What is the meaning of Esther 9:21?

To Establish Among Them

“to establish among them…” (Esther 9:21)

• Mordecai’s letter is not a casual suggestion; it is an authoritative directive rooted in the providential events recorded in Esther 9:20.

• The verb “establish” signals permanence—much like God’s commands for Passover (Exodus 12:14) or the Feast of Booths (Leviticus 23:41).

• By putting the celebration in writing (Esther 9:29–32), the leaders ensure that every Jewish community, “both near and far” (Esther 9:20), will unify around God’s deliverance.

• The same principle of setting memorials appears in Joshua 4:7, where stones remind Israel of the Jordan crossing; here the feast will remind future generations of God’s reversal of Haman’s plot.

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An Annual Celebration

“…an annual celebration…” (Esther 9:21)

• The feast is yearly, echoing the rhythm of God-ordained festivals that keep His acts of salvation fresh in the national memory (Psalm 145:4).

• Regular repetition guards against forgetfulness (Deuteronomy 4:9) and provides an opportunity for testimony, much like the Lord’s Supper “in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:25).

• The text later calls the feast “Purim” (Esther 9:26–28), tying the name to the lots (“pur”) Haman cast, showcasing how God overrules human schemes (Proverbs 19:21).

• Celebration is not mere festivity; it bears witness to the covenant-keeping God who “gives His people rest from their enemies” (Esther 9:22).

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On the Fourteenth Day

“…on the fourteenth…” (Esther 9:21)

• The fourteenth of Adar marks the day when Jews in the provinces “gathered… and gained relief” (Esther 9:17).

• Choosing the exact calendar day highlights history’s precision: real dates, real deliverance (cf. Exodus 12:6—Passover’s 14th).

• Rural Jews rested and rejoiced on this date, so the feast preserves that original timing (Esther 9:17, 19).

• It affirms God’s faithfulness “to the very day” (Exodus 12:41), encouraging believers to recognize divine appointments in their own lives.

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And the Fifteenth Day

“…and fifteenth days…” (Esther 9:21)

• The capital city of Susa fought an extra day (Esther 9:18), so its celebration began on the fifteenth.

• Including both days prevents division between city and countryside; all Israel rejoices together (Psalm 133:1).

• Many biblical festivals run two or more days (Leviticus 23:6–8, Numbers 29:12–38), reflecting the fullness of joy in God’s salvation.

• The doubled date underscores total victory—no pocket of resistance remained (Esther 9:16).

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Of the Month of Adar

“…of the month of Adar.” (Esther 9:21)

• Adar is the twelfth month (Esther 3:7), the very month Haman selected for Israel’s destruction; God turns the enemy’s timetable into a testimony (Esther 9:1).

• The setting near the close of the civil year makes the feast a climactic reminder that “many are the plans in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD prevails” (Proverbs 19:21).

• The placement also anticipates the coming Passover (Nisan), linking two distinct yet complementary pictures of redemption (Esther 3:7; Exodus 12:2).

• By rooting Purim in Adar, Scripture shows that God’s providence permeates every season (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

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summary

Esther 9:21 records Mordecai’s inspired directive to institute Purim: a perpetual, two-day feast on Adar 14-15. Each phrase underscores God’s sovereign reversal—He secures a unified, annual remembrance so future generations will celebrate His deliverance with gladness, generosity, and shared faith.