Esther Study: Week 8

Reading: Esther 8; Isaiah 52:7-10

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Commentaries: (Optional)

v1-2: Two reversals: Haman intended to plunder the Jews and instead his possessions are plundered. Also, Haman who received the ring that should’ve been Mordecai’s, lost it in death to its rightful possessor.

v3-6: Esther no longer requests but pleads this second time. The awkward deference to the king was partly due to her asking Xerxes to do the impossible on her behalf, to revoke Haman’s letters (in effect, a royal decree).

v7-8: While Xerxes could not cancel the first order as Esther requested, he gave Mordecai the same authority he once gave Haman to nullify the effects of the first decree.

v9: Sivan is another Jewish month. For the author to use Jewish instead of Persian months is analogous to a 3^rd generation ABC using Chinese lunar calendar in place of the Western Gregorian (Jan to Dec) calendar. It demonstrates either a firm adherence, or an enthusiastic return, to a strong cultural/national identity while in a foreign land.

Note that Mordecai’s edict was written not only to officials and governors, as it was with Haman’s edict, but to Jewish communities as well in their own Hebrew language.

v10: v10 and 14 make special mention of couriers using the king’s fastest horses; there is an urgency that wasn’t seen with Haman’s edict. Which begs the question from this procrastination-prone, 21 century reader, why the rush? The massacre was set for the 12^th month and this was merely the 3^rd month, was there really need to send the new edict via overnight Fedex? Given the festive atmosphere at the end of the chapter one must assume that the urgency is in part inspired by a desire to get the good news out, to give people hope, and end their despair ASAP. Also, the Jews had merely 9 months to prepare and train their inexperienced men, every day counted.

v11-14: This edict was meant to nullify the first. It essentially gave the Jews the right to defend themselves. Why not send the Persian army to defend the Jews? Partly because the unstable throne of the Persian empire, stretching from the Mediterranean to India, MUST maintain some semblance of neutrality. Permitting the Jews to defend themselves was the most the government could do without showing obvious favouritism. At first glance this might not seem like much, but keep in mind that governments are generally wary of large civilian gatherings for fear of riots and rebellion. Persia was no different. The Jews probably did NOT have the right to assemble into a militia, or to purchase and train in the use of weapons prior to this edict. Any attempts to do so without royal approval would have been met with brutal force from the Persian army. So while Haman’s edict essentially legalized violence and robbery against the defenseless Jews (for one day); Mordecai’s edict allowed the Jews to band together and fight back (also, only for one day) without repercussions from the crown.

v15: The citizens of Susa rejoiced at not only the edict, but at Mordecai being honoured. If one read between the lines, Mordecai’s new position and his edict indicates the crown no longer disfavoured the Jews. Interestingly, many commentators point out the striking resemblance between Mordecai’s new clothes and levitical priestly vestments (Exodus 39). Coincidence? I think not.

v16: Beautiful reversal: Jews’ despair, mourning, weeping, wailing, and fasting into happiness, joy, gladness, honour, and feasting.

 

v17: Reversal: Generations of Jews tried to assimilate into Persian culture so as to not stand out and be discriminated against. Where Esther was once counseled to appear as a non-Jew, non-Jews themselves now contrive to be mistaken as Jews. Esther and Mordecai’s social standing is matched by a new found respect for the Jewish ethnicity.

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Reflection:

Xerxes was fast to pass off his signet ring, and in effect, abdicate his responsibilities as king to another. Is there a difference between wise delegation of responsibilities and plain laziness? Do you delegate well? Do you put off tasks or ministries that you know you had the time for and are well suited to because you assume others would take care of it?

Esther finally reveals herself to be a Jew to her husband of five years. Granted Esther's situation and marriage is completely different in scope and context to our silicon valley culture, should there be secrets in a marriage/relationship?

* "If I am pleasing in [the king's] eyes, let an order be written..." Esther drew a (perhaps familiar?) connection between her husband’s pleasure at her person and his approval of her plan in v5. Should there be a difference between the two? Have you ever taken someone’s rejection of your idea personally, as a sign of disapproval towards your person rather than just your idea? How much are our opinions, thoughts, and ideas tied to our identity?

Why does Esther make her request a second time? What do you make of Xerxes’ reply with regard to his character and his attitude toward the situation?

Esther wanted to revoke one decree and instead was given the authority to write another. We sometimes approach prayer with a solution already in mind and are only looking for God's nod of approval instead of seeking his will. Ever have God come up with an entirely different solution? Did it work out better than expected?

* The new edict doesn’t remove the threat, but instead gave Jews the means to handle it. This is often analogous to God's approach in our lives with regards to crises. Ever faced an emergency where God did not remove the problem upon prayer, but very clearly supplied you with the resources to deal with the situation - be it emotional strength/integrity, people who were able to help, etc? Why do you think He does things this way? (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-10)