This verse shows the mighty deliverance of God, reminding us that He can bring victory where defeat seems certain.
In the ninth chapter of the Book of Esther, the author describes in vivid detail how God’s chosen people gained victory over those who sought their destruction. After Haman’s evil plot was foiled, the Jewish people received royal permission to defend themselves throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I, who reigned from 486-465 BC). As the appointed day arrived, the text proclaims, “Thus the Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying; and they did what they pleased to those who hated them.” (v.5) This action was not an unrestrained bloodbath for personal gain; rather, it was a defensive measure decreed in response to a threat on Jewish lives. The city of Susa, also known as Shushan, was the very capital of Persia during these events, located in what is now modern-day Iran.When it states that the Jews “did what they pleased to those who hated them,” (v.5) we should understand it within the broader context of the royal edict which reversed Haman’s attempt to annihilate the Jewish population. The Jews lawfully assembled and fought back precisely on the day their adversaries were poised to attack. Such a decisive victory underscores God’s providential care, which had been weaving throughout Esther’s story from the moment she was crowned queen. Queen Esther herself intervened, taking her life in her hands by approaching the king uninvited, and, through divine favor, the outcome shaped this moment of deliverance.
The verse also highlights an important theological thread: God can use even the edicts of a pagan empire to protect His people. King Ahasuerus’s realm extended from India to Ethiopia, encompassing vast territories, yet the Jews found favor in the citadel of Susa and beyond. Under Mordecai’s leadership and Esther’s courage, they successfully defended themselves against those who hated them. The result was not only survival but a powerful statement that no worldly empire could obliterate God’s covenant people.
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Esther 9:5 meaning
In the ninth chapter of the Book of Esther, the author describes in vivid detail how God’s chosen people gained victory over those who sought their destruction. After Haman’s evil plot was foiled, the Jewish people received royal permission to defend themselves throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I, who reigned from 486-465 BC). As the appointed day arrived, the text proclaims, “Thus the Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying; and they did what they pleased to those who hated them.” (v.5) This action was not an unrestrained bloodbath for personal gain; rather, it was a defensive measure decreed in response to a threat on Jewish lives. The city of Susa, also known as Shushan, was the very capital of Persia during these events, located in what is now modern-day Iran.When it states that the Jews “did what they pleased to those who hated them,” (v.5) we should understand it within the broader context of the royal edict which reversed Haman’s attempt to annihilate the Jewish population. The Jews lawfully assembled and fought back precisely on the day their adversaries were poised to attack. Such a decisive victory underscores God’s providential care, which had been weaving throughout Esther’s story from the moment she was crowned queen. Queen Esther herself intervened, taking her life in her hands by approaching the king uninvited, and, through divine favor, the outcome shaped this moment of deliverance.
The verse also highlights an important theological thread: God can use even the edicts of a pagan empire to protect His people. King Ahasuerus’s realm extended from India to Ethiopia, encompassing vast territories, yet the Jews found favor in the citadel of Susa and beyond. Under Mordecai’s leadership and Esther’s courage, they successfully defended themselves against those who hated them. The result was not only survival but a powerful statement that no worldly empire could obliterate God’s covenant people.