Esther 9:16 The rest of the Jews in the royal provinces also assembled to defend themselves and rid themselves of their enemies. They killed 75,000 who hated them, but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

◄ Esther 9:16 ►

New International Version
Meanwhile, the remainder of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also assembled to protect themselves and get relief from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of them but did not lay their hands on the plunder.

New Living Translation
Meanwhile, the other Jews throughout the king’s provinces had gathered together to defend their lives. They gained relief from all their enemies, killing 75,000 of those who hated them. But they did not take any plunder.

English Standard Version
Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also gathered to defend their lives, and got relief from their enemies and killed 75,000 of those who hated them, but they laid no hands on the plunder.

Berean Standard Bible
The rest of the Jews in the royal provinces also assembled to defend themselves and rid themselves of their enemies. They killed 75,000 who hated them, but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

King James Bible
But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,

New King James Version
The remainder of the Jews in the king’s provinces gathered together and protected their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of their enemies; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

New American Standard Bible
Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces assembled, to defend their lives and rid themselves of their enemies, and to kill seventy-five thousand of those who hated them; but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

NASB 1995
Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces assembled, to defend their lives and rid themselves of their enemies, and kill 75,000 of those who hated them; but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

NASB 1977
Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces assembled, to defend their lives and rid themselves of their enemies, and kill 75,000 of those who hated them; but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces assembled, to make a stand for their lives and obtain rest for themselves from their enemies, and to kill 75,000 of those who hated them; but they did not send forth their hand for the plunder.

Amplified Bible
Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces assembled, to defend their lives and rid themselves of their enemies, and kill 75,000 of those who hated them; but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

Christian Standard Bible
The rest of the Jews in the royal provinces assembled, defended themselves, and gained relief from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of those who hated them, but they did not seize any plunder.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The rest of the Jews in the royal provinces assembled, defended themselves, and got rid of their enemies. They killed 75,000 of those who hated them, but they did not seize any plunder.

American Standard Version
And the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of them that hated them seventy and five thousand; but on the spoil they laid not their hand.

English Revised Version
And the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of them that hated them seventy and five thousand; but on the spoil they laid not their hand.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The other Jews who were in the king's provinces had also assembled to defend and free themselves from their enemies. They killed 75,000 of those who hated them, but they did not seize any of their possessions.

Good News Translation
The Jews in the provinces also organized and defended themselves. They rid themselves of their enemies by killing seventy-five thousand people who hated them. But they did no looting.

International Standard Version
The rest of the Jewish people in the king's provinces assembled to defend themselves, and they gained relief from their enemies, killing 75,000 of those who hated them. But they did not lay their hands on the spoils.

Majority Standard Bible
The rest of the Jews in the royal provinces also assembled to defend themselves and rid themselves of their enemies. They killed 75,000 who hated them, but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

NET Bible
The rest of the Jews who were throughout the provinces of the king assembled in order to stand up for themselves and to have rest from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of their adversaries, but they did not confiscate their property.

New Heart English Bible
The other Jews who were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, defended their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of those who hated them; but they did not lay their hand on the plunder.

Webster's Bible Translation
But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces assembled, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, (but they laid not their hands on the prey.)

World English Bible
The other Jews who were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, defended their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of those who hated them; but they didn’t lay their hand on the plunder.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the rest of the Jews, who [are] in the provinces of the king, have been assembled, even to stand for their life, and to rest from their enemies, and to slay seventy-five thousand among those hating them, and they have not put forth their hand on the prey;

Young's Literal Translation
And the rest of the Jews, who are in the provinces of the king, have been assembled, even to stand for their life, and to rest from their enemies, and to slay among those hating them five and seventy thousand, and on the prey they have not put forth their hand;

Smith's Literal Translation
And the rest of the Jews which were in the king's provinces gathered together and stood for their soul, and rested from their enemies, and slew among their enemies five and seventy thousand; and upon the prey they sent not their hand.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Moreover through all the provinces which were subject to the king's dominion the Jews stood for their lives, and slew their enemies and persecutors: insomuch that the number of them that were Billed amounted to seventy-five thousand, and no man took any of their goods.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Moreover, throughout all the provinces which were subject to the king’s dominion, the Jews made a stand for their lives, and they executed their enemies and their persecutors, so much so that the number of those who were killed amounted to seventy-five thousand, and yet no one touched any of their belongings.

New American Bible
The other Jews, who dwelt in the royal provinces, also mustered and defended themselves, and obtained rest from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of those who hated them, but they did not engage in plunder.

New Revised Standard Version
Now the other Jews who were in the king’s provinces also gathered to defend their lives, and gained relief from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of those who hated them; but they laid no hands on the plunder.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the rest of the Jews who were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together to defend their lives, and had rest from their enemies and slew of those who hated them seventy-five thousand, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the rest of the Jews who were in the provinces of the King were assembled, and they stood for their lives and were given rest from their enemies, and they killed seventy and five thousand of their haters, and they did not stretch forth their hands for the spoils

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of them that hated them seventy and five thousand--but on the spoil they laid not their hand--

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the rest of the Jews who were in the kingdom assembled, and helped one another, and obtained rest from their enemies: for they destroyed fifteen thousand of them on the thirteenth day of Adar, but took no spoil.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Haman's Sons Hanged
…15On the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, the Jews in Susa came together again and put to death three hundred men there, but they did not lay a hand on the plunder. 16The rest of the Jews in the royal provinces also assembled to defend themselves and rid themselves of their enemies. They killed 75,000 who hated them, but they did not lay a hand on the plunder. 17This was done on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested, making it a day of feasting and joy.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Esther 8:11
By these letters the king permitted the Jews in each and every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province hostile to them, including women and children, and to plunder their possessions.

Esther 3:13
And the letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces with the order to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—and to plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.

Esther 4:14
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Esther 7:10
So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the fury of the king subsided.

Esther 8:17
In every province and every city, wherever the king’s edict and decree reached, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many of the people of the land themselves became Jews, because the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.

Esther 9:1-2
On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the king’s command and edict were to be executed. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but their plan was overturned and the Jews overpowered those who hated them. / In each of the provinces of King Xerxes, the Jews assembled in their cities to attack those who sought to harm them. No man could withstand them, because the fear of them had fallen upon all peoples.

Esther 2:10
Esther did not reveal her people or her lineage, because Mordecai had instructed her not to do so.

Esther 5:14
His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a gallows fifty cubits high, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.” The advice pleased Haman, and he had the gallows constructed.

Esther 6:13
Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has begun, is Jewish, you will not prevail against him—for surely you will fall before him.”

Esther 7:3-4
Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, grant me my life as my petition, and the lives of my people as my request. / For my people and I have been sold out to destruction, death, and annihilation. If we had merely been sold as menservants and maidservants, I would have remained silent, because no such distress would justify burdening the king.”

Esther 8:5-6
“If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if I have found favor in his sight, and the matter seems proper to the king, and I am pleasing in his sight, may an order be written to revoke the letters that the scheming Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. / For how could I bear to see the disaster that would befall my people? How could I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?”

Esther 9:5
The Jews put all their enemies to the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did as they pleased to those who hated them.

Esther 9:10
They killed these ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

Esther 9:13
Esther replied, “If it pleases the king, may the Jews in Susa also have tomorrow to carry out today’s edict, and may the bodies of Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the gallows.”

Esther 9:22
as the days on which the Jews gained rest from their enemies and the month in which their sorrow turned to joy and their mourning into a holiday. He wrote that these were to be days of feasting and joy, of sending gifts to one another and to the poor.

Treasury of Scripture

But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,

gathered themselves.

Esther 9:2,13
The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people…

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,

Psalm 118:7-12
The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me…

but on the prey.

Esther 9:10,16
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…

1 Thessalonians 5:22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Jump to Previous

Assembled Defend Defended Enemies Five Foes Gathered Hand Hands Hated Jews Kill Killed King's Lay Meanwhile Other Plunder Prey Protect Provinces Relief Remainder Rest Rid Seventy Seventy-Five Slew Spoil Stood Themselves Thousand Together

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Esther 9

1. The Jews slay their enemies, with the ten sons of Haman.
12. Xerxes, at the request of Esther,
14. grants another day of slaughter, and Haman's sons to be hanged.
20. The two days of Purim are instituted.

Berean Study Bible

The rest of the Jews
This phrase refers to the Jewish people living throughout the vast expanse of the Persian Empire, which stretched from India to Ethiopia. The term "rest" indicates that these Jews were not in the capital city of Susa, where Esther and Mordecai resided, but were spread across the provinces. Historically, this highlights the widespread dispersion of the Jewish people, known as the Diaspora, which began with the Babylonian exile. The unity among the Jews, despite their geographical separation, underscores their shared identity and faith.

in the king’s provinces
The Persian Empire was divided into provinces, each governed by a satrap. This administrative structure allowed for efficient control over a vast and diverse empire. The mention of "the king’s provinces" emphasizes the reach of King Xerxes' (Ahasuerus) decree, which was facilitated by the extensive communication networks of the empire, including the famous Royal Road. This context highlights the miraculous nature of the Jews' deliverance, as it occurred across such a vast territory.

also assembled
The act of assembling indicates a deliberate and organized effort by the Jewish communities. In Hebrew, the root word for "assembled" can imply gathering for a specific purpose, often with a sense of urgency or necessity. This assembly was not merely a defensive measure but a fulfillment of the decree that allowed them to protect themselves. It reflects the biblical principle of community and collective action in the face of adversity.

to protect themselves
The phrase underscores the defensive nature of the Jews' actions. They were not aggressors but were responding to a threat against their lives. The Hebrew root for "protect" conveys the idea of safeguarding or preserving life, which aligns with the biblical theme of God as a protector of His people. This self-defense was sanctioned by the king's edict, which reversed the earlier decree that had authorized their destruction.

and rid themselves of their enemies
This phrase indicates the complete removal of those who sought to harm the Jews. The Hebrew root for "rid" can imply a purging or cleansing, suggesting a thorough and decisive action. Historically, this reflects the precarious position of the Jews in exile, often facing hostility from surrounding peoples. The victory over their enemies is seen as a divine intervention, consistent with the biblical narrative of God delivering His people.

They killed seventy-five thousand of their enemies
The specific number, seventy-five thousand, highlights the scale of the threat against the Jews and the magnitude of their victory. In the ancient world, numbers often carried symbolic significance, and large numbers could indicate completeness or totality. This victory is reminiscent of other biblical accounts where God delivers His people against overwhelming odds, reinforcing the theme of divine providence and protection.

but did not lay their hands on the plunder
This phrase is significant as it demonstrates the moral and ethical restraint of the Jewish people. In ancient warfare, taking plunder was common practice, often seen as a reward for victory. However, the Jews' refusal to take plunder aligns with the biblical principle of justice and righteousness. It echoes the earlier account of King Saul's failure to fully obey God's command regarding the Amalekites, where taking plunder was a sign of disobedience. Here, the Jews' actions reflect their commitment to God's laws and their desire to act with integrity.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(16) Seventy and five thousand.--The number as given in the LXX. is fifteen thousand, perhaps a more probable number. On the whole history, Bishop Wordsworth well remarks, "It shows the recklessness of human life, even of their own subjects, which then prevailed among the sovereigns of the most celebrated nations of the Eastern world; and it displays the ruinous consequences which would have resulted to human civilisation if Ahasuerus (Xerxes) had been victorious at Salamis. If Greece had not triumphed in that struggle with Asia, Oriental ruthlessness and Oriental polygamy might have become dominant in the West, and greater difficulties would have obstructed the progress of civilisation and Christianity. The Book of Esther reveals to us that the hand of God wrought for the deliverance of mankind at the Straits of Salamis, and on the banks of the Asopus at Plataea, as well as for the preservation of the Jews in the provinces of Persia."

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 16. - Gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives. i.e. did as the edict directed them (Esther 8:11). And had rest from their enemies. The idea of "rest" seems out of place when the subject of the narrative is slaughter, and the number of the slain has still to be told. Some suspect corruption, others an interpolation. And slew of their foes seventy and five thousand. The LXX. had in their copies fifteen for seventy-five, or one-fifth of the received number. The smaller number is more in harmony with the 500 killed at Susa than the larger one. FESTIVAL HELD, AND FEAST OF PURIM INSTITUTED (Esther 9:17-32). A natural instinct led the Jews, so soon as their triumph was accomplished, to indulge themselves in a day of rest and rejoicing (ver. 17). After toil there is need of repose; and escape from a great danger is followed, almost of necessity, by "gladness." The writer of the Book of Esther, practising his usual reticence, says nothing of the character of the "gladness;" but we can scarcely be wrong in believing it to have been, in the main, religious, and to have included gratitude to God for their deliverance, the ascription of praise to his name, and an outpouring of the heart before him in earnest and prolonged thanksgiving. The circumstances of the struggle caused a difference, with regard to the date of the day of rejoicing, between the Jews of the capital and those of the provinces. The metropolitical Jews had two days of struggle, and could not "rest" until the third day, which was the 15th of Adar (ver. 18); the provincial Jews began and ended their work in one day, the 13th, and so their thanksgiving-day was the 14th, and not the 15th of the month (ver. 17). The consequence was, that when Mordecai and Esther determined on commemorating the wonderful deliverance of their time by an annual festival, analogous to that of the passover, to be celebrated by all Jews everywhere throughout all future ages, some hesitation naturally arose as to the proper day to be kept holy. If the 14th were kept, the provincial Jews would be satisfied, but those of Susa would have cause of complaint; if the 15th were the day selected, the two parties would simply exchange feelings. Under these circumstances it was wisely resolved to keep both days (ver. 21). Nothing seems to have been determined as to the mode of keeping the feast, except that both days were to be "days of feasting and joy," and days upon which the richer members of the community should send "portions" and "gifts" to the poorer ones (ver. 22). The name, "feast of Purina," was at once attached to the festival, in memory of Haman's consultation of the lot, the word "Pur" meaning "lot" in Persian (ver. 24). The festival became a national institution by the general consent of the Jews everywhere (ver. 27), and has remained to the present day among the most cherished of their usages, it falls in early spring, a month before the passover, and occupies two days, which are still those fixed by Mordecai and Esther, the 14th and 15th of Adar. The day preceding the feast is observed as a fast day, in commemoration of Esther's fast before going in uninvited to the king (Esther 4:16).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

The rest
וּשְׁאָ֣ר (ū·šə·’ār)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7605: Rest, residue, remnant

of the Jews
הַיְּהוּדִ֡ים (hay·yə·hū·ḏîm)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3064: Jews -- Jewish

in the royal
הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

provinces
בִּמְדִינ֨וֹת (bim·ḏî·nō·wṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 4082: A judgeship, jurisdiction, a district, a region

also assembled
נִקְהֲל֣וּ ׀ (niq·hă·lū)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6950: To gather as an assembly or congregation

to defend
וְעָמֹ֣ד (wə·‘ā·mōḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

themselves
נַפְשָׁ֗ם (nap̄·šām)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

and rid themselves
וְנ֙וֹחַ֙ (wə·nō·w·aḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 5118: Rested,

of their enemies.
מֵאֹ֣יְבֵיהֶ֔ם (mê·’ō·yə·ḇê·hem)
Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 341: Hating, an adversary

They killed
וְהָרֹג֙ (wə·hā·rōḡ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 2026: To smite with deadly intent

75,000
חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה (ḥă·miš·šāh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 2568: Five

who hated them,
בְּשֹׂ֣נְאֵיהֶ֔ם (bə·śō·nə·’ê·hem)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8130: To hate

but did not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

lay
שָֽׁלְח֖וּ (šā·lə·ḥū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

a hand
יָדָֽם׃ (yā·ḏām)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3027: A hand

on the plunder.
וּבַ֨בִּזָּ֔ה (ū·ḇab·biz·zāh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 961: Spoil, booty

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OT History: Esther 9:16 The other Jews who were (Est Esth. Es)