All the officials of the provinces and the satraps and the governors and the royal agents also helped the Jews, for the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them.
The day set for destroying the Jews arrives, and the whole Persian empire turns the other way. Its own officials now help the people they had hoped to see destroyed. The verse gives one reason for it — the fear of one man's name. It raises a question too: how did a small people with no army end up with the government on its side?
Providence working out of sight
The empire had every opportunity to crush a small, scattered people. What stopped it was not diplomacy but a dread that no one had organised.
H. L. RossierHere again we see the secret action of the providence of God in favour of His people. The nations of the empire could have formed a coalition against the tiny Jewish minority living among them. But no one resists in the face of the fear of the Jews.
The same hidden hand runs through the whole book.
William KellyWhat we have in the book of Esther is no more than the witness of secret providence in the face of the most extreme dangers. It looks on to that grand public outcome. Meanwhile it gives a striking and lasting ordinance of Him who delivers though unseen.
Why the officials changed sides
The verse stacks the officers up: provincial officials, satraps, governors, and the king's own agents. Their help had a single source.
Leslie M. GrantIn fact, all the officials of government helped the Jews because Mordecai's position of prominence influenced them greatly (v. 3). In a coming day too the greatness of the Lord Jesus will have a wonderful effect in turning Gentiles to seek the true blessing of Israel.
Fear, not affection
Nothing in the verse says these rulers came to admire the Jews. Their feelings had run hard the other way, until judgment was decreed.
H. L. RossierTo understand the severity of the punishment of the peoples, we must remember the feelings that stirred all the peoples of the empire against the Jews. They are overcome with fear now that judgment is decreed. That was not the case when their hatred seemed about to be satisfied. At that moment they were the "enemies" of the Jews and "hoped to have power over them", they "hated them" and "sought their hurt." This hatred had to meet its retribution. When that moment came, it was the fear of Mordecai alone that moved the great men of the empire to "help the Jews."
Commentators see the same response when Messiah reigns.
Edward DennettThe more accurate reading in the margin is "shall yield to me feigned obedience." They are afraid before the display of Messiah's power, and worried about what rebellion would cost them. So they will offer their allegiance while still hating Him in their hearts.
A greatness still growing
The fear rested on a man whose place was still rising.
H. L. RossierHe is a good picture of the Lord advancing with power into possession of His earthly sovereignty. As with David when he came to the throne, this sovereignty is not set up by one splendid, dramatic stroke. His royalty is not yet established, but it is forming. It will not be final until after the final victory over the last of His enemies. Yet His supremacy is acknowledged before all the nations are subject to Him.
Not a picture of the church
Commentators read the chapter as a picture of Israel's future, not of the church.
William KellyIt is the clear picture of the day when the Jew will be restored again to his due and proper place throughout the earth… Many take Esther as a picture of the Lord's dealings with the church. You can see at once what deep confusion that makes. Not so. It is the Gentile set aside and the Jew called in; but righteousness will be the character of the reign of the kingdom by and by. Grace is what suits the church now. Carrying out righteous vengeance would be completely at odds with the Christian's calling.
Summary
- Unseen. The rescue is the "secret action of the providence of God" — He delivers though unseen.
- Fear. No coalition forms against the tiny minority. A dread that fell on the empire holds it back, not any strength the Jews had.
- One man. The officials help because of Mordecai's standing. His prominence, not their sympathy, decides which side they take.
- Feigned. Fear bends the knee but leaves the heart unchanged — the same "feigned obedience" nations will offer Messiah.
- Growing. Mordecai's greatness is still rising — a picture of a rule owned before it is complete. Kelly warns that this is Israel's coming kingdom of righteousness, not the church's calling of grace.