Esther 9 10

Esther 9:10 kjv

The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.

Esther 9:10 nkjv

the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews?they killed; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

Esther 9:10 niv

the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

Esther 9:10 esv

the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, but they laid no hand on the plunder.

Esther 9:10 nlt

the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But they did not take any plunder.

Esther 9 verses

Esther 9 10 Meaning

Esther 9:10 describes the specific execution of Haman's ten sons, fulfilling a critical part of the judgment against the enemy of the Jews. Their death, publicly confirmed by hanging, signifies the complete triumph of the Jewish people over their oppressor and the eradication of Haman's lineage, preventing any future resurgence of his genocidal plans. It underscores the profound reversal of fate, where the intended victims became the executors of divinely sanctioned justice.

Esther 9 10 Context

Esther chapter 9 marks the pivotal turn in the book's narrative. After Haman's plot to annihilate the Jews was uncovered and reversed, royal decrees permitted the Jews to defend themselves against those who sought to harm them. This verse, Esther 9:10, immediately follows the list of Haman's ten sons who were killed in Susa (Esther 9:7-9). Their execution confirms the complete victory of the Jewish people over their primary adversary. Historically, the Persian Empire had practices of publicly executing and displaying the bodies of major criminals or traitors, serving as a powerful deterrent. Haman's lineage, specifically identified as "the enemy of the Jews," carried the weight of ancestral antagonism, connecting to the biblical conflict with Amalek. Thus, the actions described are both legally sanctioned under the Persian crown and signify a divine reversal and fulfillment of long-standing promises to protect Israel from its sworn enemies.

Word Analysis

• the ten sons: ʻasarâh benê.
  • Significance: "Ten" is a number often symbolizing completeness or divine order in biblical numerology. Here, it signifies the comprehensive and thorough eradication of Haman's direct male heirs, cutting off his lineage completely. This complete removal prevents any future continuation of his designs through his offspring.
• of Haman: Hāmān.
  • Significance: Identifies the archenemy. The very name evokes the ultimate human adversary to God's chosen people within this narrative.
• the son of Hammedatha: ben Hammedāthāʼ.
  • Significance: Provides his full paternal lineage, further identifying and emphasizing Haman's specific identity, distinguishing him as an official in the Persian court while implicitly reinforcing his Amalekite (Agagite) descent for a knowing audience.
• the enemy of the Jews: ṣôrēr hayYehûdîm.
  • Original Meaning: ṣôrēr comes from ṣarar, meaning "to tie up," "to bind," "to besiege," "to show hostility," signifying a deep, relentless, and active antagonism.
  • Significance: This phrase is a powerful descriptor, frequently used in the Book of Esther (e.g., Esther 3:10, 8:1). It highlights that Haman's hostility was not merely political rivalry but a specific, inherent hatred toward the Jewish people as a collective entity, touching on the ongoing spiritual conflict against God's covenant people.
• they hanged: tâlû.
  • Original Meaning: A passive verb, meaning "they were hung" or "they were impaled." This term, common in the Achaemenid Persian context, refers to a form of public execution, either by suspension from a gallows (hanging by the neck) or impalement on a sharpened stake. The precise method is debated, but the outcome is public execution and display.
  • Significance: The passive voice indicates that the execution was carried out by official means, presumably by the king's decree, by agents of the Persian state, perhaps requested or overseen by the Jews, thus legal and sanctioned, not an act of vigilante justice. This echoes Haman's own fate on the gallows he prepared, embodying profound ironic justice and ensuring the complete humiliation and annihilation of the enemy lineage.

Esther 9 10 Bonus section

• The listing of Haman's sons by name immediately before this verse (Esther 9:7-9) emphasizes their individual identities, making their collective and comprehensive destruction even more poignant and complete. Their personal names ensure they are not an anonymous mob, but distinct individuals associated with Haman’s vile lineage.
• The "hanging" of the sons likely included the subsequent public display of their bodies. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, this practice served not only as a deterrent but also as an extreme form of public humiliation and a powerful symbol of complete subjugation and disgrace. This served as a profound vindication for the Jewish people who had faced ultimate contempt and threatened annihilation.
• The phrase "enemy of the Jews" connects Haman's personal animosity with a broader, ancestral spiritual conflict that extended back centuries, specifically tying into the long-standing command regarding Amalekites (of whom Haman was a descendant or symbolic of, as an Agagite). This deep historical and spiritual context amplifies the significance of his family's utter destruction.
• This verse contributes to the core message of the book of Esther, which is God's hidden but active providence. While God is not explicitly mentioned, His hand is clearly seen in the orchestration of events that turn a decree of death into a victory of life and a profound reversal for His people.

Esther 9 10 Commentary

Esther 9:10 stands as a declarative statement of a foundational aspect of the Purim narrative: the decisive judgment against the lineage of Haman. Following his own execution, the hanging of his ten sons meticulously described in verses 7-9 signifies the thoroughness of divine justice and the complete eradication of the threat posed by Haman's house. This was not mere revenge but a necessary act of national security and a visible manifestation of God's covenant faithfulness to His people. By permitting and legitimizing this action through the king's decree, God orchestrated events to dismantle the very root of the evil design against Israel. This event underlines the consistent biblical principle that those who scheme to destroy God's people will ultimately face divine retribution, often experiencing the very fate they intended for others. The hanging served as a stark public declaration of the enemies' defeat and the Lord's providential care.