Bible Commentaries
Esther 9

Verses 1-32

Esther 9:10 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 Comments The Jews had been given the authority to take the spoils of their enemies in the royal decree (Esther 8:11). However, Esther 9:10; Esther 9:15-16 notes that the Jews avoided the spoils, perhaps to prove their integrity and noble intent in this warfare. Their intent was not to destroy lives, but rather, to protect their own.

Esther 8:11, “Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,”

Esther 9:13 Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.

Esther 9:13 Comments The question is asked as to why Queen Esther wanted to extend the Jewish assault a second day and to hang the ten sons of Haman who were already dead. Some suggest that Esther wanted to extend her wrath against the house of Haman by humiliating them. Others suggest that Esther wanted to instill enough fear in those people who remained loyal to Haman that they would not retaliate against the Jews in the future.