The Jews Destroy Their Enemies

Esther 9

1 Now a in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, b the time came for the king's command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves c overpowered those who hated them. 2 The Jews d gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who e sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, f because fear of them fell upon all people. 3 And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and all those doing the king's work, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. 4 For Mordecai was great in the king's palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai g became increasingly prominent. 5 Thus the Jews defeated all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction, and did what they pleased with those who hated them. 6 And in h Shushan 1 the 2 citadel the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. 7 Also Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vajezatha - 10 i the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews - they killed; j but they did not lay a hand on the 3 plunder.

11 On that day the number of those who were killed in 4 Shushan the 5 citadel 6 was brought to the king. 12 And the king said to Queen Esther, "The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the citadel, and the ten sons of Haman. What have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? Now k what is your petition? It shall be granted to you. Or what is your further request? It shall be done." 13 Then Esther said, "If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do again tomorrow l according to today's decree, and let Haman's ten sons m be hanged on the gallows." 14 So the king commanded this to be done; the decree was issued in Shushan, and they hanged Haman's ten sons. 15 And the Jews who were in 7 Shushan n gathered together again on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and killed three hundred men at Shushan; o but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

16 The remainder of the Jews in the king's provinces p gathered together and protected their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of their enemies; q but they did not lay a hand on the plunder. 17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. And on the fourteenth of 8 the month they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 18 But the Jews who were at 9 Shushan assembled together r on the thirteenth day, as well as on the fourteenth; and on the fifteenth of 10 the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages who dwelt in the unwalled towns celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar s with gladness and feasting, t as a holiday, and for u sending presents to one another.

  1. Cross References
    Esther 8:12
    On one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.
  2. Cross References
    Esther 3:13
    And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions.
  3. Cross References
    2 Samuel 22:41
    You have also given me the necks of my enemies, So that I destroyed those who hated me.
  4. Cross References
    Esther 8:11
    By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and protect their lives - to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions.
    Esther 9:15 - 18
    And the Jews who were in Shushan gathered together again on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and killed three hundred men at Shushan; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.
  5. Cross References
    Psalms 71:13
    Let them be confounded and consumed Who are adversaries of my life; Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor Who seek my hurt.
    Psalms 71:14
    But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more.
  6. Cross References
    Esther 8:17
    And in every province and city, wherever the king's command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them.
  7. Cross References
    2 Samuel 3:1
    Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
    1 Chronicles 11:9
    So David went on and became great, and the LORD of hosts was with him.
    Proverbs 4:18
    But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
  8. Cross References
    Esther 1:2
    In those days when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the citadel.
    Esther 3:15
    The couriers went out, hastened by the king's command; and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed.
    Esther 4:16
    "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!"
  9. Cross References
    Esther 5:11
    Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king.
    Esther 9:7 - 10
    Also Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha.
    Job 18:19
    He has neither son nor posterity among his people, Nor any remaining in his dwellings.
    Job 27:13 - 15
    This is the portion of a wicked man with God, And the heritage of oppressors, received from the Almighty:
    Psalms 21:10
    Their offspring You shall destroy from the earth, And their descendants from among the sons of men.
  10. Cross References
    Esther 8:11
    By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and protect their lives - to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions.
  11. Cross References
    Esther 5:6
    At the banquet of wine the king said to Esther, "What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!
    Esther 7:2
    And on the second day, at the banquet of wine, the king again said to Esther, "What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!
  12. Cross References
    Esther 8:11
    By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and protect their lives - to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions.
    Esther 9:15
    And the Jews who were in Shushan gathered together again on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and killed three hundred men at Shushan; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.
  13. Cross References
    2 Samuel 21:6
    "let seven men of his descendants be delivered to us, and we will hang them before the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD chose." And the king said, "I will give them."
    2 Samuel 21:9
    And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. So they fell, all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.
  14. Cross References
    Esther 8:11
    By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and protect their lives - to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions.
    Esther 9:2
    The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all people.
  15. Cross References
    Esther 9:10
    The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews - they killed; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.
  16. Cross References
    Esther 9:2
    The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all people.
  17. Cross References
    Esther 8:11
    By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and protect their lives - to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions.
  18. Cross References
    Esther 9:11
    On that day the number of those who were killed in Shushan the citadel was brought to the king.
    Esther 9:15
    And the Jews who were in Shushan gathered together again on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and killed three hundred men at Shushan; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.
  19. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 16:11
    You shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are among you, at the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide.
    Deuteronomy 16:14
    And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who are within your gates.
  20. Cross References
    Esther 8:16
    The Jews had light and gladness, joy and honor.
    Esther 8:17
    And in every province and city, wherever the king's command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them.
  21. Cross References
    Nehemiah 8:10
    Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
    Nehemiah 8:12
    And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them.
    Esther 9:22
    As the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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