uncomfortable position. On the one hand they have the first edict which tells them to attack the Jews. Undoubtedly, many never wanted to do this, although some did. But now, they see the Jews arming up, preparing for that fateful date, and most want nothing to do with this. Some who maybe in the past were perceived as enemies of the Jews become fearful that Jews may attack them because of the past, so they chose to now call themselves Jews. It is possible that some even genuinely converted, as they witnessed these amazing events and attributed the God of the Jews as the ultimate cause. Meanwhile, there was a lot of waiting as the date of the two edicts (the 13^th day of Adar) came closer and closer.

    C’. [???]

  B’. [???]

A’. [???]

What about the last three parts of the chiasm? You will have to wait until the end of the message to find out. Let’s go ahead and look at today’s passage.

On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them. The Jews assembled in their cities in all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them, because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of them. – Esther 9:1-2 NIV

The 13th day of Adar now arrived. This was the very day appointed in Haman’s letter for the massacre of all Jews, then appointed by Mordecai as the day when Jews could overtake their enemies. Jews in all of Persia banded together against anyone seeking their ruin. – Esther 9:1-2 HSP

This is more falling out of this great reversal. The tables were indeed turned. Why were the people afraid? Perhaps it was fear of God. But I also think it was because the king was now fully in support of the Jewish people. Even if the people in one city overcame the Jews and killed them, the king could send in armies in response. At this point it seemed foolish to even think about attacking the Jews. Yes, the first edict commanded them to do so, but people figured it was wiser to ignore the first edict than potentially come under the consequences of the second. In any case, the whole kingdom was afraid of what might happen. The situation was unprecedented and unsettling. If they had had a stock market back then it would have fluctuated wildly as The Day approached!

And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and the king’s administrators helped the Jews, because fear of Mordecai had seized them. Mordecai was prominent in the palace; his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful. The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them. – Esther 9:3-5 NIV

Out of respect for Mordecai, many government officials helped the Jews. The name of Mordecai and his Jewish people grew famous in all of Persia. The Jews easily overcame their opponents and rose in prominence. The decimation of enemies restored their honorable status. – Esther 9:3-5 HSP

These verses start by describing what was happening prior to the key day and with what began on that day. I think word got out that the king had allowed Mordecai to write the edict himself. This meant that he could probably write other edicts as well! He had almost unlimited power against anyone who would stand against him. As a result, first locally, and then throughout the kingdom, government officials fell in line with supporting Mordecai. To stay in his good graces, they may have even helped supply the Jews financially, with provisions, and perhaps even with weapons.

Yet there were still people who hated the Jews so much that they threw caution to the wind and schemed to follow the king’s first edict. On the fateful day, they may have started the attack, but they were overwhelmed by the Jews, who destroyed them seemingly without much effort.

In the citadel of Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. They also killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizatha, the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But they did not lay their hands on the plunder. – Esther 9:6-10 NIV

In Susa Jews destroyed 500 people, including the ten sons of Haman. They were victorious and everyone feared them. – Esther 9:6-10 HSP

In Susa there were still a lot of people who remained opposed to the Jews, and the Jews fought and killed 500 of them. Haman’s sons, perhaps not surprisingly, remained opposed to the Jews, and they all died on that one day. We do not know for certain, but I think it is likely that most of these were people closely connected to Haman, mostly Amalekites.

Although Mordecai’s edict gave the Jews permission to take the plunder, this passage says that they did not do so. I wonder that perhaps they did not do so because of God’s command to Saul in I Samuel 15. God, through Samuel, told Saul to totally destroy the Amalekites, taking none of their possessions. Perhaps the Jews, all these centuries later, saw this as the long belated fulfillment of this command.  Another possibility is that they wanted to distinguish morally position themselves above Haman, whose initial decree commanded that they plunder the Jews.

The number of those killed in the citadel of Susa was reported to the king that same day. The king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman in the citadel of Susa. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? It will also be granted.” – Esther 9:11-12 NIV

Later that day the king reported to Queen Esther, “The Jews in Susa have been victorious, and Haman’s sons have been vanquished. Your people are respected everywhere. What else might you want? What may I do for you?” – Esther 9:11-12 HSP

The king is totally on board with Mordecai’s edict. He apparently agrees that what Haman had done was totally an abuse of his position and was an outrageous response to the simple fact that Mordecai had refused to bow to him. The king likely feels shame over how he had so completely misunderstood the nature of Haman’s character. He also likely feels bad that his actions had nearly led to the complete wiping out of Esther’s people. And the destabilizing effects of Haman’s decree had nearly destroyed the kingdom. He kindly offers her anything, without limit.

“If it pleases the king,” Esther answered, “give the Jews in Susa permission to carry out this day’s edict tomorrow also, and let Haman’s ten sons be impaled on poles.” – Esther 9:13 NIV

Esther answered, “As you please, may the Jews in Susa continue their victory for another day, and may Haman’s dead sons hang from their father’s tower.” – Esther 9:13 HSP

Notice first of all how Esther begins her response: If it pleases the king. This wording gives the king permission to reject any part of Esther’s request that he does not agree with for any reason. This is a sign of deference and shows great respect to her king and husband.

Now, Esther has two requests. The first is that the Jews in Susa be permitted one additional day to respond to those who are opposed to them. Apparently, she believes that there are more than 500 people who want to see the demise of the Jews. Perhaps she surmises that, as word spreads about the results of the current day’s battle, more enemies will come out in response and try to eliminate the Jews of Susa once and for all. She wants to ensure that the Jews are permitted to continue to defend themselves and eliminate those who seek to destroy them.

The second response may seem strange. The sons of Haman are already dead! Was this just an act motivated by revenge? It is possible. It could also have done as a sign of deterrence, to scare people into discontinuing their hostile actions towards the Jews. It is even possible that this action might have saved lives, as people who were ready to fight on the second day reconsidered when they saw or heard about the bodies.

It is not clear when the bodies were put on the poles. Was it that night? Were they taken down the next day? I suspect so, as one requirement in Deuteronomy 21:22-23 was that if a person was killed and their body put on a pole (more literally, hung on a tree), then they must be taken down that same day and buried, for to not do so would incur a curse from God. We see this law carried out even with the death of Jesus. This law is why the soldier came with the spear, to kill people still alive while being crucified so that they could be taken down and buried before the day ended.

So the king commanded that this be done. An edict was issued in Susa, and they impaled the ten sons of Haman. The Jews in Susa came together on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and they put to death in Susa three hundred men, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder. – Esther 9:14-15 NIV

The king agreed. On the following day, the Jews killed another 300 enemies in Susa. – Esther 9:14-15 HSP

So on this second day, 300 more people apparently came after the Jews, fewer than the first day. Perhaps some were deterred by the impaled sons of Haman. Or perhaps they were deterred by how badly it went for the 500 the first day. In any case, I would not be surprised that there were still plenty of people who harbored resentment against the Jews, including many new people who, because of the 800 who had died over the two days, now hated the Jews more than ever. Unfortunately, such is the result of ethnicity-based warfare.

Again, we are told that none of the Jews took the plunder. Presumably the reason is the same as why they did not do it the day before.

Meanwhile, the remainder of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also assembled to protect themselves and get relief from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of them but did not lay their hands on the plunder. – Esther 9:16 NIV

Jews in the provinces destroyed 75,000 opponents, but never touched any of the plunder, and Haman’s sons were publicly hanged. Everything that Haman had boasted about—his wealth, his sons, his status, his access to royalty—became nothing. This revenged the shame that Haman’s edict inflicted upon the Jews. – Esther 9:16 HSP

Seventy-five thousand is a lot of casualties. This was across the entire massive kingdom. These numbers and, really, the entire account makes me very uncomfortable. I think this is not a bad thing. It is important to remember that although Jesus did not change the law, he fulfilled it, and we now are no longer under the law but under the law of Christ. What does Jesus tell us about revenge? About enemies? From the Sermon on the Mount:

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:7-10

Also, there is this:

You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. – Matthew 5:38-41

And this:

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:43-45

And from the New Testament letters there are these:

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. – Romans 12:17-19

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. – Ephesians 4:31

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. – I Thessalonians 5:15

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. – I Peter 3:9

There is no place for acts of violence on the part of Christians. There is no place even for emotions of enmity. We are Christ’s ambassadors, agents of hope, of love, of the message of Christ’s forgiveness available to all.

Let’s look at the final part of today’s passage:

This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy. The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth, and then on the fifteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy. That is why rural Jews—those living in villages—observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting, a day for giving presents to each other. – Esther 9:17-19 NIV

After the two days of victory, Mordecai declared the 14th and 15th of Adar to be a Jewish holiday. … Every year Jews celebrated with feasting and sharing gifts of food.  – Esther 9:17-19 HSP

I know you want to fill out the rest of the chiasm, so here are the final lines:

    C’. Enemies of the Jews removed

  B’. Two days of feasts of the Jews

A’. The greatness of Mordecai

We will talk more about these days of holiday next week. Were the Jews right to celebrate? Yes, I believe so. They had survived! They had not been wiped out, as they had feared only a short time earlier. Their enemies were defeated. They had, at least for now, a time of peace.

As believers, we have far greater victories than the Jews at the time of Esther. Do you celebrate? Do you experience joy? There are certainly hard things each of us must go through, and there is a time for rejoicing and a time for weeping. And we are to mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15) but we are also to rejoice with those who rejoice. Even if you cannot point to specific things in your day-to-day life to celebrate, there are plenty of eternal things to celebrate: your salvation, your eternal future with God, and we can also celebrate the good fortunes of others. I rejoice in the fruit from the spring break team that was here, the 7 salvations and the 245 gospel shares. Let us never neglect to celebrate the victories of God!