INTRODUCTION: Though it seemed at one time all hope was gone for the Jews, God brought deliverance in the end. When God delivered, it was not just a partial deliverance. He gave an absolute, miraculous deliverance from Haman and from the decree to destroy the Jews. We can learn much about the power and goodness of God from this lesson.

1. ESTHER’S PETITION (Esther 7:1-6 [1] So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. [2] And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom. [3] Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: [4] For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. [5] Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? [6] And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
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1. The Second Banquet (Esther 7:1-2 [1] So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. [2] And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.
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1. With the king and Haman (Esther 7:1So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
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2. With the king’s promise (Esther 7:2And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.
   See All...; compare Jeremiah 33:3Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
   See All...; Matthew 7:7-11 [7] Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: [8] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. [9] Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? [10] Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? [11] If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
   See All...; Philippians 4:6
   See All...; James 4:2Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
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1. Her petition to be granted
2. Her request to be performed to the half of the kingdom (Mark 6:23And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.
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2. Her Request for Deliverance (Esther 7:3-4 [3] Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: [4] For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.
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1. For her life (Esther 7:3Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:
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1. If she had found favour in the sight of the king
2. If it pleased the king
2. For the life of her people (Esther 7:3-4 [3] Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: [4] For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.
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1. They were sold.
2. They were given to be destroyed.
3. For the king’s benefit (Esther 7:4For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.
   See All...; Genesis 12:1-3 [1] Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: [2] And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: [3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
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1. Slavery would have been a better option.
2. For slavery, Esther would have held her tongue.
3. But the king’s loss would still have been great. Note: countervail means to make up for; that is, Esther’s people were valuable to the king and no matter how much Haman (“the enemy”) might pay for their destruction (Esther 4:7And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.
   See All...), he could not recompense the king for their loss.
3. Her Revelation of the Enemy (Esther 7:5-6 [5] Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? [6] And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
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1. At the king’s request (Esther 7:5Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?
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1. Who was this man?
2. Where was this man?
3. Who would dare do this thing?
2. Before the king’s face (Esther 7:6And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
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1. He was the wicked Haman.
2. Haman was afraid.
2. HAMAN’S DEATH (Esther 7:7-10 [7] And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. [8] Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. [9] And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. [10] So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
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1. The Anger of the King (Esther 7:7-8 [7] And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. [8] Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.
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1. The king’s walk in the garden (Esther 7:7And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
   See All...a)
1. He arose in his wrath.
2. He went to the palace garden.
2. Haman’s pleading with Esther (Esther 7:7And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
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1. He stood to make request for his life.
2. He saw the evil determined against him (1 Samuel 25:17Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.
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3. The king’s accusation against Haman (Esther 7:8Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.
   See All...a; compare Esther 3:8And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.
   See All...; Psalm 7:14-16 [14] Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. [15] He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. [16] His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
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1. The king returned from the garden.
2. Haman was on Esther’s bed pleading for his life.
3. The king accused Haman of attacking Esther. Note: just as Haman made false accusations against the Jews, so Haman in the end received a false accusation against him.
4. The covering of Haman’s face (Esther 7:8Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.
   See All...b; Romans 3:19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
   See All...); one day the rejecters of God will not be permitted to speak for themselves any more.
2. The Hanging of Haman (Esther 7:9-10 [9] And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. [10] So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
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1. The discovery of Haman’s gallows (Esther 7:9And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
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2. The death of the Jews’ enemy (Esther 7:10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
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3. MORDECAI’S PROMOTION (Esther 8:1-8 [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. [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. [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. [4] Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king, [5] And said, If it please the king, and if I have 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: [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? [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] 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.
   See All...; Psalm 75:6-7 [6] For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. [7] But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
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1. The Gifts of the King (Esther 8:1-2 [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. [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.
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1. The house of Haman to Esther (Esther 8:1On 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.
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2. The king’s ring to Mordecai (Esther 8:2And 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.
   See All...; compare Esther 3:10And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
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1. The king’s ring was taken from Haman.
2. The king’s ring was given to Mordecai.
3. Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
2. The Queen’s Second Petition (Esther 8:3-6 [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. [4] Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king, [5] And said, If it please the king, and if I have 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: [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?
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1. Her entrance to the king (Esther 8:3-4 [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. [4] Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,
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1. She approached the throne yet again (Esther 8:3And 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.
   See All...).
2. The king held out the golden scepter (Esther 8:4Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,
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2. Her request for a reverse decree (Esther 8:5-6 [5] And said, If it please the king, and if I have 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: [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?
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3. The Commissioning of Mordecai (Esther 8:7-8 [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] 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.
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1. His blessings to Esther (Esther 8:7Then 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.
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2. His blessings on the Jews (Esther 8:8Write 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.
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4. THE KING’S DECREE (Esther 8:9-14 [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. [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: [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, [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. [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. [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.
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1. The Writing of the Decree (Esther 8:9-10 [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. [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:
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1. To every people (Esther 8:9Then 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.
   See All...; this is the longest verse in the Bible.)
1. Written on the 23rd day of the 3rd month (Sivan)
2. Written according to Mordecai’s commandment
3. Sent to the 127 provinces of Persia
4. Given to all according to their own language
2. In the king’s name (Esther 8:10And 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:
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2. The Content of the Decree (Esther 8:11-12 [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, [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.
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1. That the Jews protect themselves (Esther 8:11Wherein 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,
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2. On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (Esther 8:12Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
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3. The Publishing of the Decree (Esther 8:13-14 [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. [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.
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1. The making of the copies (Esther 8:13The 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.
   See All...)
2. The sending of the posts (Esther 8:14So 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.
   See All...; compare Psalm 2:7I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
   See All...; Psalm 60:4Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.
   See All...; Psalm 68:11The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
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5. THE JEWS’ GLADNESS (Esther 8:15-17 [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. [16] The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. [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.
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1. The Clothing of Mordecai (Esther 8:15And 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.
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1. Royal apparel of blue and white
2. A great crown of gold
3. A garment of fine linen and purple
4. Among the rejoicing of the city of Shushan
2. The Joy of the Jews (Esther 8:16-17 [16] The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. [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.
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1. The happiness of the Jews (Esther 8:16The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
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2. The feasting of the Jews (Esther 8:17And 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.
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3. The outreach of the Jews (Esther 8:17And 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.
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1. Many people became Jews.
2. The fear of the Jews fell on them (Zechariah 8:20-23 [20] Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: [21] And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. [22] Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. [23] Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
   See All...).

CONCLUSION: One of our great joys is to see God work out insurmountable problems in His own special way. This working of God to bring all things together for good in the lives of believers is called providence. We must thank God for His providential working.