Esther 9:14

The word is ets, often translated "tree" and "wood," and it gives no idea of the form of the gallows. It was some framework made or set up on which Mordecai was to have been hanged. Haman no doubt wanted the great height (about 23 yards) to make the hanging of his victim plain to the whole city. People could see it from the palace — and under God's providence, Haman was hanged on it himself.

She asked for another day to rid Susa of the Jews' enemies, and asked that Haman's ten sons be hanged (v. 13). Of course, they had already been killed, so the hanging was meant to impress on the people how great Haman's guilt was. The king gave his consent to this.

But had they not already killed 500 in Susa? Those 500 died in the palace — or, as that word should be translated, the citadel or fortress. The extra day was to continue the work of punishment in the city itself. The king granted the request, and the ten sons of Haman were hanged. The Jews did not touch the spoil, the goods and possessions of those killed, probably to avoid false accusations, even though the decree let them plunder their enemies. In orthodox synagogues, when Jews read the book of Esther, they read the names of Haman's ten sons in one breath, as fast as they can. This shows that all of them were wiped out at one and the same time.

The oppressor of the Jews is judged, and his race with him (vv. 6-10). In the same way the apostate race of the Antichrist will perish in a future day, for the hour of vengeance has struck. Only, the people "laid no hand on the plunder" (vv. 10, 15, 16), in keeping with what had been laid down about Amalek or the enemies of Israel. It is only a matter of carrying out God's judgment, without any profit for those who carry it out. Ahasuerus accepts this vengeance as a necessity. The plot against the Jews had been hatched in his capital. So his capital is given over to the judgment of God one day longer than the other cities of the kingdom.

There are many who cannot understand this. And no wonder! They take Esther as a picture of the Lord's dealings with the church. You can see at once what deep confusion that creates. It is not so. It is the Gentile cast off and the Jew called in. But righteousness will be the character of the kingdom's reign by and by. Grace is what suits the church now. So it would make no sense at all for Esther to represent the church now. Carrying out righteous vengeance would be completely at odds with the calling of the Christian — with the church's place.

Once this is understood, the execution of the ten sons of Haman is no difficulty at all. The Lord will not only strike at the beginning; the blow will fall a second time. There will be a thorough clearance of the adversary, and of all who give only pretended obedience.