The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV

  6“For how can I endure to see fthe evil that will come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my countrymen?”

  7Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, “Indeed, gI have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he tried to lay his hand on the Jews.

  8“You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, 1as you please, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for whatever is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring hno one can revoke.”

  9iSo the king’s scribes were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day; and it was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded, to the Jews, the satraps, the governors, and the princes of the provinces jfrom India to Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven provinces in all, to every province kin its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language.

  10lAnd he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, sealed it with the king’s signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses 2bred from swift steeds.

  11By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to mgather together and protect their lives—to ndestroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions,

  12oon one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of 3Adar.

  13pA copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province and published for all people, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

  14The couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king’s command. And the decree was issued in 4Shushan the 5citadel.

  15So Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of 6blue and white, with a great crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and qthe city of 7Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

  16The Jews had rlight and gladness, joy and honor.

  17And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast sand a holiday. Then many of the people of the land tbecame Jews, because ufear of the Jews fell upon them.

  Esther 9

  The Jews Destroy Their Tormentors

  1Now ain the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, bthe time came for the king’s command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves coverpowered those who hated them.

  2The Jews dgathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who esought their harm. And no one could withstand them, fbecause fear of them fell upon all people.

  3And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and all those doing the king’s work, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.

  4For Mordecai was great in the king’s palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai gbecame increasingly prominent.

  5Thus the Jews defeated all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction, and did what they pleased with those who hated them.

  6And in hShushan1 the 2citadel the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men.

  7Also Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,

  8Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha,

  9Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vajezatha—

  10ithe ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews—they killed; jbut they did not lay a hand on the 3plunder.

  11On that day the number of those who were killed in 4Shushan the 5citadel 6was brought to the king.

  12And the king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the citadel, and the ten sons of Haman. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now kwhat is your petition? It shall be granted to you. Or what is your further request? It shall be done.”

  13Then Esther said, “If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do again tomorrow laccording to today’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons mbe hanged on the gallows.”

  14So the king commanded this to be done; the decree was issued in Shushan, and they hanged Haman’s ten sons.

  15And the Jews who were in 7Shushan ngathered together again on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and killed three hundred men at Shushan; obut they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

  16The remainder of the Jews in the king’s provinces pgathered together and protected their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of their enemies; qbut they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

  17This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. And on the fourteenth of 8the month they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

  The Feast of Purim

  18But the Jews who were at 9Shushan assembled together ron the thirteenth day, as well as on the fourteenth; and on the fifteenth of 10the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

  19Therefore the Jews of the villages who dwelt in the unwalled towns celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar swith gladness and feasting, tas a holiday, and for usending presents to one another.

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

  21to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar,

  22as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of vsending presents to one another and gifts to the wpoor.

  23So the Jews accepted the custom which they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them,

  24because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, xhad plotted against the Jews to annihilate them, and had cast Pur (that is, the lot), to consume them and destroy them;

  25but ywhen 11Esther came before the king, he commanded by letter that 12this wicked plot which Haman had devised against the Jews should zreturn on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

  26So they called these days Purim, after the name 13Pur. Therefore, because of all the words of athis letter, what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had happened to them,

  27the Jews established and imposed it upon themselves and their descendants and all who would bjoin them, that without fail they should celebrate these two days every year, according to the written instructions and according to the prescribed time,

  28that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, and that the memory of them should not perish among their descendants.

  29Then Queen Esther, cthe daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this dsecond letter about Purim.

  30And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews, to ethe one hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,

  31to confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had prescribed for them, and as they had decreed for themselves and their descendants concerning matters of their ffasting and lamenting.

  32So the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim, and it was written in the book.

  Esther 10

  Mordecai’s Advancement

  1And King Ahasuerus imposed tribute on the land and on athe islands of the sea.

  2Now all the acts of his power and his mig
ht, and the account of the greatness of Mordecai, bto which the king 1advanced him, are they not written in the book of the cchronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?

  3For Mordecai the Jew was dsecond to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, eseeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his 2countrymen.

  Esther Commentaries

  Esther 1

  1:1 Ahasuerus. See Introduction: Background and Setting. one hundred and twenty-seven provinces. The kingdom comprised 20 regions (3:12; 8:9; 9:3) which were further divided into provinces ruled over by governors (3:12). India to Ethiopia. Ethiopia, not Asia Minor, is mentioned as representing the western edge of the kingdom to avoid any remembrance of the king’s previous defeat by the Greeks ca. 481–479 B.C. (cf. 8:9). This description also avoided any confusion with the Ahasuerus of Dan. 9:1.

  1:2 Shushan the citadel. Shushan (the Heb. rendering of the Gr. Susa), the winter residence, was one of 4 capital cities; the other 3 included Babylon, Ecbatana (Ezra 6:2), and Persepolis. The citadel refers to the fortified palace complex built above the city for protection.

  1:3 the third year. Ca. 483 B.C. This probably included the planning phase for Ahasuerus’ later campaign against Greece in which the king suffered a humiliating defeat (ca. 481–479 B.C.). Persia and Media. Cyrus the Persian inherited Media and thus the name Media became just as prominent as Persia (ca. 550 B.C.).

  1:9 Queen Vashti. Greek literature records her name as Amestris. She gave birth (ca. 483 B.C.) to Ahasuerus’ third son, Artaxerxes, who later succeeded his father Ahasuerus on the throne (Ezra 7:1).

  1:12 Vashti refused. Her reason is not recorded, although suggestions have included that 1) her appearance would have involved lewd behavior before drunken men, or 2) that she was still pregnant with Artaxerxes.

  1:14 the seven princes. These highest ranking officials (cf. Ezra 7:14) were perhaps equivalent to the magi of Dan. 1:20.

  1:19 will not be altered. The irrevocable nature of Persian law (cf. Dan. 6:8, 12, 15) played an important role in how the rest of Esther concluded (cf. 8:8).

  1:22 letters. The efficient Persian communication network (a rapid relay by horses) played an important role in speedily publishing kingdom edicts (cf. 3:12–14; 8:9, 10, 14; 9:20, 30).

  Esther 2

  2:1 After these things. Most likely during the latter portion of the king’s ill-fated war with Greece (ca. 481–479 B.C.). he remembered Vashti. The king was legally unable to restore Vashti (cf. 1:19–22), so the counselors proposed a new plan with promise.

  2:5 Mordecai. See Introduction: Historical and Theological Themes. He was among the fourth generation of deported Jews. Kish. Mordecai’s great grandfather who actually experienced the Babylonian deportation. After Babylon fell to Medo-Persia (ca. 539 B.C.), Jews were moved to other parts of the new kingdom. Kish represents a Benjamite family name that could be traced back (ca. 1100 B.C.) to Saul’s father (1 Sam. 9:1).

  2:6 Jeconiah. Former king of Judah (also known as Jehoiachin and Coniah) who was deported ca. 597 B.C. (cf. 2 Kin. 24:14, 15; 2 Chr. 36:9, 10). Due to his disobedience, the LORD removed his descendants from the line of David to Christ (Jer. 22:24–30). The family of Mordecai and Esther were part of the good figs in Jer. 24:1–7.

  2:7 Esther. See Introduction: Title.

  Esth. 2:7

  The Historical Chronology of Esther

  2:8 Esther also was taken. It is impossible to tell if Esther went voluntarily or against her will.

  2:9 pleased him. That she pleased Hegai points to God’s providential control.

  2:10 not to reveal it. Possibly because of the hostile letter mentioned in Ezra 4:6 or the anti-Semitic sentiments of Haman and other like-minded people.

  2:14 the second house. The place of concubines.

  2:15 obtained favor. According to the LORD’s providential plan.

  2:16 Tebeth. The tenth month corresponding to Dec./Jan. the seventh year. Ca. 479–478 B.C. Four years had elapsed since Vashti’s fall from favor.

  2:18 a holiday. Probably refers to a remission of taxes and/or release from military service.

  2:19 a second time. Perhaps the king intended to add the second best to his concubine collection.

  2:21 the king’s gate. Indicates the strong possibility that Mordecai held a position of prominence (cf. 3:2; Dan. 2:49). became furious. Perhaps in revenge over the loss of Vashti.

  2:23 hanged on a gallows. The Persian execution consisted of being impaled (cf. Ezra 6:11). It is likely that they were the inventors of crucifixion. book of the chronicles. The king would 5 years later (Ahasuerus’ 12th year) read these Persian records as the turning point in Esther (6:1, 2).

  Esther 3

  3:1 After these things. Sometime between the seventh (2:16) and twelfth year (3:7) of the king’s reign. Haman…the Agagite. See Introduction: Historical and Theological Themes.

  3:2 would not bow. There is a question as to whether Esther and Mordecai were inclined to obey the Mosaic law. This refusal may be more likely grounded in the family feud between the Benjamites and the Agagites (see Introduction: Historical and Theological Themes), than Mordecai’s allegiance to the second commandment (Ex. 20:4–6).

  3:4 he was a Jew. It seems evident from Haman’s fury and attempted genocide, that there were strong anti-Semitic attitudes in Shushan, which seems to explain Mordecai’s reluctance to reveal his true ethnic background.

  3:6 the people of Mordecai. Haman was being satanically used to target the entire Jewish race in an unsuccessful attempt to change the course of redemptive history and God’s plans for Israel.

  3:7 Nisan. The time period Mar./Apr. Ironically, the Jews should have been celebrating the Passover to remind them of a former deliverance. twelfth year. Ca. 474 B.C. they cast. Haman’s court of advisers who made decisions superstitiously based on astrology and casting of lots. Pur…lot. A lot would be like modern dice which were cast to determine future decisions (cf. the Hebrew lot, 1 Chr. 26:14; Neh. 10:34; Jonah 1:7). Proverbs 16:33 states that God providentially controlled the outcome of the lot. Adar. Feb./Mar. There would have been an 11 month interval between Haman’s decree and its expected fulfillment.

  3:8 a certain people. Haman never divulged their identity.

  3:9 ten thousand talents. The exact dollar amount is uncertain, but reportedly it would have weighed 375 tons and equaled almost 70 percent of the king’s annual revenue. Since this sum would have been derived from the plunder of the Jews, it indicates that they had grown prosperous.

  3:10, 11 The king would have easily been eager to eliminate any rebellion against his authority (cf. 3:8), although he did not seem to be interested in the money.

  3:10 the enemy of the Jews. Cf. 7:6; 8:1; 9:10, 24.

  3:12 sealed…king’s signet ring. This would be equivalent to the king’s signature. The date has been calculated by historians to be Apr. 7, 474 B.C.

  3:13 to destroy. An ambitious plot to annihilate the Jews in just one day. Historians have calculated the date to be Mar. 7, 473 B.C. The king had unwittingly approved this provision which would kill his own queen.

  3:14 as law. It would be irrevocable (cf. 1:19; 8:5–8).

  3:15 perplexed. No specific reason is stated. Most likely even this pagan population was puzzled at the extreme and deadly racism of the king and Haman.

  Esther 4

  4:1 sackcloth and ashes. An outward sign of inward distress and humiliation (cf. Jer. 6:26; Dan. 9:3; Matt. 11:21). Mordecai realized that he had prompted this genocidal retaliation by Haman.

  4:4 she sent garments. Mordecai could then enter the king’s gate (cf. 4:2) and talk with Esther directly (cf. Neh. 2:2).

  4:5 Hathach. A trusted eunuch who knew of Esther’s Jewish background.

  4:7, 8 That Mordecai possessed this specific knowledge and a copy of the edict further evidences his prominent position in Persia.

  4:11 golden scepter. In order to protect the king’s life from would-be assassins,
this practice prevailed. Seemingly, the king would extend the scepter (a sign of kingly authority) only to those whom he knew and from whom he welcomed a visit (cf. 5:2; 8:4). these thirty days. Perhaps Esther feared she had lost favor with the king since he had not summoned her recently.

  4:14 relief and deliverance. Mordecai exhibited a healthy faith in God’s sovereign power to preserve His people. He may have remembered the LORD’s promise to Abraham (cf. Gen. 12:3; 17:1–8). you…will perish. Mordecai indicated that Esther would not escape the sentence or be overlooked because of her prominence (cf. 4:13). such a time as this. Mordecai indirectly appealed to God’s providential timing.

  4:16 fast. The text does not mention prayer being included such as was Daniel’s practice (Dan. 9:3), though it surely was. perish. Esther’s heroic willingness to die for the sake of her fellow Jews is commendable.

  Esther 5

  5:2 she found favor. This actually means that Esther first found favor with the God of Israel (cf. Prov. 21:1).

  5:3 What is your request? Esther deferred her real wish until 7:2, 3.

  5:3, 6 up to half the kingdom. Royal hyperbole that was not intended to be taken at face value (cf. Mark 6:22, 23).

  5:4 the banquet. The first of two (cf. 5:4–8; 6:14—7:1) that Esther prepared. God would providentially intervene between the two (6:1, 2).

  5:11 the multitude of his children. At least 10 sons were fathered by Haman (cf. 9:13), who personified sinful pride (cf. Prov. 16:18; 1 Cor. 10:12; Gal. 6:3).

  5:13 avails me nothing. Haman expressed raging fixation on killing Mordecai.

  5:14 gallows. A stake on which a human would be impaled to death and/or displayed after death (cf. 2:23). fifty cubits. Approximately 75 ft. or almost 8 stories high. Perhaps the gallows involved displaying a shorter stake atop a building or wall to attain this height.