Est 8:14 | KingComments | STEP | The letter dictated by Mordecai is a letter “in the name of King Ahasuerus” ( ). What Mordecai speaks and causes to be written down are the words of the king. That the letter indeed comes from the king can be seen on the seal that is attached to the letter with the king’s signet ring. Everything that Mordecai commands bears the authority and stamp of the king’s approval. After the letter has been translated, the letters are sent. Haman sent his letters by couriers ( ), Mordecai sends them “by couriers on horses”. Mordecai’s messengers are much faster and can spread the new command throughout the kingdom as quickly as possible. This second command indicates how the Jews can avert the threat of the first command ( ). They are told by the king that they may assemble. Being together gives strength and encouragement. We experience this when we gather as believers while the world threatens us (cf. ). It is not good for believers to forsake their own assembling together ( ) because then they become an easy prey for the opponent. In the assembling together, believers build each other up and exhort each other to remain faithful to the Lord. Haman has issued his command to “to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews” ( ). Mordecai’s command reverses and allows the Jews to “to destroy, to kill and to annihilate” those who threaten them, wherever they live. According to the first command, the enemies must kill the Jews’ wives and children and plunder their possessions. Mordecai’s command states that the Jews may kill the women and children of the enemies and plunder their possessions. Mordecai enables his people to defend themselves against anyone who threatens them, without calling for them to slaughter at random. Mordecai’s law has the same scope and validity as Haman’s ( ). It concerns the whole area of authority of King Ahasuerus and it concerns that one day, “the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month (that is, the month Adar)”. On that day the Jews may, in accordance with the written law that has been promulgated, “be ready ... to avenge themselves on their enemies” ( ). This contrasts with the first commandment issued and “published to all the peoples so that they should be ready for this day” ( ) to annihilate the Jews. Mordecai is given a free hand to do whatever is necessary. Thus, the Lord Jesus will soon lead His people along the path of battle to victory. He will make His now still divided people one people again and give them the strength to be one people to defeat the enemies ( ). The extensive similarities between the two commands increase the effect of the differences. The main difference is that the roles are reversed and that the Jews may do to their enemies what their enemies are commanded to do to them. This fits in with the Old Testament command to retaliate evil with evil, according to the principle of retaliation as the law says: “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” ( ). For the New Testament believer, he should not retaliate evil with evil, but learn to endure and seek what is good for all men ( ). The announcement of the command runs parallel to the first announcement, except that the couriers now ride on horses ( ; ). There is more haste in the salvation of the people than in the imminent annihilation of the people. If we apply this to the gospel, we see that the gospel is a power that can save the deepest fallen man under judgment from judgment. But there is an urgent need to bring the gospel. The message of grace must, as it were, overtake the message of judgment. Permission to resist comes from the highest authority, for us from God. It means that He is for us. We have every reason to start this battle courageously. The enemy is judged on the cross – see , where the king refers to the hanging of Haman – and the Victor is with us. God says, as it were: “See what I have done for you on the cross. Then we may say: “If God [is] for us, who [is] against us?” ( ). As believers, we are not left on earth to become the happiest people, but to be delivered from our own will, so that we will dedicate ourselves to His cause. We have received the greatest blessings ( ), but does it encourage us to serve Him faithfully?

‏ Esther 8:14

The King’s Command Made Known

The letter dictated by Mordecai is a letter “in the name of King Ahasuerus” (Est 8:10). What Mordecai speaks and causes to be written down are the words of the king. That the letter indeed comes from the king can be seen on the seal that is attached to the letter with the king’s signet ring. Everything that Mordecai commands bears the authority and stamp of the king’s approval. After the letter has been translated, the letters are sent. Haman sent his letters by couriers (Est 3:13), Mordecai sends them “by couriers on horses”. Mordecai’s messengers are much faster and can spread the new command throughout the kingdom as quickly as possible.

This second command indicates how the Jews can avert the threat of the first command (Est 8:11). They are told by the king that they may assemble. Being together gives strength and encouragement. We experience this when we gather as believers while the world threatens us (cf. Acts 4:23-31). It is not good for believers to forsake their own assembling together (Heb 10:25) because then they become an easy prey for the opponent. In the assembling together, believers build each other up and exhort each other to remain faithful to the Lord.

Haman has issued his command to “to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews” (Est 3:13). Mordecai’s command reverses and allows the Jews to “to destroy, to kill and to annihilate” those who threaten them, wherever they live. According to the first command, the enemies must kill the Jews’ wives and children and plunder their possessions. Mordecai’s command states that the Jews may kill the women and children of the enemies and plunder their possessions. Mordecai enables his people to defend themselves against anyone who threatens them, without calling for them to slaughter at random.

Mordecai’s law has the same scope and validity as Haman’s (Est 8:12). It concerns the whole area of authority of King Ahasuerus and it concerns that one day, “the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month (that is, the month Adar)”. On that day the Jews may, in accordance with the written law that has been promulgated, “be ready ... to avenge themselves on their enemies” (Est 8:13). This contrasts with the first commandment issued and “published to all the peoples so that they should be ready for this day” (Est 3:14) to annihilate the Jews.

Mordecai is given a free hand to do whatever is necessary. Thus, the Lord Jesus will soon lead His people along the path of battle to victory. He will make His now still divided people one people again and give them the strength to be one people to defeat the enemies (Isa 11:14).

The extensive similarities between the two commands increase the effect of the differences. The main difference is that the roles are reversed and that the Jews may do to their enemies what their enemies are commanded to do to them. This fits in with the Old Testament command to retaliate evil with evil, according to the principle of retaliation as the law says: “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (Exo 21:24). For the New Testament believer, he should not retaliate evil with evil, but learn to endure and seek what is good for all men (Rom 12:17).

The announcement of the command runs parallel to the first announcement, except that the couriers now ride on horses (Est 8:14; Est 3:15a). There is more haste in the salvation of the people than in the imminent annihilation of the people. If we apply this to the gospel, we see that the gospel is a power that can save the deepest fallen man under judgment from judgment. But there is an urgent need to bring the gospel. The message of grace must, as it were, overtake the message of judgment.

Permission to resist comes from the highest authority, for us from God. It means that He is for us. We have every reason to start this battle courageously. The enemy is judged on the cross – see Est 8:7, where the king refers to the hanging of Haman – and the Victor is with us. God says, as it were: “See what I have done for you on the cross. Then we may say: “If God [is] for us, who [is] against us?” (Rom 8:31b). As believers, we are not left on earth to become the happiest people, but to be delivered from our own will, so that we will dedicate ourselves to His cause. We have received the greatest blessings (2Pet 1:3-4), but does it encourage us to serve Him faithfully?