Esther 10:1-3

10:1. King Ahasuerus laid a tribute (tax) on the land and on the coastlands of the sea.

Early in our study we learned about this kind of tribute for the king's queens. Here, all of Medo-Persia was taxed this time, within the continent as well as out along the coastal islands of the Aegean sea... and given solely to Mordecai.

2. And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?

Well, they were written, praise God. Now, there were protests against including Esther into the canon of scripture before and after the Council of Jamnia which obviously DID pronounce it canonical (Part of God's Word). Rather than share why it was felt this book was anything other than "inspired by God", I will share what is obvious to me why it is. The Old Testament (OT) was assembled, opened in the temple, and well versed by the Jewish people during the time Jesus walked among them. Being "The Word" Himself, we can be sure He would have recognized a problem, AND FIXED IT! Amen?

Although He never quoted from "Esther", Jesus did quote from a book it was part of. In truth, the OT was divided (at that time) into 3 books... the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms - or "Kethubim", which meant "The Writings". The Kethubim included: Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ruth, Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Esther, Daniel, Ezra and Nehemiah (one volume), 1 & 2 Chronicles (one volume). Now listen to these words of Jesus...

"Then He said to them, This is what I told you while I was still with you: everything which is written concerning Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." Luke 24:44

There are many reasons that were argued for including Esther into the Bible, but you and I now know that Christ knew "every tiny mark" within OT, and Esther was included even then, and had better be part of our Bible today. And so, it is here and we are blessed by our study of God's sovereignty over all things... like with His children in the story of Esther, and yes, even over His Word to us. Amen? Let's continue...

3. For Mordecai the Jew was next to King Ahasuerus and great among the Jews, and was a favorite with the multitude of his brethren, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to his whole race.

We end our story with God, leaving for His people, yet another caring, loving, and God-fearing leader... "for Mordecai sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to his whole race." But, how long will things stay this way? Looking back on His-story, it seems God was also preparing His children for the next great challenge. Rule would change hands, yet again, and Cyrus, king of Persia, undisputed ruler of the civilized world, would grant the Jews permission to return to their land and rebuild the Temple (Ezra 1:1-3).

By the time Jesus is born, His people will have been forced under rule by one leader after another, and as always, they were looking for their Own King! God never meant for us to need or desire anyone but Himself as King. Under Roman rule, and right under their noses, Jesus would grow up from a child, and begin to uncover God's ultimate solution to man's need for someone between us and God. Though He was not what the Jewish people expected, what He, Jesus Christ would endure to finally cover our shame from such a PERFECT and POWERFUL God, was the single greatest moment in all of eternity.

If you have come through this study with us to this point today, and do not know JESUS as your King... I pray you will search your heart and make Him your Lord and King right now!

Well, that is the end of our study of Esther. I hope that if you were blessed, that you'll consider some of the other studies I have shared. There are links to my other blogs on My Blog List. Thank you each and all for you time, your comments, and prayers.

I love you.

Here are links to the Pages on Facebook:
Ephesians Bible Study
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Colossians
I Corinthians 13
Esther Bible Study
HeartCry
This Thing Called Love

Esther 9:23-32

23. So the Jews undertook to do as they had begun and as Mordecai had written to them--

24. Because Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, [to find a lucky day] to crush and consume and destroy them.

25. But when Esther brought the matter before the king, he commanded in writing that Haman's wicked scheme which he had devised against the Jews should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

26. Therefore they called these days Purim, after the name Pur [lot]. Therefore, because of all that was in this letter and what they had faced in this matter and what had happened to them,

27. The Jews ordained and took it upon themselves and their descendants and all who joined them that without fail every year they would keep these two days at the appointed time and as it was written,

As the book of Esther recaps the final events in our study, I want to point out that, right here in verse 27, it says that the, " Jews ordained and took it upon themselves and their descendants and all who joined them that without fail every year they would keep these two days at the appointed time and as it was written. For whatever reason, the early church ordained and took it upon themselves not to keep these two days as it was written. That is a huge reason why many do not celebrate Purim. Although it is not a sin if you don't celebrate Purim any more than not resting on the seventh day Colossians 2:13-14 , Jesus said that these holy-days were given to be enjoyed by men... not to enslave us. In fact, if we continue in that same passage, we see that after Calvary, Jesus did the same thing to the principalities whom accuse us, as He did to Haman. Colossians 2:15-17 ... still it is another way to show honor, teach your children, family fun, and fellowship with one another.

28. That these days should be remembered (imprinted on their minds) and kept throughout every generation in every family, province, and city, and that these days of Purim should never cease from among the Jews, nor the commemoration of them cease among their descendants.

29. Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, gave full power [written authority], confirming this second letter about Purim.

30. And letters were sent to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth,

31. To confirm that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed times, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had commanded [the Jews], and as they had ordained for themselves and for their descendants in the matter of their fasts and their lamenting.

32. And the command of Esther confirmed these observances of Purim, and it was written in the book.

Let's pick up with Chapter 10, in our study, next time.

I love you.

Esther 9:18-22

18. But the Jews who were in Shushan [Susa] assembled on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and on the fifteenth day they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

This verse, and the next few are the forming foundation of a holiday called, "Purim"... named so because Haman used "Pur" for selecting this "Lucky Day". Not that followers of God believe there is ANY such thing as "luck", but that the name mocks satan's choice to help Haman pick the day before this to destroy God's people, yet here now on the next day, it is "they" whom celebrate. Praise God! Let's continue...

19. Therefore the Jews of the villages, who dwell in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month of Adar a day of gladness and feasting, a holiday, and a day for sending choice portions to one another.

20. And Mordecai recorded these things, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus, both near and far,

Should Gentiles celebrate Purim? Historically the "church" has disregarded the Book of Esther and therefore ignored the Biblical holiday of Purim. I think as we think back through all we have learned of God's love for His people, and now you and I, that we should consider closely what is said now as we near the end of our study. Let's continue...

21. To command them to keep the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and also the fifteenth, yearly,

22. As the days on which the Jews got rest from their enemies, and as the month which was turned for them from sorrow to gladness and from mourning into a holiday--that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days of sending choice portions to one another and gifts to the poor.

Besides being a joyful, family fun-filled holiday that rejoices over God's grace and His providential care and the deliverance by the LORD in times past, Purim also has a prophetic dimension that yet is to be fulfilled in The End Of Days, described in Revelations. Purim, unlike many of the other holidays, will be celebrated even after the final redemption, after the End of Days. This is because the story of Purim - i.e., God's covenantal faithfulness and defense of His people, will be magnified in the deliverance of a new earth and a new heaven which was revealed to John as coming down from the sky. Indeed, the Second Coming of Jesus will be regarded as the final fulfillment of Purim.

The spirit that controlled Haman is the same as that of the Anti-Christ (satan) who desires to see the God's people exterminated once and for all. In the New Testament we know that there is soon coming one who is the embodiment of this "spirit of Haman," and of Hitler, and of all the other anti-christs throughout the ages. This one is the "man of sin" or the Messiah of Evil (2 Thess. 2:3), who will broker peace in the Middle East, vowing to be friendly to Israel, but who will ultimately betray her and seek to have her utterly destroyed.
satan's final attempt to provide the ultimate "Final Solution" will be foiled, just as Haman's attempt was foiled. His plan will be turned back upon him, just as Haman's plan did. And he and his children will all pay, just as Haman and his children did. When Christ returns at the end of the Great Tribulation, He will destroy the Messiah of Evil by the Word of His Power and physically deliver Israel as her rightful King and Lord.

Truly, we should celebrate Purim as a reminder that the Bridegroom will soon come for His Bride.

Let's pick up with verse 23, in our study, next time.

I love you.

Esther 9:15-17

15. And the Jews that were in Shushan gathered together on the fourteenth day also of the month of Adar and slew 300 men in Shushan, but on the spoil they laid not their hands.

Notice the last piece of this verse, it says, "but the spoil they laid not their hands." If you go back to verse 10, you'll see this same statement. All along this internal conflict the Jews have not once, taken from the Empire anything they were not given. We all know what temptation is like. People whom truly know and serve God, know better than to put our dirty little hands on that, which God has not given us. I could leave out the "dirty little hands" part, but let's face it... the flesh that never is satisfied to "wait" on the Lord, comes from our sinful nature. As God tells us in James 4:1-2, it's what starts war in the first place. By the way, for those of us that struggle with waiting on the Lord's provision, the end of James 4:2 offers a simple explanation.

16. And the other Jews who were in the king's provinces gathered to defend their lives and had relief and rest from their enemies and slew of them that hated them.

You SEE... the devil doesn't care about rules, signs, man-made laws, no matter who's seal is on it... specially God's seal. Regardless of Mordecai's command to NOT kill Jews, many are lead by the real enemy (satan (not capitalized on purpose)) to make up all kinds of excuses to still attack the Jews. But the part of the order from Mordecai for God's people to legally defend themselves, certainly was clear, delivered in time, and to all His people.

17. This was done on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

This festival day is celebrated, even to this day and is called Purim, named after Haman's method of drawing lots to determine the day of destruction of the Persian-Jewish population. Jewish people who live in walled cities which existed as walled cities in early biblical times when the biblical Hebrew leader Joshua conquered the Land of Israel (this includes Jerusalem, Israel), in addition to Shushan or Susa (now known as Shush), which was a walled city when the miracle of Purim occurred, celebrate Purim on the 15th day of Adar, and this day is known as "Shushan Purim", while all other Jewish people worldwide celebrate Purim on the 14th day of Adar, and to them, the 14th day of Adar is simply known as "Purim".

We'll look into this Jewish holiday more when we come back to verse 18, next time.

I love you.

Esther 9:12-14

12. And the king said to Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed 500 men in Shushan, the capital, and the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! Now what is your petition? It shall be granted to you. Or what is your request further? It shall be done.

Reading this verse, I am taken all the way back to chapter 1, where we're told about such a powerful, easily infuriated king Xerxes, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, who sat on his royal throne, who made a feast for the chief officers of the Medo-Persian army and the nobles and governors of the provinces, who showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor and excellence of his majesty, even 180 days. Yet here he is acknowledging these losses of men and power to Esther and then asks... what's next... do you want to do anything else? God, through Esther... and Mordecai, and His Own omnipotence is truly having His way with all that is going on. And obviously, He is not finished yet, as we read...

13. Then said Esther, If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according to this day's decree, and let [the dead bodies of] Haman's ten sons be hanged on the gallows.

Once again, God has brought me to tears... laughing. That's right... it's as though God mocks satan, here with the, "first we kill-em... then, we hang-em" style of dealing with years of wickedness. But, my joy doesn't last long... as the Holy Spirit reminds me that I once was just as liable for such judgment, had it not been for Christ's saving grace. let's continue...

4 And the king commanded it to be done; the decree was given in Shushan, and they hanged [the bodies of] Haman's ten sons.

What a message to all the people to see these men hanging in public. An ominous symbol, not to mess with God's people! Looking back through His-story from today's date, the statistics for nations trying to "get rid" of the Jewish nation are stark. But He has warned us, hasn't He?

"And in that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all peoples; all who lift it or burden themselves with it shall be sorely wounded. And all the nations of the earth shall come and gather together against it." Zechariah 12:3

"And it shall be in that day that I will make it My aim to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem." Zechariah 12:9

If we look at His-story, we see The Ancient Egyptian Empire tried to wipe out the Jewish people. The Babylonian Empire, tried, then the Philistines, the Persian Empire, the Assyrian Empire, the Roman Empire, the Greek Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Spanish Empire, the Crusaders , Nazi Germany, and Russia. All of these were each at one time the dominating force in the world. Each of those have all gone down to ruin from their former status as a dominating force in the world...and what is their common tie? Each of those empires or forces tried to wipe out the tiny Jewish people with many different methods. The Jewish people remain one of the smallest of nation peoples today, but God's Word has been faithful.

What has God promised you and I? There are so many wonderful promises in the New Testament for us to believe and receive today... promises for beyond death and throughout eternity. We have His-story to look back upon to help us stay hopeful.

Let's pick up with verse 14, next time.

I love you.

Esther 9:5-11

5. So the Jews smote all their enemies with the sword, slaughtering and destroying them, and did as they chose with those who hated them.

We looked at God's hand in killing, war, and involving His people in such matters, a few verses back. Here, as we get into more detail in the turn of events for God's people who've been captive in Medo-Persia... several more points can be revealed. The references to "their enemies" and "those who hated them", again remind us, that God had charged His people to get rid of many of them a long time back, and they did not. He even explained to them why, saying...

"Not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your [minds and] hearts do you go to possess their land; but because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out before you, and that He may fulfill the promise which the Lord swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Deuteronomy 9:5

Okay, how "wicked" could those people have been? How about killing their own sons and daughters by burning them in sacrifices to their gods.

"You shall not do so to the Lord your God, for every abominable thing which the Lord hates they have done for their gods. For even their sons and their daughters they have burned in the fire to their gods." Deuteronomy 12:31

The wickedness of these people is confirmed in other verses of the Bible. The people here in Medo-Persia were a mix of many conquered pagan people under pagan rule, and while God is no longer interested in wiping all of them out, it is amazing to see the numbers that are recorded...

6. In Shushan, the capital itself, the Jews slew and destroyed 500 men.

The other thing I find so amazing is how God is so obvious in what is going on here. How else would this King Xerxes, whom was so proud of his power and rule over such a great many people, just set and allow his men to be slaughtered. Having studied military history, I am well aware of what it means to lose those men close to the capital too!

7. And they killed Parshandatha,

8. Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia,

9. Aridatha, Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai,

10. And Vaizatha, the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the Jews' enemy; but on the spoil they laid not their hands.

If you have not been following our study until now, you really need to go back to verse Esther 3:1-2 to appreciate what God has done here. These ten sons of Haman are the last of a seed going back to Agag, whom God wanted the Jews to kill a long time back.

11. On that day the number of those who were slain in Shushan, the capital, was brought before the king.

We'll look at the kings response to the bad news when we pick back up in verse 12, next time.

I love you.

Esther 9:3-4

3. And all the princes of the provinces and the chief rulers and the governors and they who attended to the king's business helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai had fallen upon them.

There is something very strange within this verse that I think we must look at today... it says, the Persian officials helped the Jews "because of the fear of Mordecai". Now, we know Mordecai was a man of God, and our story has portrayed him no more of a man than that. We have no evidence of military training, no reference to mighty stature of Mordecai of a man, nothing prominent, formidable, except that he was a man of God. If we pull back from this scene here for just a minute and look at what has happened, I believe there is something very assuring here for the common believer?

Mordecai started out in our story as a "nobody" (from man's point of view)... for one thing, he was a slave! You would be able to tell right away he was not a Persian, and people who know you aren't like them, love to remind you of that. You know the feeling! Yet, here, in our story, Mordecai has gone from a "Nobody" to being a "respected by many... even feared" man. How does that happen?

Can we talk about YOU for just a moment? You don't have to do anything but... just consider something with me. You believe in God... that is, you've decided (beyond just that He exists) that you will trust all that He says, and that you will rely upon Him. Then, besides the common struggles we all experience... sin, doubt, etc., what do you believe is your purpose for being here? What is there about yourself, your standing and personal value that keeps you from believing that you are so important... that at any moment God could pull you into just as much power as He did with Esther, and now Mordecai? They were common slaves, but because they belonged to God, He could use them. Listen...

4. For Mordecai was great in the king's palace; and his fame went forth throughout all the provinces, for the man Mordecai became more and more powerful.

God so wants to use everyone of His children in a mighty way. Often, we tie God's hand in using us this way, because of our negative attitude. The devil has planted seeds somewhere along in our life that now hold us from accepting the truth that now "In Christ", we truly ARE A NEW CREATION. New, in that our potential (NO MATTER WHAT OUR PAST), is limited only by The Creator of ALL THINGS. If you struggle with this, I hope you'll let what God did with Mordecai, seep into your heart today!

Let's pick up with verse 5, next time.

I love you.