Slices
Prepare
Sometimes, in order to get a desired and right outcome, we need to keep on pushing and pushing. When have you been in that situation? Were you able to finally achieve the outcome you needed?
Bible passage
The king’s edict on behalf of the Jews
That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. 2 The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s estate.
3 Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews. 4 Then the king extended the gold sceptre to Esther and she arose and stood before him.
5 ‘If it pleases the king,’ she said, ‘and if he regards me with favour and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. 6 For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?’
7 King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, ‘Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have impaled him on the pole he set up. 8 Now write another decree in the king’s name on behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring – for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.’
9 At once the royal secretaries were summoned – on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all Mordecai’s orders to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. These orders were written in the script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in their own script and language. 10 Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king’s signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king.
11 The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children, and to plunder the property of their enemies. 12 The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. 13 A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
14 The couriers, riding the royal horses, went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa.
The triumph of the Jews
15 When Mordecai left the king’s presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration. 16 For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honour. 17 In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.
Explore
Haman may have been defeated, but the edict devised by him and sent out across the Persian empire in the king’s name is still in force (v 8). Esther, with continuing courage, pleads before the king for her people once more (v 3). Her plea results in another edict which counters the first one, giving the Jews permission to defend themselves against their enemies (vs 11–13). Owing to Esther’s persistence, the news that they would now be able to protect themselves arrived (v 11); there was great celebration and thankfulness – and many conversions to Judaism! Alongside this, Mordecai is raised to a position of wealth, power and honour, and is treated royally (vs 15–17).
This brings the situation to (apparently) something of a stalemate. The Jews were to have been destroyed – now that they can defend themselves, their enemies become afraid of them. It’s not unreasonable to think that now the two edicts effectively cancel each other out, there is no need for any fighting at all!
Respond
In his parables, Jesus encourages us to be persistent in prayer (Luke 11:5–13; 18:1–8) – even when things appear unanswered. Pray now for any situations where there seems to have been no answer, and ask God for the faith to keep believing in his providence.
Deeper Bible study
‘This is what the Sovereign Lord … says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”’1
The ambiguity found throughout the book of Esther remains. Readers could assume that God has overruled and, having rescued the Jews from Haman’s furious revenge on Mordecai, has ordained the destruction of anyone who might be considered to be an enemy of the Jewish people. However, the ongoing lack of mention of God and of editorial comment means that this can only be an assumption. The first edict could not be overruled, but another edict could be issued which in effect did overrule it. On the day Haman chose for the wholesale destruction of the Jews, they were given authority to kill anyone, and the families of anyone, who tried to attack them. This meant that the originally commanded destruction would not be carried out, since the new law meant that no one would dare to attack them. Indeed many became Jews (v 17) because they feared for their own safety. The Jews’ celebration that the edict against them would not now be carried out and their ‘happiness and joy, gladness and honour’ (v 16) are understandable. From being a group that Haman had encouraged everyone to hate, they were now a group that everyone was encouraged to respect and fear.
This chapter raises a number of questions for us. First, in terms of the account itself, would Mordecai’s elevation to the position of chief minister change the pattern of self-interested power-mongering set up by Haman? First indications are not good but the jury is out and we have to wait for the next chapter for clearer answers. Broader questions raised for modern readers are whether or not revenge is ever an appropriate motivation for government or personal action and whether it is ever good to cause people to convert because of fear!
Lord, when I am tempted to seek revenge against those who have hurt or offended me, help me to remember the forgiveness I have received and leave vengeance to you.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Jeremiah 27,28; John 11
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for the development of plans to help children and young people from ‘the 95’ engage with the Bible. It is hoped that a pilot will be available by November.
