Est 9:16 | KingComments | STEP | The Jews in Susa, with the permission of Ahasuerus ( ), also gather on fourteen Adar and kill another three hundred men in Susa ( ). Again it is mentioned that the Jews do not lay their hand to the plunder ( ). In the rest of the provinces, which is the whole large area outside of Susa, the Jews also gather “to defend their lives” ( ). They do this successfully, because they get rest from their enemies. Rest, after a time of hard fighting, is a blessing. Peace and safety are also connected with rest. The enemies are eliminated, the haters no longer live. This speaks of the peace of the realm of peace. Then the Lord Jesus rules as the true Prince of Peace and His reign extends to the end of the earth. The number of people killed is mentioned. These killed enemies are again called “those who hated them”, which again indicates that these enemies, enemies with such feelings, will never reconcile with the Jews. For the third time it is said that the Jews do not lay their hand to the plunder. The first time it is said of the Jews in general ( ), then especially of the city Jews ( ) and now of the Jews of the provinces ( ). What the rest of the Jews did took place on thirteen Adar ( ). The next day, on the fourteenth Adar, they enjoy a well-earned rest. They make this resting day a day of feasting and rejoicing. Rest is a gift from God. He has worked that rest, only He can give that rest to His people ( ), although this work is not openly attributed to Him here. are a summary of events. First it says what the Jews in Susa did ( ), then what the Jews who live in the rural towns did ( ). Because the Jews in Susa had an extra day of fighting, they rested on the fifteenth of that month and made that day “a day of feasting and rejoicing”. The Jews of the rural areas make the fourteenth Adar “[a] holiday for rejoicing and feasting and sending portions [of food] to one another”. It is remarkable how important the festive nature of the two days of rest is. In it is mentioned up to three times that they are days of “feasting and rejoicing”. This must have something to do with the disappearance of a major threat. We can also understand this if we at least realize what it means that the Lord Jesus redeemed us from the power of the one who had the power to kill us, the devil. To him we were enslaved throughout our lives for fear of death ( ). Through the redemption worked by the Lord Jesus, we were delivered from the power of satan and from eternal judgment, hell. If this penetrates well into us, it cannot be otherwise, or we will also be full of joy. We will share this joy with each other by having feasts. For us Christians, the Lord’s Supper is a special occasion to remember and celebrate that great salvation ( ). We may also have love feasts (cf. ) to share with each other during those feasts all that we owe to Him.

‏ Esther 9:16

Rest, Joy and Feast

The Jews in Susa, with the permission of Ahasuerus (Est 9:13-14), also gather on fourteen Adar and kill another three hundred men in Susa (Est 9:15). Again it is mentioned that the Jews do not lay their hand to the plunder (Est 9:10).

In the rest of the provinces, which is the whole large area outside of Susa, the Jews also gather “to defend their lives” (Est 9:16). They do this successfully, because they get rest from their enemies. Rest, after a time of hard fighting, is a blessing. Peace and safety are also connected with rest. The enemies are eliminated, the haters no longer live. This speaks of the peace of the realm of peace. Then the Lord Jesus rules as the true Prince of Peace and His reign extends to the end of the earth.

The number of people killed is mentioned. These killed enemies are again called “those who hated them”, which again indicates that these enemies, enemies with such feelings, will never reconcile with the Jews. For the third time it is said that the Jews do not lay their hand to the plunder. The first time it is said of the Jews in general (Est 9:10), then especially of the city Jews (Est 9:15) and now of the Jews of the provinces (Est 9:16).

What the rest of the Jews did took place on thirteen Adar (Est 9:17). The next day, on the fourteenth Adar, they enjoy a well-earned rest. They make this resting day a day of feasting and rejoicing. Rest is a gift from God. He has worked that rest, only He can give that rest to His people (Deu 3:20 ; Deu 12:10), although this work is not openly attributed to Him here.

Est 9:18-19 are a summary of events. First it says what the Jews in Susa did (Est 9:18), then what the Jews who live in the rural towns did (Est 9:19). Because the Jews in Susa had an extra day of fighting, they rested on the fifteenth of that month and made that day “a day of feasting and rejoicing”. The Jews of the rural areas make the fourteenth Adar “[a] holiday for rejoicing and feasting and sending portions [of food] to one another”.

It is remarkable how important the festive nature of the two days of rest is. In Est 9:17-19 it is mentioned up to three times that they are days of “feasting and rejoicing”. This must have something to do with the disappearance of a major threat. We can also understand this if we at least realize what it means that the Lord Jesus redeemed us from the power of the one who had the power to kill us, the devil. To him we were enslaved throughout our lives for fear of death (Heb 2:14-15).

Through the redemption worked by the Lord Jesus, we were delivered from the power of satan and from eternal judgment, hell. If this penetrates well into us, it cannot be otherwise, or we will also be full of joy. We will share this joy with each other by having feasts. For us Christians, the Lord’s Supper is a special occasion to remember and celebrate that great salvation (1Cor 11:23-25). We may also have love feasts (cf. Jude 1:12a) to share with each other during those feasts all that we owe to Him.