Nine months had passed (see Esther 8:9), a time that for the Jews would not have been free of suspense. Would Mordecai’s strategy suffice to protect them against their enemies? This verse indicates that there was still a number of enemies of the Jews
who had hoped to gain the mastery over them.
The astrologers had indicated that the thirteenth day of Adar was a favourable day for the annihilation of the Jews (Esther 3:7). However, the plans and superstitions of men cannot prevail against the true God. Instead of being overpowered, the people of God overpowered their enemies.
1 Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s command and edict were about to be carried out, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them.