Edict vs. Edict

The critical events of the book of Esther all tumble like dominoes in the period of one week.

In a period of less than a week Mordecai goes from sackcloth and ashes to royal robes and a golden crown. Esther goes from a secret Jew content to live like a pagan to the point where she lies tear stained at the feet of the king pleading for the life of her people. (Should we not think of this as conversion for Esther?) Haman was prime minister of Persia, six days later he hangs dead.

This chapter contains a difficulty. For Mordecai's edict contains an order for the death of women and children? What should we do with something like that? How do we understand it? This sermon offers three explanations for such passages.