And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.
The second decree has gone out, and the news reaches every province. This verse records two effects: the Jews keep a holiday, and outsiders join them — not out of admiration, but out of fear.
From Mourning to a Good Day
The verse marks a complete reversal of everything the earlier chapters described. One writer sets the two scenes side by side:
Arno Clemens GaebeleinHow things had changed under God's merciful dealings with His people! When that first decree was issued Mordecai sat in sackcloth and ashes and all the Jews wept and wailed. But now came the second decree. Mordecai went out from the king's presence in royal clothing of blue, white and purple, the Persian colours... On his head he had a great crown of gold. There was great joy in the city of Shushan. The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and glory. Throughout the vast kingdom there was nothing but joy. Furthermore many people became Jews.
Why does a city rejoice when things go well for honest people? One writer points to conscience:
William KellyMen may resent a way of life whose quiet example condemns them. Even so, their conscience is forced to admit that the true-hearted are right. So when it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. Compare Esther 8:15-17.
A Feast Before the Deliverance
The danger had not passed when the celebrating began. One writer asks why:
C E StuartWhat a change had been worked. Perplexity gave way to gladness; feasting took the place of fasting. Why? The thirteenth of Adar had not yet come. The first decree stood unrepealed. Why this change? The written word of that second decree had made all the difference. Relief had come; a way of escape from that dreadful doom was offered the Jews. They believed it, and they acted as if they believed it.
The same writer turns this on the reader. People believed the decree of Ahasuerus, the king in this story. How do they treat the word of God?
C E StuartThe written word in those days spoke to people. They heard it, they believed it, and it affected them according to what it said. Now God, not Ahasuerus, has spoken to all of us, and has announced a coming judgment... But what is man? He is more ready to believe the decree of Ahasuerus than the word of God.
Why the Nations Became Jews
The verse gives the reason outsiders joined: fear. Older translations say they "became Jews"; the ESV says they "declared themselves Jews." One writer names the motive:
H. L. RossierOne man alone, Mordecai, has been the instrument and organizer of this huge deliverance... But the terror of the Jews also falls on a great number of the peoples of the land, who become Jews to escape judgment.
A Preview of the Coming Kingdom
One writer sees here a small picture of what the prophets promise for Israel's future:
J. G. BellettCertain separate features of the coming kingdom are also displayed here. The fear of the Jews falls on their enemies, on those around them, and they are held back from all attempts to harm them... Shushan was the capital of the Gentile world in that day, and it rejoices in the exaltation of the Jew. As all Scripture tells us, the whole world will rejoice under the shadow of the throne of Israel in the time of the coming kingdom. Many of the people of the land became Jews, as we read the same kind of thing in the prophets again and again.
Real Joy, Still Short of the Best
One writer applies the scene to God's people ever since. He weighs how much a good day like this is worth:
The Christian's FriendThrough grace and mercy they do sometimes have a feast and a good day. They do have answers to their prayers, special marks of God's favour, and striking interventions on their behalf. They may also be much used in leading others to turn to God, as we read, "Many of the people of the land became Jews." But I press it: they are still short of their true, full blessing. They cannot worship as they should while away from the place where God has put His name.
Summary
- Word. The joy began with a written decree that people believed. No enemy had yet been fought, and the old sentence still stood.
- Reversal. Sackcloth became royal robes, and fasting became feasting. The whole city rejoiced.
- Reach. The news reached every province, and its effect crossed the nation's borders. Outsiders joined themselves to the Jews.
- Motive. Those outsiders joined to escape judgment. The verse names fear as the reason.
- Limit. It was a real good day, but not kept where God had put His name. Real mercy, still short of the full blessing.