“And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.”
My Notes
What Does Esther 8:17 Mean?
"And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them." The reversal is total. The decree that was supposed to authorize Jewish genocide instead becomes the catalyst for Jewish celebration — and Gentile conversion. "Joy and gladness, a feast and a good day" replace the mourning, fasting, and sackcloth of chapter 4. The fear that once fell on the Jews now falls on their enemies.
The phrase "many of the people of the land became Jews" indicates that the Persian population saw God's intervention on behalf of the Jews and converted. The very event designed to destroy the Jewish community actually expanded it. The enemy's plan produced the opposite of its intention.
Reflection Questions
- 1.When has an attack against you or your community backfired and produced growth instead of destruction?
- 2.What does the pattern of 'the enemy's plan expanding what it meant to destroy' teach about God's sovereignty?
- 3.How does the Gentiles' conversion in response to the reversal challenge the idea that God only works through 'spiritual' means?
- 4.What reversal in your story is still being written — and can you trust the pattern?
Devotional
Joy and gladness. A feast and a good day. The same empire that published a death decree now publishes a deliverance decree. The same provinces that read the order to destroy now read the order to defend. And the Jews who were mourning in sackcloth are dancing in the streets.
The reversal is so complete it's almost comical. Haman built gallows for Mordecai — Haman hangs on them. The decree authorized destruction of Jews — the Jews destroy their enemies instead. The fear that fell on the Jews now falls on everyone else. And the pagan population, watching this reversal, starts converting. Many of the people of the land became Jews.
The enemy's plan expanded what it was supposed to eliminate. That's the punchline of the book of Esther. Haman's genocide plot — designed to erase the Jewish people from the Persian Empire — resulted in more people becoming Jewish than ever before. The attack didn't just fail. It backfired so spectacularly that the Jewish community grew because of it.
This pattern recurs throughout salvation history. Pharaoh's oppression produced the exodus. The cross produced the resurrection. Persecution of the early church produced the spread of the gospel. Every attempt to destroy God's people produces the opposite of the intended result. The enemy's plans are God's recruitment strategies in disguise.
Whatever the enemy is planning against you — whatever scheme is designed to destroy, diminish, or eliminate what God is building — Esther's ending says: wait for the reversal. The feast is coming. The joy is coming. And what was meant to destroy you might end up expanding you.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Became Jews - Joined the nation as proselytes, so casting in their lot with them.
Many - became Jews; for - fear - These were a species of converts not likely to bring much honor to true religion: but…
It was but a few days ago that we had Mordecai in sackcloth and all the Jews in sorrow; but here is a blessed change,…
a good day The expression, occurring also in Est 9:19; Est 9:22, is found elsewhere only in 1Sa 25:8.
became Jews The…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture