the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, but they laid no hand on the plunder.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Even though the king had given them full legal permission to seize their enemies' possessions, the Jews deliberately refused to take any plunder. This wasn't just about self-defense; it was a powerful statement that their fight was for survival and justice, not for personal gain.
the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, but they laid no hand on the plunder.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After the Jews received permission to defend themselves, they struck down their enemies throughout the Persian Empire on a specific day. While they were granted the legal right to take their enemies' possessions as plunder, they chose not to, demonstrating that their actions were driven by the necessity of self-preservation rather than greed. This refusal to take spoils underscored their desire for safety and justice, not personal enrichment.
Imagine being granted the legal right to take everything from those who sought to destroy you. What would you do? The Jews faced this exact scenario, yet they made a striking choice.
The decree allowing the Jews to attack their enemies also gave them legal authority to seize their property (Esther 8:11). However, in the midst of their justified self-defense, they deliberately refrained from taking any plunder.
A Clear Motive
This act wasn't about forgetting their enemies; the ten sons of Haman were slain. Instead, it was a powerful statement:
This wasn't just about not taking money; it was about presenting their struggle as a fight for life, not for loot.
The verse doesn't just mention names; it identifies Haman's sons as 'the enemy of the Jews.' This label carries significant weight, connecting their fate to their father's wicked plan.
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The inclusion of 'the enemy of the Jews' directly links Haman's sons to their father's genocidal plot.
Haman's Deep-Seated Malice
Haman the Agagite, referred to as 'the enemy of the Jews' (Esther 3:8-9), had plotted to annihilate all Jewish people in the empire out of sheer hatred and pride.
A Shadow of the Father
By identifying his sons in this way, the text reminds us that their defeat was a consequence of their father's inherited malice and the divine justice enacted against that evil.
Their fate wasn't arbitrary; it was a direct result of their lineage and their implicit connection to their father's destructive ambition.
Understand the original words
oyeb · Hebrew Noun
An adversary, opponent, or one who acts with hostility toward God's people; it represents a personal and systemic opposition to the covenant people.
baz · Hebrew Noun
Goods, spoils, or possessions taken by a victor after a battle; in this specific biblical context, the refusal to take plunder highlights the Jews' focus on defense and justice rather than personal gain or enrichment.
The Jews' refusal to seize plunder, even when granted permission by the king, powerfully demonstrated that their actions were motivated by self-preservation and a desire for justice, not greed or malice. This choice highlighted their commitment to righteousness over personal gain.
c. 483 BC
Haman's Wicked Plot
Haman, a high-ranking official in the Persian Empire, devises a wicked plan to annihilate all the Jews in the empire. He casts lots to determine the date for this extermination.
c. 483 BC
Esther Becomes Queen
Esther, a Jewish woman, becomes the queen of Persia after the king banishes his wife Vashti. She keeps her Jewish identity hidden at first, acting under the guidance of her cousin Mordecai.
c. 483 BC
Esther Reveals Haman's Plot
Esther bravely reveals Haman's plot to King Xerxes and her own Jewish identity, exposing Haman's treachery and saving her people.
c. 483 BC— this verse
The King's Edict
King Xerxes rescinds his earlier decree and issues a new one, allowing the Jews to defend themselves against their enemies on the appointed day. This edict also grants them permission to seize the property of their attackers.
c. 483 BC
The Jews Defeat Their Enemies
On the thirteenth day of Adar, as planned by Haman, the Jews rise up and defeat their enemies throughout the empire. They specifically execute Haman and his ten sons, but they refrain from seizing any plunder.
c. 483 BC
Purim Festival Established
The Jews celebrate their deliverance and establish the festival of Purim to commemorate their victory and God's intervention, continuing to observe it to this day.
This passage highlights Abraham's refusal to take any plunder after a great victory, demonstrating a similar principle of not enriching oneself through conflict, aligning with the Jews' choice to forego Haman's possessions.
Deuteronomy 23:19-20While the context is different, this law concerning interest among Israelites touches on the idea of economic conduct and how it reflects one's heart and relationship with God and others, offering a backdrop to the purity of motive the Jews aimed for.
Matthew 6:33Jesus' teaching to 'seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness' resonates with the Jews' decision to prioritize their safety and honor over material gain, showing a spiritual mindset at work.
1 Samuel 12:3Samuel challenges Israel by asking if he has taken anything from them, emphasizing integrity and selfless leadership; the Jews' refusal to take plunder serves as a practical demonstration of a similar self-sacrificing spirit in the face of danger.
2 Corinthians 11:9Paul mentions how he refused to be a burden to the Corinthians even when in need, illustrating a principle of not seeking personal gain, which parallels the Jews' noble choice to act out of necessity rather than avarice.
bensonEsther 9:10: "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."
Esther 9:10 . But on the spoil laid they not their hand — The king had granted them leave to take it, Esther 8:11 , but they declined to do it; that it might appear what they did was not done out of malice or covetousness, but out of mere necessity, and according to the great law of self-preservation; that they might not so much as seem to desire any thing but…
pooleEsther 9:10: "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."
Either because they were desirous it should come into the king’s treasury; or because they would leave it to their children, that it might appear that what they did that day was not done out of malice to their persons and families, or covetousness of their estates, but out of mere necessity, and by that great and approved law of self-preservation, and that the…
Even though the king had given them full legal permission to seize their enemies' possessions, the Jews deliberately refused to take any plunder. This wasn't just about self-defense; it was a powerful statement that their fight was for survival and justice, not for personal gain.
After the Jews received permission to defend themselves, they struck down their enemies throughout the Persian Empire on a specific day. While they were granted the legal right to take their enemies' possessions as plunder, they chose not to, demonstrating that their actions were driven by the necessity of self-preservation rather than greed. This refusal to take spoils underscored their desire for safety and justice, not personal enrichment.
After the Jews received permission to defend themselves, they struck down their enemies throughout the Persian Empire on a specific day. While they were granted the legal right to take their enemies' possessions as plunder, they chose not to, demonstrating that their actions were driven by the necessity of self-preservation rather than greed. This refusal to take spoils underscored their desire for safety and justice, not personal enrichment.
"the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, but they laid no hand on the plunder." — Even though the king had given them full legal permission to seize their enemies' possessions, the Jews deliberately refused to take any plunder. This wasn't just about self-defense; it was a powerfu…
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Last reviewed October 2026