Esther 9:6
And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.
Original Language Analysis
הַיְּהוּדִים֙
the Jews
H3064
הַיְּהוּדִים֙
the Jews
Strong's:
H3064
Word #:
4 of 8
a jehudite (i.e., judaite or jew), or descendant of jehudah (i.e., judah)
וְאַבֵּ֔ד
and destroyed
H6
וְאַבֵּ֔ד
and destroyed
Strong's:
H6
Word #:
5 of 8
properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
Historical Context
Shushan served as the winter capital of the Persian Empire. The palace complex (bîrâ) housed the royal court and administrative center. The concentration of enemies in the capital suggests organized resistance by those who had expected to profit from Haman's planned genocide and now faced ruin.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's justice sometimes work through established legal and governmental systems?
- What does the precision and restraint in this account teach about righteous use of defensive force?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
In Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men (בְּשׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָה הָרְגוּ הַיְּהוּדִים וְאַבֵּד חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת אִישׁ)—The Hebrew hārĕgū (slew) and abbēd (destroyed) are legal terms for execution of judgment, not massacre. Shushan (שׁוּשַׁן), the capital fortress, had concentrated opposition—likely including many who had allied with Haman's genocidal plot.
The specific number (500) in the capital contrasts with 75,000 throughout the empire (v. 16). This precision demonstrates the controlled, judicial nature of the defense. The Jews didn't engage in random slaughter but executed those who actively attacked them under Haman's decree.