“The king’s decree gave the Jews in every city authority to unit to defend their lives. They were allowed to kill, slaughter, and annihilate anyone of any nationality or province who might attack them or their children and wives, and to take the property of their enemies.” Esther 8:11 NLT
One could use the word ‘deliverance’ as the title to this chapter. Looking back in chapter 4, Mordecai had expressed confidence that deliverance would come, and through God’s providence, instead of the enemies of the Jews destroying them, the reverse actually happened. Esther’s willingness to risk her life for the salvation of the Jewish nation presents us with a picture of Jesus Christ, who did sacrifice himself in order to deliver the human race from the power of sin and Satan.
Esther needed to call upon their king in order that the Jews might be saved. During this time, it was King Xerxes that needed to issue a decree in order to override his previous decree made, and to not only protect the Jews, but give them life. We too need to call upon the King. Acts 2:21 tells us that, “Everyone who calls upon the Lord will be saved.”
May we make that call and receive deliverance from the bondage of sin and darkness.
Lock Your Wings 
Yup that verse stood out for me too: “The king’s decree gave the Jews in every city authority to unite to defend their lives. They were allowed to kill, slaughter, and annihilate anyone of any nationality or province who might attack them or their children and wives, and to take the property of their enemies.”
Esther 8:11 NLT
Seems like a strange verse to encourage annihilation but is in defence. I guess that was a good way to discourage those who were looking forward to the destruction of the Jews reminding them that if they proceeded that it would be them that would be punished. Still an interesting verse in this passage.
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