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Purim: Chag Sameach!

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This week, the Jewish people will be celebrating Purim. Purim, like most of the Jewish feasts, commemorates God’s deliverance of Israel from yet another attempted annihilation, this time in the kingdom of Persia (modern-day Iran.)

While this holiday is a time of feasting, the giving of gifts, and joy, we need to see the importance of understanding the purpose of God not only in the Purim story but especially in connection with what the nation of Israel is going through at this time.

In the Book of Esther, the dramatic story of Purim is full of twists and turns. The evil Haman, second only to the king of Persia, who was demonically inspired, is a type and shadow of the antichrist. His hatred of the Jewish people prompted him to devise a plan for their annihilation.

However, at the end of the story, there is a reversal of fate (naafoh-hu in Hebrew) as the people intended for annihilation become victorious.

“So they called these days Purim, after the name Pur (casting of lots)…the Jews established…throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city…that they should celebrate these two days of Purim every year…and that the memory of them should not perish among their descendants.”  (Esther 9:26-28)

Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. It is held on the 14th day of the month of Adar, which this year falls on March 13-14. Purim celebrations include masquerading in masks and costumes, sending packages of sweets, and giving charity to the poor. During the Purim celebration, the entire book of Esther is read in Jewish synagogues around the world. It was originally a scroll handwritten on parchment called a Megillah in Hebrew.

Bella and Simcha dressed as Queen Esther and the King for Purim a few years ago.

Bella and Simcha dressed as Queen Esther and the King for Purim a few years ago.

The story of Purim is actually quite serious: about a time of grave danger for the Jewish people, and an inspiring Jewish woman—Esther—whose great faith and courage God used to save the Jewish people from annihilation. Even though God’s name is not mentioned in the story of Esther, his hand is visibly working.

Click here to read the rest of the story of the miracle of Purim.

There have been other Hamans through the generations with the same plan, a final solution to annihilate all the Jews. Behind all of them is the same arch-enemy of Israel, the enemy of God – Satan. But the victory belongs to the Lord, He is Israel’s protector.

The Jewish people have faced many enemies throughout history, and still do. One nation after another, one leader after another has tried to cause their total annihilation. But not one of them has succeeded. Israel is still a nation today, Am Israel Chai (the people of Israel live.)

Israel is the only nation existing today that is called by God’s name, El means God. The name Israel was picked by God when He changed Jacob’s name to Israel.

Through the prophet Isaiah God said that He not only chose Israel to be His people but created Israel for a purpose:

“1. But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name;

3. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior…

7. Whom I have created for My glory…

10. “You are My witnesses,” says the Lord,

12. Therefore you are My witnesses,” Says the Lord, “that I am God…

15. I am the Lord, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King”

20. My people, My chosen.

21. This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise. You are Mine.”  

(assorted verses from Isaiah 43)

According to God’s words in the above prophecy, God chose to create the nation of Israel for His glory, to be His witness that He is God, and to declare His praise. The main purpose of Israel is to bless the world with His Salvation through Yeshua/Jesus the Jewish Messiah, the savior of the world.

Therefore, Israel and the Jewish people became the target of Satan, the adversary. Satan’s purpose was, and still is, to destroy Israel so God’s plan and purpose will not come to be. However, God has always emerged as the victorious one, and He always will, Satan is a defeated foe.

Ever since the State of Israel was reestablished in 1948, and the Jews have come back to the land of Promise, and are still coming, enemies are all around Israel’s borders, constantly threatening the nation’s very existence. But with God’s protection, Israel is stronger than ever.

Present Day Concerns

Now Israel is at war against the enemy whose creed is the destruction of Israel as the nation of the Jews. Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement), a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, still refers to the land of Israel as Palestine and claims that it is a sacred Islamic land. It categorically denies Israel’s right to exist and has declared jihad, a holy war against the Jewish state, rejecting any recognition of Israeli sovereignty.

Hamas, as well as the Palestinian Authority, uses severe anti-Semitic hateful rhetoric against Israel and the Jewish people, promoting and legitimizing terror acts against them. Their education is replete with caricatures and portrayals of Jews as meriting humiliation, involved in global conspiracies, and responsible for major conflicts throughout world history.

To express their indiscriminate killing of Jews, Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel’s southern border on October 7, 2023, committing atrocities against innocent Israeli citizens.

While Israel fights Iran’s proxies, there remains the threat from the Iranian regime that has announced time and again that Israel will be wiped off the map of the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has warned continually against the existential threat to Israel posed by the possibility of a nuclear Iran.

There is a need for prayer and supplication, to come before the King of Kings and intercede for His people against the enemy’s threats, from without and within. However, along with the deliverance of Israel from her physical enemies as in the time of Esther, there is a need to fast and pray for Israel’s spiritual salvation. Will the Body of Yeshua be silent for Zion’s sake?

We know from God’s word that salvation will come to Israel. The question is what role will the body of Messiah play? We ask you to stand with us in prayer and supplication, in the face of the evil and wickedness of Israel’s enemies once again. And “who knows whether you have come to the Kingdom for such a time as this.”

“Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. He made a pit and dug it out, and has fallen into the ditch which he made. His trouble shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.”   

Psalm 7:14-16

Back to the the book of Esther in the Bible

In the book of Esther, on the same date, the 13th day of the twelfth month – the month of Adar – when the enemies of the Jews had hoped to destroy them, a new edict and decree of the king was executed. On that day, the opposite occurred (Haafoh hu in Hebrew) in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them.

“The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all people.”    

Esther 9:1-2

God, the protector of Israel, warns any nation not to touch the Apple of His eye.

Please Pray

Pray that God will give Israel’s leaders wisdom and strategy on how to win this never-ending battle to destroy Israel and usurp land the God of Israel has given to His people. Pray for divine strategies to protect the land and its citizens from the surrounding enemies.

We are praying for a Purim miracle this year, as in the book of Esther where there was a turnaround – Naafoh hu. May the enemy’s goal of the destruction and annihilation of the Jewish people come upon themselves. May Hamas be destroyed and Israel saved. Amen.

“Don’t think that you (Queen Esther) alone will be saved out of all the Jews just because you are in the king’s palace. If you keep silent at this time…relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another source… “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.”

A Great Miracle Happened Here, Then and Now

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NOT BY MIGHT, NOR BY POWER, BUT BY MY SPIRIT, SAYS THE LORD
(Zech. 4:6)

Yeshua was in the Temple for the Celebration of the Dedication (Hanukka) of the Temple at the time of the Maccabees.

Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Yeshua walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch…“I and the Father are one.”
(John 10:22, 23, 30)

Tomorrow evening, Israel and Jews around the world will celebrate the beginning of the holiday of Hanukkah, which falls this year on the same day Christians celebrate Christmas. [click here to read the article: Christmas and the Jews]

Hanukkah (dedication) is a holiday of miracles. It commemorates the miraculous victory of a small army of brave Jews over the Syrian/Greek much bigger and better-equipped army, and the liberation of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem from the hands of the pagan ruler Antiochus Epiphanes (read more in the article about the historical account of Hanukkah.)

One of the benedictions Jews say when lighting the candles of the Hanukiah (Hanukkah candelabra) is: “We light the candles for the miracles that You have done for our forefathers in days of old, and are still doing today.”

The “dreidel,” or top that children play with, has four sides, each with a Hebrew letter which together says, “Nes Godal Haya Poe,” meaning “a great miracle happened here.”

In the Oral Law that was written in 500 CE, legend tells us (this does not appear in the historical account in the book of the Maccabees) that the Maccabees upon reclaiming and cleansing the Temple discovered that all of the oil to light the Temple’s menorah had been defiled except for one cruse. That cruse had just enough oil to light the Menorah for one day, but by a miracle of God it continued to burn for eight days.  

In all the wars Israel had to fight against her hostile neighbors, many miracles caused the tiny nation to survive and thrive.

Today, Israel is facing fierce and violent enemies from the north to the south whose aim is to wipe Israel off the map. But if God is for us, who can be against us?

The Full Story of Hanukkah

After the untimely death of Alexander the Great, the Greek Empire was divided into four kingdoms, (see also the prophecies of Daniel)

In 174 B.C.E, Antiochus IV ruled the Seleucus Hellenistic empire that included the Middle Eastern territories (what is today Israel, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, and Lebanon.)

He was a harsh, arrogant, and cruel tyrant who proclaimed himself a god, and called himself Epiphanies— meaning “the gods’ beloved.”

With the influence of Hellenism – idol worship and the Syrian-Greek lifestyle that emphasized physical human beauty – the Israelites were divided between Hellenistic Jews and Jews who worshiped the invisible God of Israel, obeying His Torah commandments.

Antiochus Epiphanies replaced the righteous High Priest Yochanan with his Hellenistic brother, Jason, to serve in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after Jason bribed the king for the position. Later, King Antiochus replaced Jason with Menelaus, who offered King Antiochus an even greater bribe.

Fearing Jewish rebellion for his actions, Antiochus sent his armies to invade Jerusalem.

The Holy Temple was desecrated and plundered. Antiochus arrogantly entered the temple and stole precious vessels of silver and gold as well as hidden treasure.

An unclean pig – forbidden by Jewish law – was sacrificed on God’s Holy altar which was replaced by an unholy altar to the pagan god, Zeus.

The Jews were forced to bow before Zeus under penalty of death. Syrian soldiers forced the Jews to eat forbidden foods and to engage in other immoral acts.

Antiochus then enacted a series of harsh decrees forbidding Jewish worship, including sacrifices and atonements according to the Law of God; Sabbath rest; the celebrations of the festival days, and the learning and teaching of the Torah. Torah scrolls were confiscated and burned while circumcision and the dietary laws were prohibited under the penalty of death.

Many innocent people were massacred for refusing to eat pork that was forced on them by Antiochus’ men, who went from town to town and from village to village to force the citizens to worship pagan gods.

The Syrians even pursued the Jews to the one remaining refuge area, the hills of Judea with their caves, and many Jews died there too and the survivors were heavily taxed.

Many Jews complied with the king’s commands either voluntarily or out of fear of the penalty of death. However, most God-fearing Jews did not comply with Antiochus’ commands and were willing to take the punishment of great suffering, torment, and death.

They were whipped with rods and their bodies torn to pieces. While they were still alive, they were crucified. 

Women who circumcised their baby sons were strangled and their sons were hanged by their necks. Any Torah books that were found were destroyed and their owners were killed.

The honorable, old priest, Mattityahu the Hashmonite, who lived in the village of Modiin with his sons and brothers, was determined to remain loyal to the covenant of the God of Israel and to obey only His commandments. They refused to offer sacrifices to the Greek gods on the altar that the Syrians had built in the village marketplace.

In his jealousy for the God of Israel, old Mattityahu slaughtered a Hellenistic Jew who approached the altar to offer a sacrifice to the foreign gods.

Then, together with his sons and friends, Mattityahu attacked the Syrian officers, killing many of them and chasing the rest away. They then destroyed the altar.

Mattityahu called with a loud voice in Hebrew: “Mi La’Adonai Ela-eye” (whoever is for our God, let him follow me.)

Knowing that Antiochus would send his soldiers to retaliate and punish them, Mattityahu and his sons and friends fled to the Judean hills. Many loyal and courageous Jews joined them in answer to Mattityahu’s call.

They formed a small army and from time to time came out of their hiding places to attack enemy outposts, and to destroy the pagan altars Antiochus had erected.

Old Mattityahu, nearing his time to die, gathered his sons and urged them to continue to fight in defense of God’s Torah, even at the risk of losing their lives for the cause of keeping God’s covenant.

He appointed his son, Shimon the Wise, as an adviser and his son, Judah the Strong and Courageous, to be the military leader.

Judah was called “Maccabee” – a word composed of the initial letters of the four Hebrew words Mi Kamocha Ba’eilim YHWH, “Who is like You, O God.” Exodus 15:11.)

Maccabee also means “big hammer” in Hebrew as Judah’s attacks were hard like big hammers.

Antiochus sent his general, Apolonius, to destroy the small army of Yehuda the Maccabee. However, the greater and better-equipped Syrians were defeated.

Antiochus then sent Seron, captain of the army of Syria, to fight the rebellious Maccabees with a greater army, sure that his mighty soldiers would destroy the rebellious, small Jewish army.

Judah, the courageous Maccabee, was ready to face them. However, when his people saw the size and strength of the enemy’s army, they said to Judah: “How can we, being so few, fight against such a great and strong army?”

Judah, in the spirit of King David, answered them with great faith:
“Fear not their multitude, for the success of war is not in the multitude of the army, but in strength from heaven. The Lord himself will overthrow them before us.”

Then, Judah the Maccabee led his small army in a surprise attack on Seron and his army, destroying and killing many of his soldiers. The surviving soldiers fled to the southern coastland.

Enraged by the news of the defeat of his soldiers, Antiochus sent even greater more powerful forces, consisting of more than 40,000 soldiers and seven thousand horsemen to go into the land of Judah to destroy the small Maccabee’s army, sure that this time his two great commanders, Nicanor and Gorgias, could defeat Judah and his Jewish Maccabees.

Merchants from the nations who heard of the great Greek army coming to battle the small Maccabean army, were also sure of the Jews’ defeat, so they came with large quantities of silver and gold ready to buy the Jews for slaves.

Judah and his brothers, zealous to defend the Holy Temple and willing to fight unto death, gathered in Mitzpah, which was a place of prayer (where Samuel, the prophet of old, had offered prayers to God,) to prepare for battle, to pray and ask for His mercy and compassion.

They fasted that day, in sackcloth and ashes, rent their garments, and cried with a loud voice to God in heaven:
“For your holies are trodden down, and are profaned, and your priests are in mourning, and are brought low. The nations are coming together against us with the intent to destroy us. How can we stand up to them, unless you, O God, help us?”

After sending men who built houses home; newlyweds; planters of vineyards and all who were fearful, Judah appointed captains over the thousands, over hundreds, over fifties, and tens, and he and his small army left the camp in Mitzpah and camped on the south side of Emmaus.

Facing the big and strong enemy army, Judah prayed to God and said: “Blessed are You, O Savior of Israel, Who destroyed the fierce and mighty uncircumcised giant by the hand of Your servant David. Now give up this army into the hands of Your people Israel. Let their army and horsemen be confounded. Strike them with fear, cause the boldness of their strength to vanish, and let them quake at their own destruction. Cast them down with the sword of the ones who love You, and let all that know Your Name praise You with hymns.”

Then Judah turned to the men that were with him and said: “Fear not their multitude, neither be afraid of their assault. Remember how our fathers were saved in the Red Sea when Pharaoh pursued them with a great army. And now let us cry to heaven, and the Lord will have mercy on us, and will remember the covenant of our fathers, and will destroy this army before us this day. And all nations shall know that there is One Who redeems and delivers Israel.”

Then they sounded their trumpets, cried out with a loud voice, and marched to battle. The brave Maccabees were ready both to live or die.

Thousands of Syrian soldiers fell. The Maccabees had set fire to the enemy’s camp and the Syrian soldiers were struck with great fear of the Jews and fled.

Judah and the Maccabees returned to the camp to take the spoils of great riches, including a lot of gold and silver. Upon returning home they sang a hymn, and blessed God in heaven, Who is good; Whose Mercy endures forever and Who gave Israel a great deliverance that day.

The victorious Maccabees returned to Jerusalem to liberate the Holy City. They entered the Temple and saw the sanctuary desolate, the altar profaned, and the gates burnt.

The Jews destroyed the odious idols; renewed the sacred vessels and the lampstand, and brought the altar of incense and the table into the Temple.

They decorated the front of the Temple with golden wreaths and ornamental shields, renewed the gates and the priests’ rooms, and fitted them with doors. Then they put the Bread of the Presence on the table and hung the curtains.

They destroyed the altar that had been defiled and threw it out. Then they took whole stones according to God’s instructions and built a new altar upon which they offered a holy sacrifice according to the law (Torah) of God.

On the twenty-fifth of the month of Kislev in the year 3622, 164 BC, the same day when the heathens had defiled it, the temple was dedicated anew with music and celebration. And all the people fell upon their faces and worshipped God, and blessed Him for the great victory He gave them.

The joyous Celebration of the Dedication of the Temple (Hanukkah in Hebrew) lasted for eight days, with offerings of sacrifices, praising God for salvation and deliverance from the reproach of the Syrians.

Judah, his brothers, and all the congregation of Israel decreed that the Day of the Dedication of the Altar should be kept every year from the twenty-fifth day of the month of Kislev for eight days, with joy and gladness. (Kislev is the tenth month of the Jewish calendar corresponding, approximately, to early December on the Gregorian calendar.)

What About Now?

As the Jews celebrate Hanukkah and the Christians celebrate Christmas, Israel is still at war against enemies that surround the small nation intending to destroy the tiny nation and take the Land God has promised to His people Israel.

Let us pray, as Judah did:

“Fear not their multitude, for the success of war is not in the multitude of the army, but the strength that comes from heaven. The Lord himself will overthrow them before us.”

For a “deliverer will come from Zion, “His name is Salvation (Yeshua.)
Pray for a miracle, the safe return of the Jewish captives in Gaza to their homes in Israel.

Christmas and the Jews

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Most Jews in Israel and around the world reject the idea that Christmas is a Jewish holiday. As far as they are concerned, Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of someone they don’t believe to be the Messiah and is in direct opposition to their Jewish faith. Many Holocaust survivors claim Hitler and the Nazis were Christians and that the Christian church is anti-Semitic; that in the name of Jesus, the Church persecuted Jews as “Christ-killers.”

Even non-Jews around the world who celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas day do not realize that He is the Messiah of Israel, as well as the Savior of the world.

Nativity Image by Michelle Scott from Pixabay

The prophet Isaiah made this Messianic prophecy to Israel about the Jewish Messiah, Who also fulfilled the promise God gave to Abraham in Genesis 12, that through Him all nations would be blessed. Therefore, the prophecies of the Messiah’s coming, His sacrifice for humanity, His resurrection, and His return to earth apply to Israel as well to all nations.

“The people living in darkness have seen a great light; upon those living in the land that lies in the shadow of death, light has dawned. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; dominion will rest on His shoulders, and He will be given the name Pele-Yo‘etz (Wonderful Counselor,) El Gibbor (Mighty God,) Avi-‘Ad (Everlasting Father) Sar-Shalom (Prince of Peace)”. Isaiah 9

The world celebrates Christmas with cheers, decorated evergreen trees, flickering lights, manger scenes, and baby Jesus, all the while unaware of its Jewish roots. That the story took place in Israel with Israelites and angels who spoke Hebrew seems far away. But the fact is that Mary was Miriam, Joseph was Yoseph and Jesus was Yeshua – all Hebrew names. Yeshua was born in Beth Lehem (the house of bread in Hebrew) fulfilling the Hebrew prophet Micah’s words as recorded in Micah chapter 5:1 “But you, Beit Lehem Ephratah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting days.”

The story of Christmas starts with God’s angel appearing to the priest Zecharya (Zechariah in English which means God remembers in Hebrew) who was chosen by lot to enter the Temple of the God of Israel for the incense offering (Luke 1:9-11). This was in accordance with the law God gave to Moses for the priests from the tribe of Levi. Exodus 30:7-8: “Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come.” The angel announced to Zecharya that his barren wife would bear him a child to fulfill the prophecy of Malachi 3 to “go as a forerunner before Him (the Messiah) in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children” (Luke 1:16-17). His name would be Yohanan, meaning God pardons (known as John the Baptist in English.)

A short time later the angel Gavriel (Gabriel, means God is my strength) appeared to Miriam, announcing that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit of God. Miriam was a young Jewish virgin from the Jewish village of Natzeret, Israel, engaged to a Jewish man, Yoseph, of the house of David. The angel Gavriel told her (in Hebrew,) “Do not be afraid, Miriam; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Yeshua (meaning Salvation in Hebrew.) (Jesus is the English letters of the name Yeshua.) He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and God will give Him the throne of His father David (the Jewish king.) And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:26-33).

It is no coincidence that the Savior of the world would have a Hebrew name and would be born of a Jewish mother in a Jewish town near Jerusalem, the Jewish capital. He is Emmanuel (God with us in Hebrew) Who will sit on King David’s throne forever and rule from Jerusalem. All nations will come to hear the Word of the Lord from Zion (Jerusalem). (Isaiah 2)

When Yoseph (Joseph) learned Miriam was pregnant, he feared she had been unfaithful to him. As a righteous man, he didn’t want to expose Miriam to public disgrace and planned to divorce her in secret. But the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said (in Hebrew), “Yoseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Miriam as your wife because what is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Yeshua (meaning Salvation) because he Yoshia (will save) his people (Israel) from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ – which means (in Hebrew, ‘God with us.)” Matthew 1:18-25

We present this holiday to our Jewish people in this Jewish setting with Jewish characters, saying that Yeshua is our Jewish Messiah, as well as the Savior of the world, and that He didn’t come to start a new religion. As a matter of fact, Yeshua was against religion as well as men’s traditions.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of our Jewish friends, family, and neighbors to see that Christmas celebrates the birth of our Jewish Messiah Who came to the world in Israel.

From the first verses in the New Testament, we see how Jewish it is. This is the genealogy of Yeshua the Messiah (a Hebrew word,) the son of David, the son of Abraham (the father of the Jewish nation). Yeshua’s birth and reincarnation were prophesied in the Hebrew Bible, written in Hebrew, by Hebrew prophets. His Jewish parents took him to the Jewish Holy Temple when He was eight days old to be circumcised; how much more Jewish can you get?

Image: Nativity by Michelle Scott from Pixabay

The Miracle of Purim

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In the book of Esther, the administrator to the King of Persia was Haman the Agagite who held the second highest position in the land. Like the antichrist, Haman was moved by Satan to totally eradicate the Jews who lived in the Kingdom of the Medes and Persians during the reign of King Ahasuerus (aka Xerxes I) 486-465,64 B.C.

Haman hated Mordecai the Jew. Since Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman or pay him homage like everyone else in the king’s court, Haman was filled with wrath against Mordecai. When Haman learned that Mordecai was a Jew, Haman sought to destroy all of Mordecai’s people living throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

Readings from Esther 3:5-14

“In the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot, hence the word Purim), before Haman to determine the day and the month of the Jewish massacre until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.”

Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people’s, and they do not keep the king’s laws. Therefore, it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. If it please the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.” (Esther 3:8)

The king refused to take the bribe but granted Haman his request. He gave Haman, the enemy of the Jews his signet and told Haman to do to the Jews as he pleased. So, in the name of Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring, the decree was written to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month – the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions.

Mordecai, a God-fearing Jew, had raised orphan Hadassah (later named Esther) to be a God-fearing young lady. Hadassah was the most beautiful of all the women selected for the harem and was chosen by the King of Persia to be his queen in place of Queen Vashti. (Esther 2:17)

Mordecai, however, instructed Esther not to reveal her heritage. 

While Esther was at the king’s harem, Mordecai learned about Haman’s plan, and the king’s edict to destroy the Jewish people. Mordecai then ordered Queen Esther to appear before the king and plead for the survival of her people.

Mordecai challenged Esther by saying: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:13-16

Queen Esther knew that only another royal decree issued by the king could save her people. No Persian royal decree could be rescinded. She had to arrange an audience with the King.

Esther instructed all the Jews in the capital city of Susa to fast for three days, neither eating nor drinking for a full three days and nights during which time she and her maids would likewise fast.

And Queen Esther declared: “so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” Esther 4:15-17 (Today, in commemoration of that fast, many Jews fast the day before Purim, praying for God’s continual preservation of Israel.)

In Persia, it was illegal to come before the king uninvited unless he extended his royal scepter.

Nevertheless, on the third day of the fast, Esther, dressed in her royal attire, appeared in front of the hall where the king sat on his throne. When the king saw his beautiful queen, he remembered how much he loved her and extended the golden royal scepter, inviting her to approach him.

“what is your request and I will grant you up to half the kingdom.” said the king.

Esther requested that the king attend a private banquet she had prepared in his honor and bring Haman as a guest. Neither of them knew that Esther was Jewish.

As they were enjoying the food and wine, the king sensed there was something more and asked her again, “what is your request, and I will grant it up to half the kingdom.”

Esther requested that they come again the next day to a second private banquet.

Haman was elated to realize that he was the only one, besides the king who was invited by the queen to the private banquet. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate still ignoring him, showing him no respect, he was again filled with rage.

Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home to boast to all his friends about his vast wealth, his many sons, and the fact that the king honored him in so many ways and elevated him above all others in the kingdom so much so that he was the only one invited to accompany the king to the Queen’s banquet. 

Even with his accomplishments and success, Mordechai’s refusal to bow down to him enraged him. Haman’s wife Zeresh and all his friends suggested he erect a high pole up and hang Mordechai on it. This idea delighted Haman, and so he had the pole set up and went happily to the banquet.

As they were enjoying the food and drinks, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”

This time, Queen Esther revealed she was Jewish and asked that her life and the lives of her Jewish people be spared.

“This is my request, for I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed, and annihilated. Had we merely been sold as slaves, I would have kept quiet and not disturb the king.” (Esther 5:4)

When the king asked who would dare do such a thing, Esther pointed to Haman and said, “An adversary and enemy! This wicked Haman!” The king was enraged and went out to the garden to absorb all this new twist of events.

Haman, terrified about what the king would do to him, fell on Esther’s couch and begged Esther for his life. At that very moment, the King returned from the palace garden to see Haman falling on the couch where his beloved Esther was reclining. In his rage he exclaimed,

“Will he (Haman) even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?” (Esther 5:8)

When one of his eunuchs told the king that Haman had a very high pole set up to hang Mordechai the Jew, the king ordered Haman to hang on it instead of Mordechai.

The king gave Haman’s estate to Esther, and after learning how Esther was related to Mordechai he gave Mordechai the honor of being in the highest position that Haman had held, second only to the king, and gave him the signet ring he took from Haman.

Then Esther begged the king to save the Jews:

“If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?” (Esther 8:5-6 NIV)

The king gave Esther and Mordechai permission to write a new order and seal it with the signet ring he gave to Mordechai. A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and every nationality in the kingdom.

The new edict granted the Jews in every province the right to defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children, and to plunder the property of their enemies.

And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration. For the Jews, it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor. In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them. (Esther 8:15-17)

Thus the Purim holiday was established for all generations.

Although God’s name is never mentioned in the Book of Esther, His sovereignty and Presence are evident as He brings a perfect ending to what seems to be a disastrous situation.

 “Am I a God near at hand,” says the Lord, “and not a God afar off?  Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?” says the Lord; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord. Jeremiah 23:23-24

 The Miracle of Purim was the Turnaround of Events 

On the same date, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar when the enemies of the Jews had hoped to destroy them, was the time that the new edict and decree of the king was to be executed. On that day, the opposite occurred (Haafoh hu in Hebrew), in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them. The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all people. (Esther 9:1-2)

(Image Attribution: Jared Subia, Unsplash)

The Story of Purim

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The central character in the story of Purim is the Jewish girl Esther (originally Hadassah.) Hadassah was an orphan, raised by her uncle Mordechai. They descended from exiled Jews who lived in the ancient Persian Empire. On one occasion, the Persian King Ahasuerus (Artaxerxes) became furious at his beautiful wife Vashti for refusing to appear at his great banquet and decided to replace her. An order was issued to bring to the Palace all the kingdom’s beautiful virgins from whom Artaxerxes would choose a new queen.

Esther, being very beautiful, also was brought to the Palace. The king loved Esther more than all the other virgins and chose her to replace Queen Vashti. Esther’s uncle Mordechai advised her to hide her Jewish origins.

The King had elevated a certain man, Haman the Agagite (descended from Amalek) to the powerful position of Prime Minister of the Empire. Haman was extremely wealthy and influential and according to the King’s command, all the royal servants at the king’s gate had to bow down to and revere Haman. However, Mordechai who also sat in the king’s gate worshiped only the true God of Israel.

Mordechai could not bow down before any man. When Haman heard of Mordechai’s refusal to bow before him, and that he was a Jew, it aroused his anger and hatred, not only toward Mordechai but toward all the Jewish people. Haman schemed to destroy them. Haman persuaded the King to sign a decree authorizing the extermination of the Jews. A date was set for this purpose by casting lots (“PUR”). The lot fell on the 13th of the month of Adar.

It was a time of mourning for all the Jews in the kingdom of Persia and Media.

Esther realized that she was chosen as Queen of Persia for such a time as this; to be used by God for the salvation of His people. She rose to the occasion by taking a step of faith and went before the Highest Authority (the God of Israel) in prayer and fasting after calling all the Jews in the capital city of Shushan to stand with her in prayer and fasting for three days before she risked her life by approaching the king uninvited.

Although Esther was the king’s beloved queen, she was part of his harem. As such, coming to him uninvited meant certain death unless the king extend his royal scepter. Esther was now willing to take this risk in hope of saving her people and said, “After that (the three days of prayer and fasting) I will go to the king, although it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”

Even though God’s name is not mentioned in the story of Esther, His hand is visibly at work. It is obvious Esther and the Jews fasted and prayed to the God of Israel during those three days. God not only used Esther’s beauty to find favor in the eyes of the King, but He also gave her wisdom and a strategy.

On the third day of the fast, Esther, dressed in royal attire, stood in the inner court in front of the hall where the King sat on his throne. When he saw her, he remembered his great love for her and extended his golden scepter, inviting her to approach.

 “What is your request?” he asked. “I will grant you up to half the kingdom.”

Esther simply requested that the King and Haman attend a private banquet she had prepared that day in the King’s honor. Neither of them knew Esther was Jewish.

During the banquet as they were enjoying the food and wine, the King sensed there was something more on her heart and asked her again, “What is your request? I will grant it up to half the kingdom.”

Her request was that they come again the next day to another private banquet she would prepare for the King and Haman. In his pride, Haman bragged to his loved ones how important he was that Queen Esther chose to invite only him, besides the King, to her banquet.

At the second banquet, as they were enjoying the food and drink, the King again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”

This time, Queen Esther revealed she was Jewish and asked that her life and the life of her people, the Jews, be spared. “This is my request, for I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed, and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as slaves, I would have kept silent and not disturbed the King.”

When the King asked who dare do such a thing, Esther pointed to Haman and said, “An adversary and enemy! This wicked Haman!” The King was enraged, left his drink, and went out to the garden to absorb all this new twist of events.

Haman was terrified of what the King might do to him and stood in front of Queen Esther to beg for his life. At that very moment, the King returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall and saw Haman falling on the couch where Esther was. Alarmed, the King exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?”

The King ordered that Haman be hanged on the very pole Haman had set in his house to hang Mordechai the Jew. (Esther 7: 9-10)

Mordechai received the honor of being placed in the highest position and was given the King’s signet ring to reverse the edict. It was a day of joy and celebration for the Jews, and the Purim holiday was established for all generations.