Esther 9:10, commentary and pictures

Esther 9:10 belongs to the account of how Haman, the enemy of the Jews, plotted under Medo-Persian rule in the reign of Ahasuerus to destroy all the Jews by a decree of extermination, but the plan failed, the people were spared, and Haman's ten sons were slain. Heaven preserved its captive people in that danger through a counter decree that saved them and brought about the complete overthrow of their enemies. That deliverance was secured after great danger through the efforts and prayers of Mordecai, Esther, and their people by the reversal of the decree, and joy followed. The slaying of Haman's sons is the triumphant vindication of God's people and the complete and utter overthrow and defeat of Haman and their enemies.

The Jews slew the ten sons but laid no hand on the spoil and took none of their goods, which distinguishes their self-defense from plunder. Their deaths marked the end of the Amalekite line and of Amalek's war against God's people. The overthrow frustrated Satan's purpose working through Haman to destroy all the people of God, the woman through whom the Man Child should come. Medo-Persia was the second head of the beast, the satanic church-and-state system of government perverted by Satan to his own ends, and God frustrated his purpose and delivered His people.

The account explains the origin of Purim, the feast associated with the casting of lots. The verse belongs to the history of God's people under Assyrian, Babylonian, Medo-Persian, and Grecian rule that proves a reckoning of 2000 years under the patriarchs, 2000 years under those kingdoms, and 2000 years under Rome ending in 1842, so that 1843 is the first year of the third day when Christ will come, revive and raise up his people to live in his sight and reign with him a thousand years. The deliverance teaches that God will rescue those who are threatened for refusing to obey human commands about Sabbath-keeping.