I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Esther 8-10.

In order to fully understand how the edict which Mordecai composed worked to counter that which Haman had sent out I needed to go back and read what was recorded in chapter 3 about Haman’s edict.  The two edicts were remarkably similar.  Haman’s edict ordered that all of the Jews, men, women, and children, be killed on one day and that those who killed them would be given their property.  Mordecai’s edict gave the Jews the permission to defend themselves by killing those who attacked them or their kin and take their property.  Haman’s edict caused confusion, people did not understand why the Jews were targeted.  I perceive two reasons for the success of Mordecai’s edict.  The first being that Mordecai was alive and in a position of power when the two edicts went into effect, while Haman had been executed.  Everyone would have understood that the king may have officially issued both edicts, but he stood behind that of Mordecai, not that of Haman.  The second is a little more nebulous.  People were uncomfortable with Haman’s edict, which called for the murder of women and children.  Mordecai’s edict on the other hand only called for the death of those who threatened the lives of Jews.  Another key factor in how things turned out: Mordecai’s edict allowed the Jews to take the property of their enemies but they did not do so.