Transition

The Countermand to Save the Jews

By Ahasuerus’s reign, the Persian Empire had been in existence for about 60 years and had assumed the basic form that it was to follow for the next 150. It was thoroughly hierarchical in structure, moving upward from people groups to regions to provinces (satrapies), of which there were 127. Over these, the king reigned. While in theory, the king was supreme and sovereign, his power was restricted by a system of laws which even he could not annul, and by a bureaucracy that was already becoming calcified.

Because the law giving the enemies of the Jews the right to kill them could not be revoked, another law had to be announced that would nullify the first. This second law gave the Jews the right to retaliate (Esth. 8:11). When the 12th month arrived (Esth. 9:1), God accomplished the care of His people through the rise of Mordecai who had faith in God’s providential activity (see 9:3, 4; 4:14).

The Book of Esther gives the historical background for the Feast of Purim, one of the Jewish feasts not commanded in the Pentateuch. The one day of feasting at Purim is now observed on two separate days because it was first celebrated in the villages on the 14th day, but in the city of Shushan on the 15th day (9:17–19).

Taken from Chronological Study Bible