INTRODUCTION
Purim is a great time of celebration marking deliverance of the Jewish people from the hands of their enemies and is in many ways a dress rehearsal for Passover coming up shortly afterwards.
Purim got its name, because Haman, the enemy of the Jews, cast the “pur” (dice) to establish a date for destroying the Jews since luck and superstition played a central role among the pagans. But God demonstrated as always that no weapon formed against us shall prosper and this has remained the same for the Jewish people and every believer in Yeshua.
At Purim people dress up as one of the characters from the Purim story as a reminder that Esther concealed her Jewish identity until near the end. Another reason is because in the biblical narrative we find that God’s presence seems to be concealed, and yet at all times, He is always in full control and has His perfect timing in everything.
THE STORY OF PURIM
Around 2500 years ago, the Babylonian monarch, Nebuchadnezzar, destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem. The Jewish people were taken from their homeland and exiled to Babylonia. 50 years later, Babylonia was defeated by Persia. Xerxes was the second Persian king who ruled over 127 provinces including India and Ethiopia.
Xerxes chose the city of Shushan as the capital of his empire and celebrated with a lavish feast for his dignitaries that lasted 180 days. Then he made another one just for Shushan. Everyone in the city was invited, including the Jews.
According to tradition, Mordechai, a member of the Sanhedrin, warned his people not to attend the feast but many were afraid to disobey the king or just did not care. Some felt honoured even though it meant compromising their Jewish identity. They feasted for seven days, and ignored the humiliation and scorn of Xerxes who brought the gold and silver vessels from the Temple in Jerusalem and used them during the celebrations.
Xerxes bragged about the beauty of his wife, Queen Vashti. On the last day, he commanded her to come and dance naked before all the guests who had gathered. Instead, Vashti who was the great-granddaughter of King Nebuchadnezzar, refused to appear and in a fit of rage the king had her killed.
To find a new queen, arrangements were made to select a suitable replacement. Women were chosen from throughout the provinces and stayed in the palace where they were prepared for many months until ready to be presented before the king.
In Shushan, there lived a Jewish orphan named Hadassah. She lived with her cousin Mordechai who he adopted and treated as his own daughter. She was chosen as one of the contestants to be the next queen of King Xerxes in a beauty contest. Mordechai encouraged her to comply with everything except to keep her identity secret, so he gave her the Persian name of Esther in place of Hadassah.
Esther received favour, and Xerxes chose her above everyone else as his new queen. Esther appointed seven maidservants, one for each day of the week, so that she would always remember which day was Shabbat. Her meals were cooked with kosher foods and all the while she maintained her secret identity. Meanwhile, Mordechai daily sat outside the palace gate awaiting news from Esther.
One day, whilst Mordechai was sitting by the gate, he overheard two men plotting tokill the king. They had no idea that he, as a member of the Sanhedrin undestood their language and dialect. Immediately, he warned Esther and the two men were caught and executed. Although it was recorded in the royal book that Mordechai the Jew had saved the king, the matter was soon forgotten.
Around this time, Xerxes appointed Haman as his new prime minister. Haman was proud and arrogant, a direct descendant of King Agag the Amalekite who were sworn enemies of the Jewish people. Everyone was ordered to honour Haman and bow down to him, but Mordechai refused. It was permissible to honour Haman as the prime minister, but he adorned a large medallion engraved with the picture of an idol on his chest. By bowing, Mordechai would be honouring the pagan demonic principality that Haman identified with.
Haman was filled with fury and became determined to destroy Mordechai and the people he represented. He went directly to Xerxes and tricked him into gaining permission to destroy the entire Jewish nation. King Xerxes gave Haman his royal ring to seal the orders and decrees. Eager to do a perfect job, Haman wanted to execute his plan on the right day, a lucky day blessed by his gods and the stars. He cast lots (‘Purim’) to choose it. Then he sent out letters, sealed with the king’s royal ring, to each of the 127 provinces in the kingdom. On Adar 13, the decree was distributed:
“You are to destroy, kill and slaughter all Jews, young and old, women and children, all in one day. Their money and property will then belong to you.”
When Mordechai heard about the decree, he grieved deeply but knew instinctively that God would deliver the Jewish people. He told Esther to intercede before King Xerxes. This was a precarious thing to do as Esther well knew, and shewas afraid because it was forbidden to come before the king unless invited. Mordechai reminded Esther: “Who knows if you have not been put in the palace for this very purpose? If you are silent now, help will come to the Jews from some other place, and you will perish!”
To prepare for her meeting with King Xerxes, Esther asked Mordechai to inform all the Jews in Shushan to fast for three days. According to tradition, everyone including all the Jewish children in Shushan interceded fervently for Esther, and in the end it was the prayers of these children which were answered.
The Jews realised now they should never have gone to the king’s feast and eaten at the royal banquet, nor drunk the wine, or used the vessels from the Temple. They believed that all this was now their punishment for fearing Xerxes more than they feared God.
When the three days of prayers and fasting were over, Esther sought an audience with Xerxes who extended his sceptre to her as a sign of his favour. When he inquired what request Esther had, she simply asked that he would, together with Haman, come to a private banquet she was making. During the feast, Xerxes asked again what request she had, but Esther only responded by enigmatically inviting him together with Haman to a second party. Xerxes was puzzled, but Haman filled with pride and arrogance was delighted. On his way out of the palace, he passed Mordechai at the gate and was furious when Mordechai refused to bow down to him. Although he was tempted to kill Mordechai on the spot, he maintained his composure remembering that the ‘Pur’ had been cast and the date of Adar 13 had been determined and was now drawing near. Haman’s wife Zeresh encouraged him to build a gallows 50 cubits high in his own courtyard where he would hang Mordechai at the very first opportunity!
That night, Xerxes could not fall asleep and finally called for his servant to bring out the royal book and read him to sleep. The heavy book fell open to the story of how Mordechai the Jew had warned of the plot against him, and had saved his life.
Xerxes remembered that he had not rewarded Mordechai for his act of loyalty. At that moment, Haman arrived seeking permission to hang Mordechai the Jew.
Xerxes inquired from Haman, “Tell me, what shall be done for a man the king wishes to honour?”
Haman mistakenly thought that Xerxes was referring to him and responded: “Let him wear the king’s royal robes and place the king’s royal crown upon his head. Let him ride the king’s royal horse and let a servant walk before the horse and cry out,’ Thus shall be done to the man whom the king wishes to honour!’”
Xerxes agreed and appointed Haman to arrange all the details. He commanded him to find Mordechai and do exactly as he had described down to the last detail! Haman did as he was told, and Mordechai was led with royal honour through the streets of Shushan. Haman returned home a bitter and broken man. Immediately he was required at the royal palace in time for the queen’s second banquet. Xerxes inquired again from Esther what her request was, and without further hesitation she besought him to spare her life and those of her people. Xerxes immediately demanded to know who dared do such a thing? When Esther responded by naming Haman, he was so angry he stormed out of the room to regain his composure.
Haman suddenly realised that the tables had been turned, and now in desperation threw himself onto the queen’s lap to beg for mercy. At that very moment Xerxes returned and seeing the situation, thought that Haman was attacking Esther. He immediately commanded that Haman be taken away. In the end, Haman and his entire family were hung on the gallows he himself had built for Mordechai, and Mordechai was appointed the king’s new prime minister in his place.
According to Persian law, it was impossible to change a decree stamped with the royal seal, so Ahasuerus could not cancel the one made against the Jews. However, Mordechai was given the royal signet ring to issue whatever new decrees he could think of to help save them.
Now it was Mordechai’s turn to send out a royal letter that stated on Adar 13, all the Jews in the kingdom were permitted to defend themselves. The Persians were more than happy to kill defenceless Jews, but not if they were well armed and organised!
On Adar 13, Jews across the kingdom assembled and God wrought a great deliverance against their enemies. On Adar 14, they gave thanks to God with great celebration.
In the walled capital city of Shushan, the Jews continued to fight an additional day. On Adar 15, they celebrated their victory. Therefore, today the Fast of Esther is celebrated on Adar 13, and Purim on Adar 14. Then, on Adar 15, the main celebration of Shushan Purim is celebrated in the city of Jerusalem.
Raphael ben Levi
