Esther 9 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study
Esther 9 Short Summary:
Thanks to the decree of Esther and Mordecai, on the day the Jews were to be killed, they were prepared to fight back. They defended themselves against their enemies and were assisted by the local governors. The fighting lasted two days in Susa, and the Jews defeated all those who opposed them. After the fighting, Mordecai decreed that the Feast of Purim be celebrated annually to memorialize the Jew’s salvation.
Esther 9 Bible Study
WHEN:
538 BC – Cyrus the Great of Persia frees the Jews from their Babylonian captivity.
516 BC – The rebuilding of the Temple is completed in Jerusalem.
483 BC – The story of Esther begins in the 3rd year of Ahasuerus’ reign.
479 BC – Esther becomes queen of Persia.
457 BC – Ezra arrives in Jerusalem.
444 BC – Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem.
KEY CHARACTERS:
King Ahasuerus – Also known as Xerxes. Reigned as king of Persia from 486-464 B.C.
Esther – A young Jewish woman who was chosen by Ahasuerus to become queen of Persia. She was an orphan who was raised by her cousin Mordecai.
Mordecai – A Jew who lived in Susa. He raised Esther after her parents died.
WHERE:
Susa – The capital of the Persian Empire. The location of the palace of Ahasuerus.
OUTLINE:
THE JEWS FIGHT OFF THEIR ENEMIES (9:1-16):
On the 13th day of the 12th month, on the day the king’s two decrees were to go into effect, the Jews defended themselves against their enemies.
Those who hated the Jews hoped to get the advantage over them, but the opposite happened. The Jews gathered in their cities across the empire and “no one could stand against them” (9:2).
They were aided by many government officials who had heard of the honor Ahasuerus had bestowed upon Mordecai.
Mordecai was made second in command of the empire, and the local officials were quick to get on his good side by assisting his people.
In Susa, on the 13th day of the 12th month, the Jews killed 500 enemies and the 10 sons of Haman.
Haman’s 10 sons were hanged on the gallows.
In the rest of the empire, the Jews killed 75,000 enemies.
Esther asked the king to allow the Jews in Susa to fight for one more day. The king granted this request, and the Jews killed an additional 300 men in Susa on the 14th day of the month.
The Jews did not take any plunder from the households of the men they killed. This was not an attack of aggression but of self-defense.
THE FEAST OF PURIM (9:17-32):
The Jews in Susa rested from fighting on the 15th day, while their brothers in the rest of the empire rested on the 14th day.
Mordecai decreed that the 14th and 15th day of the 12th month should be kept as an annual celebratory feast.
It was a feast to commemorate the sorrow of the Jews being turned to gladness.
On those days they were to feast and send gifts to one another.
The feast was called the Feast of Purim, after the Pur (casting of lots, 3:7) Haman used to determine that specific day.
Mordecai’s decree was sent to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of the empire.
APPLICATION
The personality of a leader trickles down to those who are being led. Don’t underestimate the power of good leadership.
When Mordecai rose to power, the Jews were supported by the local government officials. If Haman had still been in power, do you think that would have happened?
There were likely enemies of the Jews who chose not to attack because Mordecai was a strong leader in Susa.
Strong leadership can inspire one’s own people to bold fighting and can expose the cowardice of enemies who are only bold enough to attack when their targets are weak.
Strong leaders intimidate weak enemies and win battles without fighting them.
