20141006 Monday, October 6 2014
Esther 08: Your Right Of Self Defense

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"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"

The natural, God-given right of self defense is not a man-made "right" that is granted or permitted by any human-led government. While having the inalienable right of self defense formally legislated and recognized by other humans is good, while it lasts, human history has consistently recorded how governments (i.e. mere people - no better or different than those who they claim to govern) have, sooner or later, not only ignored the "legal rights" of some or all of their citizens, but were actually the force that committed atrocities upon their own people.

The Nazi murder of millions of Jews by their own police and government officials is a prime (but only one of countless examples, of all nations, from the past and present) example that no one should ever depend solely upon any human government for their genuinely-lawful personal security. In any truly civilized society, the first line of personal defense has always been one's self, according to the peace-seeking Law of the LORD.

Do not commit murder also prohibits being an accessory to the crime of one's own murder by not defending one's self while awaiting the arrival of police. The Messiah (who Himself was murdered by government officials, "leading" humans, who all knew that He was innocent of any wrongdoing; see Innocent Blood) plainly declared the God-given right of self-defense - and what inevitably happens whenever it is surrendered to other people.

"11:21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 11:22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils." (Luke 11:21-22 KJV).

The people of Judah faced an attempted genocide in the time of Esther, just as they did with the Nazis centuries later. A Persian Visier (in effect, the Prime Minister of the Persian king), Haman, sought to kill all Jews throughout the vast Persian Empire (see Haman's Chess Board Plot and Mordecai's Sackcloth and Ashes). Suddenly, with a simple decree by another mere human, the "legal rights" of a people were replaced by a merciless execution order against them.

Haman's plot was stopped by revealing to the king that Haman, the "leader" of the government at the time, was the actual enemy, not Mordecai who had saved the king's life (see Mordecai In The Persian History Books).

"8:1 On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her. 8:2 And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman." (Esther 8:1-2 KJV)

The Persian king apparently did not know, or care, that his wife Esther was a Jew. The problem remained however because the earlier decree for a genocide of the Jews was still in effect. The king was regarded as "infallible" - his decrees could not be changed.

"8:3 And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. 8:4 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,

8:5 And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces: 8:6 For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?" (Esther 8:3-6 KJV)

The Persian king then issued another decree for the entire empire - from India in Asia to Ethiopia In Africa.

"8:7 Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. 8:8 Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.

8:9 Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language. 8:10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:" (Esther 8:7-10 KJV)

Unlike the present-day people of Judah who have learned to never depend on the security promises of other humans, the Jews of that time were then legally "allowed" to defend themselves from those who attacked them.

"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, 8:12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. 8:13 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

8:14 So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.

8:15 And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. 8:16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. 8:17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them." (Esther 8:11-17 KJV)

Fact Finder: What happened when the people of Israel became powerful but docile "subjects" of their government (i.e. after 400 years of being native-born citizens there) in Egypt? Did they just surrender their children to be murdered?
See The Drawing Of Moses and How Long Were They Slaves?