Jews protect themselves
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
2 Edicts of the King
Esther 3:13 (ESV)
13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with instruction to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.
Edict of death for all Jews
Esther 8:11–12 (ESV)
11 saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods, 12 on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.
Edict of defense for the Jews
13th of Adar
Esther 9:1 (ESV)
1 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.
Adar (month) n., the twelfth month of the Babylonian calendar; February-March: (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
Expectations of the 13th of Adar
Master - to domineer v., to rule or exercise power over in a cruel and autocratic manner. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
This is the author’s summary statement of the 13th of Adar.
Gather - to assemble (people) v., to get people together (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
In the edict written by Mordecai has the Jews should gather in the cities and defend themselves.
In Chapter Nine, we see three times the text says that the Jews gathered to defend themselves. (vs. 2, 15, 16) Then, we see that they gathered to rest and celebrate. (vs 17 and 18)
Jews Gathered - 13th of Adar (Esther 9:2-14)
Jews Gathered - 13th of Adar (Esther 9:2-14)
Gather/Defend (2-10)
Gather/Defend (2-10)
The Jews Gather (2-4)
Esther 9:2 (ESV)
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.
Jews gather together to prepare for the attack on their enemies. “lay hands on those who sought their harm."(2a)
Fear of the Jews (2b)
Fear of God
God protected the Jews under King Jehoshaphat.
2 Chronicles 20:29–30 (ESV)
29 And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.
I personally interpret the fear of the Jews as God putting the fear of the Jews in the hearts of the Persians similar to 2 Chronicles.
Fear of Mordecai (3-4)
Esther 9:3–4 (ESV)
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.
The leaders fight with the Jews for fear of Mordecai.
Mordecai rise in power and influence.
Great - important adj., of great significance or value: (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
Fame - renown n., the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
Power - to live ⇔ walk v., to live life or carry on a mode of existence, conceived of as walking (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
The Jews War (5-10)
Esther 9:5–10 (ESV)
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.
In Susa
500 Men who hated them (5b)
10 Son’s of Haman.
No Plunder (10, 15, 16)
“did not lay their hands on the plunder. Xerxes’ edict granted the Jews the right to plunder the spoil of their enemies (8:11), completely reversing Haman’s decree. The Jews’ refusal to touch the plunder might be designed to demonstrate that the slaughter was not motivated by greed. But it seems more likely that their restraint reflects the fact that the conflict is presented as a showdown between Israel and Amalek (see note on 3:1). Since God had forbidden the Israelites from taking plunder from the Amalekites (1Sa 15:3), they took no spoil from their enemies in this battle either.” (Keener, Craig S., and John H. Walton, eds. NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016. Print.)
King’s assessment/request (11-14)
King’s assessment/request (11-14)
King and Queen (11-13)
King Ahasuerus (11-12)
Esther 9:11–12 (ESV)
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.”
Report came to the king.
“King said to Queen Esther...” - This time the King speaks to Esther, not Esther coming before the king and receiving the golden scepter.
“He reports the figures to Esther and asked whether she knew what the Jews were doing elsewhere in the Providence. He also encouraged her to make any other request of him that she desired, and it would be granted. Xerxes’ only desire was to please his queen; he showed no concern for his subjects who were being killed.” (Expositor's Bible commentary, volume 4, page 834)
Queen Esther (13)
Esther 9:13 (ESV)
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.”
Extension of Edict.
To finish killing off the Enemies of the Jews in Susa.
Haman’s sons put on Gallows
Seemingly, all of Esther’s actions were motivated with the goal of protecting the Jewish people from annihilation.
“Moreover, the display of Haman’s sons on the gallows would serve as a powerful deterrent to any who might contemplate further attacks against the Jewish people.” (Anderson, Carl R. “Esther.” CSB Study Bible: Notes. Ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017. 758. Print.)
King’s Command (14)
Esther 9:14 (ESV)
14 So the king commanded this to be done. A decree was issued in Susa, and the ten sons of Haman were hanged.
King agrees to the queens request and gives them another day. He also gives orders to hang Haman’s sons.
Jews Gathered - Susa (Esther 9:15)
Jews Gathered - Susa (Esther 9:15)
Esther 9:15 (ESV)
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.
Attack on the 14th of Adar
300 men + 500 men on 13th = 800 men
2nd time the author mentions they did not gather the plunder. Again their goal seems to be defending their lives from their enemies, not getting rich.
Jews Gathered - throughout the Providences (Esther 9:16-19)
Jews Gathered - throughout the Providences (Esther 9:16-19)
Gather/Defend (16)
Gather/Defend (16)
Esther 9:16 (ESV)
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.
The author addresses the gathering of the Jews throughout the empire.
“defend their lives” , “got relief from their enemies” , “those who hated them”
Throughout this chapter, the author emphasized that the Jews were fighting against their enemies and with the purpose of defending themselves. This edict went out to the entire Persian Empire that would have included other conquered nations that I am sure tried to take advantage of Haman’s Edict.
They did not plunder their goods.
75,000 killed throughout the empire
“those determined to destroy them. The Jews did not carry out a general annihilation of everyone who disliked them. Rather, their hostility was reserved for those who attacked them. The total number of the dead—75,000 (v. 16)—is extremely large. By comparison, the number of Persian males in the empire’s army was reported to be 120,000 (native Persians were reported to comprise the bulk of the army). The entire population of the Persian Empire in this era has been estimated by modern scholars at 50 million people.” (Keener, Craig S., and John H. Walton, eds. NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016. Print.)
Jews rest/celebrate (17-19)
Jews rest/celebrate (17-19)
Jews Rest (17)
Esther 9:17 (ESV)
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.
Rest - rest (state) n., a state of inaction (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
“Got Relief” (16) - Same Hebrew word.
Feast - feast (meal) n., a meal that is well prepared and greatly enjoyed (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
Again the author shows that feasting is a part of the celebration.
Jews in Susa Rest (18-19)
Esther 9:18–19 (ESV)
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.
Jews in Susa celebrated a day later because of the edict extension.
Lessons
Lessons
Be prepared for Action.
When the day the edicts came due, the Jews were ready to act. They raised up against their enemies and had victory as the Lord provided.
We need to be ready to act when God gives us the opportunity. Not with violence, but with the truth of the Gospel.
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
Celebrate the goodness and deliverance of God.
The Jews rested and celebrated what God had done for them. They saw the goodness and deliverance of God and saw it as a holiday to be remembered.
Do we celebrate what God is doing in our lives and ways he has delivered or provided for us?
To be thankful v. — to be impressed with a feeling of gratitude for kindness received (and ready and willing to acknowledge it). (Biblical Sense)
Salvation - Thankfulness for the forgiveness in Christ and a restored relationship with God.
Transformation (I’m not who I was) - The Holy Spirits continued work in our heart and lives to transform us to be godly.
Difficult situations/decisions - Seeking the Lord for what to say and do in difficult situations and decisions in our lives.
God’s provision - God’s continual provisions in our lives. (house, food, clothing, etc)
Colossians 3:15–17 (ESV)
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.