King Ahasuerus grants Esther Haman's estate and gives Mordecai the signet ring, elevating him to Haman's former position. Since Persian law cannot annul the first decree, a counter-edict is issued authorizing Jews throughout the empire to defend themselves and destroy their enemies on the designated day, causing rejoicing and many to convert to Judaism.
Jews authorized to defend themselves, their enemies defeated, Purim established.
Esther is the only book in the Bible that never names God. Yet medieval rabbis noticed that the four letters of the divine name (YHWH) are spelled out as hidden acrostics in a handful of verses, and some old manuscripts even enlarge those letters. God is present, working behind the scenes, without ever being named.
EstherEsther 8:9 is the longest verse in the Bible with 80 words in English. It describes the decree written to protect the Jews throughout the Persian Empire's 127 provinces.
Esther 8:9
