In the twelfth month of the year (for them that would be Adar) on the thirteenth, the Jews began to band together for the things that were coming.
All of the kings soldiers decided to help the Jews save themselves, mostly because they were afraid of what Mordecai, who was growing in power, would do to them.
So the people attacked the Jews and the Jews fought back, killing five hundred people in Shushan. So the people began to fear the Jews.
The Jews also captured Haman's ten sons.
When the number of those who had been slain was brought before the king, he was not upset, as one would expect. Instead he told Esther how many had been slain in Shushan, and that the ten sons of Haman were captured, but he wanted to know what the Jews had done in the rest of his kingdom, since it seemed like they hadn't done much.
So he asked her if she had any other requests. So Esther asked her husband (who seems to have been talking to her regularly now) if he would have Haman's sons hung, and to extend the fighting for another day.
So the king obliged her wish, and the Jews defended themselves a second day. The Jews in Shushan killed 300 more men, the Jews in the rest of the kingdom killed seventy-five thousand. And, even though they were allowed to, they didn't take the spoils of those they defeated.
After that, the Jews decided to have a day of celebration, because God had saved them. Because Haman had taken a gamble with lives to destroy his enemies, they decided to call the holiday Purim, the word Pur being, the lot or to gamble.
So Esther and Mordecai sent letters saying that Purim was to remembered by the Jews in ever country, every city, every home, for all generations to come, because God had delivered their people.
And Mordecai became a great man, with more power than any man but the king himself. His name is recorded in the books of the king's records in Media and Persia.
The Jews were all saved because one woman decided to trust God and be brave.
No matter what trials are placed before you, remember that God's hand is in it all. Stand up strong and brave, because who knows?
You could be here for such a time as this.
Cheers and God bless!
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