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

In today’s passage is a reference to a Persian law which stated that no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his signet ring could be revoked.  There is a similar reference to such a Persian law in the Book of Daniel.  On the surface this seems like a foolish law which would create all sorts of problems.  However, a law limiting a king’s ability to change edicts he had issued easily also limits the ability of the king so show favoritism.  Whether or not there is such a law is disputed by historians.  There are other stories which appear to be from Ancient Persia which are built around a similar premise.  In any case, this leaves the question of how Mordecai’s edict offset Haman’s edict.  I am not entirely sure about the answer, but I have some thoughts.  Haman’s edict directed people to kill the Jews while Mordecai’s edict gave the Jews permission to assemble to protect themselves. That is the key, Haman’s edict did not give people permission to band together while Mordecai’s did.  People gathering in groups to work together can accomplish more than people working independently; people working together can overcome more opposition than if they try to do so independently.  When we seek to do God’s work we should band together with others who are seeking the same ends.

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