Mike Flynn
If you arrived at the book of Esther and skipped to these final chapters to get the point of the story, and if you come from a contemporary Australian background you will probably be horrified. It is easy to mis-read the details of this part of Esther as we see the Jews celebrating while close to 76,000 people throughout the Persian empire have been put to death. We don't approve of slaughter and much less do we approve of religion and racial tensions entwined with it. And yet, we live in a world where such things and worse do occur yet, the Bible insists this is still God's world, a world where the lines of his purposes are at work. To understand what we read here we first need to look carefully at the details of what is going on in Esther 9 & 10.
Q: Compare the edict from Haman in 3:12-14 with the edict from Mordecai in 8:11-13. Remember neither edict involves military action but calls for civil action of neighbour against neighbour. What effect would the first edict have had upon: a) The civil cohesion of the Persian Empire? b) Given the apparent involvement of the Jews in leadership in the capital city, what would be the potential effect upon the administration of the Empire? (see 3:15) c) Given this empire probably encompassed all the Jews living in the world at the time, what would be the effect of Haman's decree upon the ancient promises of God in Genesis 12:1-3 (see also Romans 9:5)?
Q: The Jews are allowed to defend themselves without reprisals from the King (presumably exercised through the power of the Persian army) It seems from 9:11-15 that opposition to the Jews was focused in the citadel at Susa (the grounds of the royal palace, the seat of government and administration) - why would this have been the case? How much time did people have to prepare to attack the Jews and for them to defend themselves? What would be the motivations for such an attack? What was symbolised by the public impaling of Haman's already dead sons?
Q: There are important distinctions between what the Jews were allowed to do and what they actually did. Compare 8:11-12 with 9:15-17. What are the differences and why do you think the Jews acted this way?
Q: As ever, the book of Esther does not make explicit the significance of these things but expects us to understand the background story. 1 Samuel 15 is a significant part of the background. Can you think of two reasons why the Jews (led by Esther and Mordecai from the tribe of Benjamin) showed the restraint they did? What effect would this have had amongst the people of the Persian Empire?
Q: Rest is an important theme in the Bible from Genesis 2:3 onwards. It also occurs as a response to God dealing with the enemies of his people and establishing peace for them (eg. Joshua 11:23, 14:15, Psalm 95, Hebrews 4:1-13) In chapter 9 of Esther the same word for rest is used as used elsewhere for God giving his people respite from their enemies. It is another of Esther's code words referring people to the works of God without naming him. Why do you think the Jews rejoice in the way they do with presents and generosity to the poor?
Q: According to 10:1-3 life in general improved in the Persian empire following these events. It appears the rule of law (taxation) came more to the fore rather than governance by thoughtless decrees and bribery (chapter 3). How is this a partial fulfilment of God's promises to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; 18:18, 22:17-18)?
Q: The New Testament, in the teaching of Jesus, teaches us to rejoice during persecution (eg. Matthew 5:11-12). The New Testament also depicts our current lives as a battle that is facing a victory in the years to come (Revelation 19:1-8). How are the people of God persecuted in our context? How are we to deal with such irrational wrongs?
Q: What are the lessons you have taken away for yourself from the book of Esther?
There are many prayers in the Psalms that pick up praying for enemies (people who will not be reasoned with or who will not change their destructive course against the purposes of God). You may like to pray Psalm 9 out-loud together or on your own as you end your study of the book of Esther and rejoice with God's people that his will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven.
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