Est 9:11 | KingComments | STEP | The king is told of the number of those killed in the citadel of Susa ( ). He tells Esther about this in the last conversation we hear between them in this book. He says that the ten sons of Haman suffered the same fate as their father. It is as if he wants to give her certainty that all danger from that side has been averted. The death of the sons of Haman is a picture that those who follow satan will share in his fate. They will hear from the mouth of the Lord Jesus: “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels” ( ). We can also see in the sons of Haman a picture of the works of the flesh. If the flesh wants to assert itself in us, we will have to consider ourselves to be dead to it ( ). This is possible if we let the Spirit work in us ( ). Then we will be able to consider the members of our earthly body as dead ( ). After his announcement of the people killed at the citadel of Susa, the king asks out loud what happened in the rest of his kingdom ( ). Immediately thereafter he asks Esther the question he has asked her several times before ( ). The previous times this happened in response to a question from Esther herself, but now the king himself comes unasked with the question: “What is your petition now ... and what is your further request? He agrees to give her what she asks and to grant her request. It is again the invitation to ask indefinitely with the assurance that he will give. The difference with the previous times is that this time he doesn’t add that she can ask for up to half of his kingdom. There’s no golden scepter here either. It seems to indicate that Esther has been in the king’s favor and with him all the time since last time. Esther’s answer shows that as well. With due respect – “if it pleases the king” – but also with boldness – she now goes straight to her goal – she asks for two favors. First, she asks that the permission given to the Jews to annihilate their enemies may be valid for the next day as well. She asks if the law that only applies to thirteen Adar can be extended by one day. Apparently, she asks only for Susa ( ). Esther does not want an extra day of slaughter, but an extra day on which the Jews can defend themselves against all who attack them. Secondly, she wants the ten sons of Haman to be hanged on the gallows. The king responds, as he has promised, consenting to both questions ( ). He gives the order to carry out both of Esther’s requests. To extend the validity of the law, a new, additional law is enacted, and the ten sons of Haman are hanged. Unlike in the cases of Haman and Mordecai’s orders, the scribes are not summoned. Also, the words of the law are not reproduced exactly. This time it is about the extension and not about the content. The content does not change.

‏ Esther 9:11

Supplementary Request From Esther

The king is told of the number of those killed in the citadel of Susa (Est 9:11). He tells Esther about this in the last conversation we hear between them in this book. He says that the ten sons of Haman suffered the same fate as their father. It is as if he wants to give her certainty that all danger from that side has been averted. The death of the sons of Haman is a picture that those who follow satan will share in his fate. They will hear from the mouth of the Lord Jesus: “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels” (Mt 25:41).

We can also see in the sons of Haman a picture of the works of the flesh. If the flesh wants to assert itself in us, we will have to consider ourselves to be dead to it (Rom 6:11). This is possible if we let the Spirit work in us (Rom 8:13b). Then we will be able to consider the members of our earthly body as dead (Col 3:5).

After his announcement of the people killed at the citadel of Susa, the king asks out loud what happened in the rest of his kingdom (Est 9:12). Immediately thereafter he asks Esther the question he has asked her several times before (Est 5:3 ; 6 ; Est 7:2). The previous times this happened in response to a question from Esther herself, but now the king himself comes unasked with the question: “What is your petition now ... and what is your further request? He agrees to give her what she asks and to grant her request. It is again the invitation to ask indefinitely with the assurance that he will give. The difference with the previous times is that this time he doesn’t add that she can ask for up to half of his kingdom.

There’s no golden scepter here either. It seems to indicate that Esther has been in the king’s favor and with him all the time since last time. Esther’s answer shows that as well. With due respect – “if it pleases the king” – but also with boldness – she now goes straight to her goal – she asks for two favors.

First, she asks that the permission given to the Jews to annihilate their enemies may be valid for the next day as well. She asks if the law that only applies to thirteen Adar can be extended by one day. Apparently, she asks only for Susa (Est 9:15 ; 18). Esther does not want an extra day of slaughter, but an extra day on which the Jews can defend themselves against all who attack them. Secondly, she wants the ten sons of Haman to be hanged on the gallows.

The king responds, as he has promised, consenting to both questions (Est 9:14). He gives the order to carry out both of Esther’s requests. To extend the validity of the law, a new, additional law is enacted, and the ten sons of Haman are hanged.

Unlike in the cases of Haman and Mordecai’s orders, the scribes are not summoned. Also, the words of the law are not reproduced exactly. This time it is about the extension and not about the content. The content does not change.