What is the meaning of Esther 9:15? On the fourteenth day of the month of Adar “The Jews in Susa assembled also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar…” (Esther 9:15) • This date follows the first defensive day (the thirteenth, Esther 9:12–13) and marks the completion of their deliverance. • The extra day was granted by the king, underscoring God’s providential use of earthly authority (Romans 13:1). • The timing links with the broader celebration of Purim (Esther 9:17–19), forever reminding Israel of God’s faithful rescue. the Jews in Susa came together again • “Came together” shows deliberate unity—an echo of their earlier call to fast together (Esther 4:16). • Corporate action highlights covenant community: standing or falling together (Nehemiah 4:17–18; Philippians 1:27). • Their readiness the next day demonstrates alert obedience, not presumption (Proverbs 21:31). and put to death three hundred men there • Defensive justice continues: the threat lingered, so they removed it (Psalm 149:6–9). • The number is far smaller than on the previous day (five hundred plus Haman’s ten sons, Esther 9:6–10), revealing that the conflict was winding down. • God’s deliverance is decisive yet measured; violence ceases when danger ends (Joshua 11:23). but they did not lay a hand on the plunder • Three times the text repeats this refusal (Esther 9:10, 15, 16), stressing pure motives. • Obeying the king’s edict allowed for taking spoil (Esther 8:11), but the people restrained themselves: – They fought for life, not profit (James 4:1–2). – They avoided the sin that ensnared Saul when he spared Amalekite spoils (1 Samuel 15:9). – Like Abram refusing Sodom’s wealth (Genesis 14:22–23), they sought God’s honor over personal gain. • Such restraint magnifies the moral contrast with Haman, who lusted for Jewish property (Esther 3:13). summary Esther 9:15 records the concluding act of self-defense in Susa. On the divinely appointed fourteenth of Adar, the unified Jewish community decisively neutralized the remaining threat, yet scrupulously declined any spoil. The verse celebrates God’s faithful protection, models righteous restraint, and sets the stage for the perpetual joy of Purim—a reminder that God’s people can trust His providence while acting with integrity. |
    |