Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative records the actions of the Jewish forces in Susa immediately after the execution of Haman’s ten sons. It occurs at the conclusion of the day’s retaliatory strikes, just before the official casualty count is delivered to the king.
The words — The supplied Hebrew includes צֹרֵר (tzo.Rer), meaning "the opposer of," and הָרָ֑גוּ (ha.Ra.gu), meaning "they killed." These terms directly identify Haman’s role as the adversary and mark the completed act of execution.
The thread — The explicit rejection of plunder parallels the refusal to take even a thread in Genesis 14:23. The subsequent reporting of the death toll connects directly to the narrative sequence in Esther 9:11, while the defensive action fulfills the royal permission granted in Esther 8:11.
Why it lands — The text states that the fighters killed the specified individuals but deliberately avoided taking spoils. It requires the reader to acknowledge that maintaining ethical boundaries during conflict holds priority over material acquisition.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Esther 5:11 Haman recounted to them his glorious wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored and promoted him over the other officials and servants.
- 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.
- Genesis 14:23 that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’
- Job 18:18 He is driven from light into darkness and is chased from the inhabited world.
- Job 27:13 This is the wicked man’s portion from God—the heritage the ruthless receive from the Almighty.
- Exodus 17:16 “Indeed,” he said, “a hand was lifted up toward the throne of the LORD. The LORD will war against Amalek from generation to generation.”
- Exodus 20:5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
- Esther 3:1 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him.
- Esther 7:4 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 7:6 Esther replied, “The adversary and enemy is this wicked man—Haman!” And Haman stood in terror before the king and queen.