Esther 9 16

Esther 9:16 kjv

But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,

Esther 9:16 nkjv

The remainder of the Jews in the king's provinces gathered together and protected their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of their enemies; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

Esther 9:16 niv

Meanwhile, the remainder of the Jews who were in the king's provinces also assembled to protect themselves and get relief from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of them but did not lay their hands on the plunder.

Esther 9:16 esv

Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king's provinces also gathered to defend their lives, and got relief from their enemies and killed 75,000 of those who hated them, but they laid no hands on the plunder.

Esther 9:16 nlt

Meanwhile, the other Jews throughout the king's provinces had gathered together to defend their lives. They gained relief from all their enemies, killing 75,000 of those who hated them. But they did not take any plunder.

Esther 9 verses

Esther 9 16 Meaning

The Jews dispersed throughout King Ahasuerus's provinces, mirroring their brethren in Susa, gathered together and effectively defended their lives against their adversaries. This comprehensive self-defense resulted in a decisive victory where they vanquished seventy-five thousand of their foes. Crucially, they achieved rest from their enemies without seizing any plunder, thereby emphasizing that their actions were driven by self-preservation and divine deliverance, not by greed or retribution.

Esther 9 16 Context

This verse details the outcome of the self-defense mounted by the Jewish people residing throughout the numerous provinces of the vast Persian Empire. It follows the pivotal second royal decree initiated by Queen Esther and Mordecai (Esth 8:11-13), which granted Jews the right to defend themselves against those seeking their destruction. Esther 9:16 specifies the results for Jews outside of Susa, contrasting yet complementing the prior verses (Esth 9:1-15) which covered the events within the capital. Historically, the Persian Empire allowed for decrees to be counter-acted by new decrees, showcasing a legal pathway for the Jews' defense rather than an outright rebellion. The unique aspect of not taking plunder distinguishes this event from common military victories of the era, where spoil was customary. It highlights the purely defensive and non-opportunistic nature of their actions, rooted in the preservation of life rather than material gain or personal vengeance.

Esther 9 16 Word analysis

• "But" (וְ- ve-): Functions as a connective particle, indicating a continuation from the preceding events in Susa but also serving as a mild contrast, specifically pointing to the actions and outcome for the Jews outside the capital city.

• "the other Jews": Specifies the scope of the report to the Jewish population beyond Susa, highlighting that the threat and the subsequent defense were empire-wide.

• "who were in the king’s provinces": Emphasizes the widespread geographical reach of the Persian Empire and, consequently, the dispersion of the Jewish people within its vast territories. It underscores the monumental nature of the threat and the deliverance.

• "also gathered" (נִקְהֲלוּ niqehalu): Signifies a unified, collective mobilization. This term suggests deliberate organization and solidarity among the Jewish communities, enabling a coordinated defense as permitted by the king's counter-decree.

• "and stood up for their lives" (וְעָמֹד עַל נַפְשָׁם ve'amod al nafsham): Literally "and stood upon their souls." This strong phrase powerfully conveys their determined and desperate struggle for survival. It underscores that the core motive was self-preservation against an existential threat.

• "and had rest from their enemies" (וְנ֥וֹחַ מֵאֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֑ם venoaḥ me'oyvehem): This key phrase indicates the cessation of hostilities and the attainment of peace and security after extreme peril. The Hebrew term "נוח" (noaḥ), often implies a divinely granted peace or relief, a common theme throughout the Old Testament after God's deliverance (e.g., Deut 12:10).

• "and killed of their foes seventy-five thousand": This significant number speaks to the widespread and formidable nature of the adversaries the Jews faced across the provinces. It demonstrates the scale of the original plot against them and the thoroughness of their divinely empowered defensive victory. This was not a localized skirmish but a massive, empire-wide conflict.

• "but they did not lay a hand on the plunder" (וּבַבִּזָּ֛ה לֹ֥א שָׁלְח֖וּ יָדָֽם uvabizzah lo shalaḥu yadam): This detail is profoundly significant. By expressly refusing to take spoils, the Jews demonstrate that their actions were solely for self-preservation, not motivated by avarice or vengefulness. This distinguishes them morally from conventional conquering armies and reinforces the integrity and defensive nature of their divinely permitted struggle. It implies their trust in God for their provision and vindication, rather than material gain.

• "gathered and stood up for their lives": This grouping highlights the combined resolve and collective action of the Jewish people across the empire. It depicts them as a united front, courageously confronting danger to ensure their very existence.

• "had rest from their enemies": This phrase perfectly encapsulates the ultimate outcome of their struggle – not just survival, but true peace and security, divinely granted after the ordeal. It signifies the successful reversal of their fortunes from imminent destruction to tranquility.

• "killed of their foes seventy-five thousand, but they did not lay a hand on the plunder": This powerful juxtaposition underscores the ethical foundation of their defense. Despite the vast scale of their victory over formidable enemies, their actions were devoid of personal gain or excess, confirming that their fight was righteous and for self-preservation rather than conquest or enrichment.

Esther 9 16 Bonus section

The repeated refrain "they did not lay a hand on the plunder" in Esther 9:10, 9:15, and 9:16 serves as a key literary and theological marker within the book. Its triple emphasis highlights a consistent moral imperative and a differentiating characteristic of the Jewish people's actions throughout the empire. This detail implicitly rejects the accusation of opportunism or that their self-defense was driven by greed, distinguishing their actions from the very type of unrighteous conduct typical of oppressors in the ancient world. It affirms that their victory was purely about survival and God’s righteous deliverance, aligning their conduct with divine principles rather than human desire for spoil or vengeance. This aspect contributed to the lasting ethical legacy of Purim, emphasizing a victory for life and faith over malice and material gain.

Esther 9 16 Commentary

Esther 9:16 succinctly records the widespread success of the Jewish people's authorized self-defense across King Ahasuerus's 127 provinces. The staggering figure of seventy-five thousand enemies slain underlines the immense, pervasive, and life-threatening danger the Jews faced due to Haman’s genocidal decree. This large-scale victory signals the thoroughness of their deliverance, shifting from near extermination to triumph. Crucially, the verse reiterates a distinguishing moral aspect seen earlier: the explicit refusal to seize plunder. This deliberate abstention sets the Jews apart from typical ancient warfare where spoil was standard. It accentuates that their battle was a righteous defense of life and identity, divinely sanctioned, and free from the motives of avarice or vengeful retribution, thereby preserving their integrity and further vindicating their actions in the eyes of others.