Esther 9

King James Version

Full text for Esther Chapter 9

1¶ Now in the twelfth month, that [is], the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)

2The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.

3And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.

4For Mordecai [was] great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.

5Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.

6And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.

7And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,

8And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,

9And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,

10The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.

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

12And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? now what [is] thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what [is] thy request further? and it shall be done.

13Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which [are] in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.

14And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.

15For the Jews that [were] in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.

16But the other Jews that [were] in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,

17On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

18But the Jews that [were] at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth [day] thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth [day] of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

19Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar [a day of] gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

20¶ And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that [were] in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, [both] nigh and far,

21To stablish [this] among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,

22As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

23And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;

24Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that [is], the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;

25But when [Esther] came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

26Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and [of that] which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,

27The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their [appointed] time every year;

28And [that] these days [should be] remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and [that] these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.

29Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.

30And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, [with] words of peace and truth,

31To confirm these days of Purim in their times [appointed], according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.

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

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Esther 9 details the day when the Jews, empowered by a royal decree, defended themselves against their enemies throughout King Ahasuerus's provinces, slaying many, including Haman's ten sons. In Shushan, the conflict extended to a second day at Esther's request, with further slayings and the public hanging of Haman's sons. Following their victory and rest, Mordecai and Esther established the annual observance of these days, the fourteenth and fifteenth of Adar, as the Feast of Purim, commemorating their deliverance and reversal of fortune.

Medium Summary

On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar, the Jews throughout the Persian Empire rose to defend themselves against those who sought their harm, as per the king's new decree. A great fear of the Jews and Mordecai had fallen upon all people and provincial officers, ensuring no one could withstand them. In Shushan, the capital, the Jews slew five hundred men, including Haman's ten sons, notably taking no spoil. Queen Esther then requested and was granted a second day of defense in Shushan, where an additional three hundred were slain, and Haman's sons were publicly hanged. In the provinces, the Jews slew seventy-five thousand of their foes. Subsequently, the Jews rested and celebrated, establishing the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar as the annual Feast of Purim, a time of feasting, joy, and giving, commemorating their deliverance from Haman's plot.

Long Summary

Esther 9 recounts the dramatic reversal of fortune for the Jews on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar, the very day their enemies had intended to destroy them. Instead, empowered by King Ahasuerus's decree, the Jews gathered in their cities across all provinces to defend themselves. Such was the fear of them, and of Mordecai's growing influence, that no one could withstand them, and even provincial rulers assisted them. The Jews exacted a great slaughter upon those who hated them, striking with the sword and destroying their foes, yet notably refrained from taking any spoil. In Shushan the palace, five hundred men were slain, including the ten sons of Haman, the Jews' chief enemy. Upon hearing this, King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther if she had further petitions. Esther requested that the Jews in Shushan be permitted to continue their defense on the fourteenth day and that Haman's ten sons be publicly hanged. The king granted her request, leading to an additional three hundred slain in Shushan on the fourteenth, again without taking spoil. Meanwhile, the Jews in the provinces, having fought on the thirteenth, rested on the fourteenth, celebrating their deliverance after slaying seventy-five thousand of their adversaries. The Jews in Shushan, having fought on both the thirteenth and fourteenth, rested on the fifteenth. Mordecai then formally instituted the annual observance of these days, the fourteenth and fifteenth of Adar, by sending letters to all Jews. These days were to be kept as Purim, named after the "Pur" or lot Haman had cast to determine their destruction. They were to be days of feasting, joy, sending portions to one another, and giving gifts to the poor, commemorating their turning from sorrow to joy. This ordinance was confirmed by Queen Esther and Mordecai with full authority, ensuring its perpetual observance throughout all generations and provinces, and was recorded in a book.

Core Concepts

  • Reversal of FortuneThe chapter opens by stating that the day enemies hoped to prevail over the Jews was "turned to the contrary," with the Jews gaining power over their haters. This highlights the dramatic shift from impending doom to triumphant defense, orchestrated by divine providence.
  • Jewish Self-DefenseThe king's decree allowed the Jews to gather and "lay hand on such as sought their hurt," leading to widespread defensive action. This demonstrates the Jews' active role in their own preservation, authorized by the highest imperial authority.
  • Fear of the Jews and MordecaiThe text repeatedly mentions that "the fear of them fell upon all people" and "the fear of Mordecai fell upon them," causing provincial rulers to assist the Jews. This illustrates the significant shift in perception and power dynamics within the empire.
  • No Spoil TakenDespite the extensive slaughter of their enemies, the Jews are explicitly stated to have "laid not their hand on the spoil" multiple times. This detail emphasizes their motivation was defense and justice, not plunder or personal gain.
  • Institution of PurimMordecai and Esther formally establish the annual observance of the 14th and 15th of Adar as "Purim," named after Haman's "Pur" or lot. This act transforms a historical event of deliverance into a perpetual religious and cultural commemoration.
  • Feasting and GladnessThe newly instituted days of Purim are characterized by "feasting and gladness," "sending portions one to another," and "gifts to the poor." This emphasizes the celebratory and communal nature of the holiday, marking a transition from mourning to joy.
  • Perpetual RemembranceThe decree for Purim's observance stresses that these days should be "remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city." This underscores the intent for the holiday to be an enduring memorial for all future Jewish generations.