Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king's provinces also gathered to defend their lives, and got relief from their enemies and killed 75,000 of those who hated them, but they laid no hands on the plunder.
The thirteenth day of Adar had been set for the Jews' destruction. Instead it became the day they defended their lives across the empire — and two questions press on the reader: where was God in a victory that never names Him, and why refuse the plunder the king's own decree had granted them?
Acting on a Written Decree
Their survival was not passive. The second decree gave them the right to defend themselves, but they had to act on it.
C E StuartBut notice: if they were to escape the doom threatened by the first decree, they had to stand up for their lives and kill their opponents. They had to be active, in line with the terms of the second decree; otherwise, if laziness overcame them, death would be their end. For they had enemies, even though the king's decree showed he wanted their welfare. The thirteenth day of Adar told its own tale. It bore witness to the doom that would have overwhelmed them, had God not stepped in and moved the king's heart to grant what Esther asked. At Shushan the Jews killed 800 of their enemies, and in the provinces 75,000. Their danger had indeed been great. God, however, worked a good deliverance. But months before that day came, the appearance of that second decree turned their sorrow into joy. They put full confidence in its fulfilment — the written word they rested on.
A Hidden Hand Behind the Numbers
The provinces held huge populations and only a tiny Jewish minority. Yet the minority won, and the empire's own officials took their side.
H. L. RossierHere again we see the secret working of the providence of God on behalf of His people. The nations of the empire could have formed an alliance against the tiny Jewish minority living among them. But fear of the Jews leaves no one able to resist. What is more, "all the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors and officers of the king, helped the Jews; for the fear of Mordecai had fallen upon them."
The fighting ended, and the next day turned to feasting — yet one writer notes what the account still leaves out.
Leslie M. GrantThe Jews throughout the rest of the land gathered together and killed 75,000 of their enemies in one day, the 13th day of the month Adar. They also took no plunder (v. 16). On the 14th day they rested and made the day one of feasting and gladness (v. 17). God had made their victory complete, though even then His name is not mentioned.
Why They Took No Plunder
Three times the chapter notes that they laid no hands on the plunder. Commentators tie this restraint to an older rule about Israel's enemies.
H. L. RossierOnly the people "laid no hands on the plunder" (vv. 10, 15, 16). This followed the earlier instruction about Amalek or the enemies of Israel (1 Sam. 15:9; Joshua 6:19-20). It is only a matter of carrying out God's judgment, without any profit for those who carry it out.
Another writer suggests a practical motive behind the same restraint.
Arno Clemens GaebeleinThey did not touch the spoil — the goods and possessions of those killed. This was probably to avoid false accusations, though the decree gave them permission to plunder their enemies.
A Kingdom Marked by Righteousness
Many readers stumble over a chapter of slaughter in the Bible. One writer answers that the trouble comes from reading Esther as a picture of the church.
William KellyIt is the Gentile set aside, and the Jew called in. Righteousness will be the mark of the reign of the kingdom in the days to come. Grace is what suits the church now. So it would make no sense at all to have Esther represent the church now. Carrying out righteous vengeance would be completely at odds with the calling of the Christian — with the church's place. But for the Jew called in to share the coming kingdom — called into the honours of the kingdom — it is exactly right for the time.
Grant ties the refusal of plunder to that same coming kingdom.
Leslie M. GrantThe Jews did not take any plunder from their enemies (v. 10). This shows they were not moved by a lust for gain. It is a picture of the pure justice that will mark the setting up of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus.
Summary
- Word first. Months before the day came, a written decree turned their sorrow into joy. The written word was what they rested on.
- Then stand. The decree did not act for them. Doing nothing would have meant death; they had to stand up for their lives on the very day set for their destruction.
- Hidden help. A tiny minority stood against an empire, and no one could resist. That is the secret working of providence, in a book that never names God.
- No profit. Three times: no hand on the plunder. They carried out judgment and kept nothing — pure justice, not lust for gain.
- Then rest. The day after the fighting became one of feasting and gladness. Commentators read the whole pattern as a picture of a coming kingdom of righteousness — not of the Christian's calling of grace now.