Esther: At Last, We Can Bake Bread and Raise Our Families

By Mary Vee
Esther 9

From Esther's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Esther. I am a Jew.

I have been Queen of all Babylon. A job I would have never imagined having. The only way I was given this position was because God worked out the details. 

The twelfth month came. The thirteenth day arrived and Haman's terrible decree happened. Soldiers and citizens who hated Jews raised their weapons and attacked with the full blessing of Haman's decree.

This was also the day Mordecai's decree took effect. Mordecai, the Jew and my cousin, pleased the king. He then asked permission to write a decree allowing the Jews to protect themselves. The king said yes because of the terrible crimes Haman committed.

The battle began rather early this morning. Many Babylonian citizens and officials fought with the Jews. 

Reports came in to the king throughout the day telling of the Jews success. 

Supper time ended and the last report came to the king. He turned to me and said, "Esther, my queen, the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men here in Susa. What is your request? That, too, will be granted because of Haman's terrible deeds."

This time I didn't need Mordecai to give me advice. I knew exactly what needed to be done. There were other men in Babylon who hated the Jews and wanted to kill all of us. I said, "If it pleases the king, give the Jews in Susa permission to carry out this day's edict tomorrow also, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged on gallows." I wanted to make sure none of his sons ever tried what their father did.

"Very well," he said. "It shall be done."

Haman's ten sons hung on the gallows and 300 men who hated the Jew's were put to the sword. The Jews didn't touch any of the 300 men's possessions, even though they were given permission to take what they wanted.

In the rest of the providence, seventy-five thousand enemies of the Jews fell to the sword. None of their possessions were touched. On the fourteenth day in the rest of Babylon, the Jews and those who fought with them rested, making it a day of feasting and joy.

The Jews in Susa rested on the fifteenth day.

There is a calm in Babylon. The fighting and threats done by the Jewish haters has stopped. At last, the Jews can bake their bread and raise their families without great fear. All thanks to the Almighty. 



The story has much more to tell...come back to read what happens next.

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sources: New International Version, New King James Version  

1. What was the date?
2. What two decrees took effect on this date?
3  What did the king ask Esther at the end of the day?
4. What did she answer?
5. Esther asked for only a certain city, which one?
6. What did the Jews and those who helped the Jews do the next day?