#Esther9 — Esther: The Story of Purim

Esther 9:16-32 NLT

We are continuing with our series, “Esther: The Story of Purim”. Part 17 is called, “Celebration!”, and we will discuss how the Feast of Purim came into being. The question we will ask today is why is it so important to memorialize the mighty acts of God?

16 Meanwhile, the other Jews throughout the king’s provinces had gathered together to defend their lives. They gained relief from all their enemies, killing 75,000 of those who hated them. But they did not take any plunder.

Justice:

No longer could the Jews be hunted down, tortured, and murdered like wild animals. Systematically, the Jews dispensed justice on all of their enemies but those who were sympathetic towards them survived. In compliance with the law passed by King Xerxes, the authorities had no choice but to uphold the law and back it with their full support.

When Abraham conquered the four kings of the East who captured Lot in the Battle of Sidom, he refused to take the plunder (Genesis 14: 1-17). His descendants followed his sterling example leaving no doubt that victory was the direct result of God’s mighty intervention to restore justice and not an act of aggression to gain fame and fortune.

17 This was done the provinces on March 7, and on March 8 they rested, celebrating their victory with a day of feasting and gladness. 18 (The Jews at Susa killed their enemies on March 7 and again on March 8, then rested on March 9, making that their day of feasting and gladness.)

Rested:

“Rest” is the Hebrew word “nuwach” which is the same word used in Genesis when Noah’s ark landed safely on Mount Ararat (1). The ark rested on its designated spot protecting its inhabitants from the deathly turmoil that engulfed the earth by the great flood.

No longer in a defensive stance, the enemy was totally subdued and the Jews “rested” by laying down their weapons and ceasing from battle. There is no record that any Jewish person lost their life and or was removed from their homes or lost their possessions. Instead, they remained on their property and regained their status as good neighbors and loyal citizens. More than that! They were considered the most valued of all people groups, highly favored by their powerful God who loved them very much.

Celebrated:

This word for “celebrated” means a feast, a banquet or to drink. It is the Hebrew word “meshteh” and it is used 19 times in the entire book of Esther (2)

Esther 1:3; 1:5; 1:9; 2:18; 5:4; 5:5; 5:6; 5:8; 5:12; 5:14; 6:14; 7:2; 7:7; 7:8; 8:17; 9:17; 9:18; 9:19; and 9:22.

Celebrations throughout the book of Esther were held for various reasons. For example, banquets or celebrations were held to flaunt wealth, promote a social or personal agenda, to network, or to hold discussions of a legal or personal matter. But this celebration was an act of worship, rejoicing in the God Who delivered His people from the evil plots of the wicked.

Celebration was done in the Jewish manner. All work would cease. Special foods would be prepared and shared with all the people, both Jews and Gentiles alike. Worship was expressed through joyful music, dancing, prayers of thanksgiving and the reading of the Holy Scriptures.

Another day was added:

The author made a special note about the two days of celebration. “Day One” was the victory over those who made a public stand against the Jews ready to slaughter them and confiscate their property. “Day Two” was a victory against those in the top level of their governmental infrastructure whose plans were concealed, collecting “damning evidence” against the Jews in order to destroy their reputation and their legacy. God’s justice was thorough in order to maintain peace for His people and to bless all people groups through His people.

19 So to this day, rural Jews living in remote villages celebrate an annual festival and holiday on the appointed day in late winter, when they rejoice and send gifts of food to each other.

Rural Jews:

It is important to note the Jews living in remote villages as opposed to the Jews living in the cities. Imagine living in the backwoods of the most isolated areas of the country with the nearest neighbor living miles and miles away. This group would have been the most vulnerable of all! God’s protection extended to all of His people, even to the farthest reaches of the land.

The Festival of Purim

20 Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to the Jews near and far, throughout all the provinces of King Xerxes, 21 calling on them to celebrate an annual festival on these two days. 22 He told them to celebrate these days with feasting and gladness and by giving gifts of food to each other and presents to the poor. This would commemorate a time when the Jews gained relief from their enemies, when their sorrow was turned into gladness and their mourning into joy.

Mourning to joy!

Without doubt, satan’s intent was to destroy not only the Jews, but all of mankind. Remember, those who curse the covenant people of God, will themselves be cursed (Genesis 12:3; Genesis 49:9; Numbers 24:9). Even though the story of Purim is regarded as an act of God to save His people, in reality, it's a story of an act of God that reveals and deals with corruption so the entire world could be saved.

23 So the Jews accepted Mordecai’s proposal and adopted this annual custom. 27 the Jews throughout the realm agreed to inaugurate this tradition and to pass it on to their descendants and to all who became Jews. 29 Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote another letter putting the queen’s full authority behind Mordecai’s letter to establish the Festival of Purim. 30 Letters wishing peace and security were sent to the Jews throughout the 127 provinces of the empire of Xerxes. 32 So the command of Esther confirmed the practices of Purim, and it was all written down in the records.

The Story must be retold every year:

Mordecai and Esther passed a decree that Purim would be retold and celebrated annually for all generations. First, it impresses upon the Gentiles how God’s favor rested on His people and demands that they be treated well. Secondly, it is a reminder to the Jews that He is their salvation.

Interestingly, Mordecai didn’t impose the law to celebrate Purim but desired it to be consented by the Jews of their own volition. In a stunning act of solidarity, all the Jews from the 127 provinces agreed in favor of Mordecai’s and Queen Esther’s motion and the Jews have celebrated Purim for the last 2400 years.

Let’s pray:

Father,

The best way to memorialize the victorious events of the past is to celebrate and rehearse those stories in the present. It is always Your will for us to treat all people well so we can live in peace and security. Help us to remember that Your favor rests on the Jewish people and through them, Jesus came to bring us Your salvation. In Jesus name, Amen.

REFERENCES:

Esther 9: 1-16 NIV

We are continuing with our series, “Esther: The Story of Purim”. Part 16 is called, “Self Defense”, and we will discuss how the Jews determined who was their enemy. The question we will ask today is, does God expect us to defend ourselves against our enemies??

1 On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them.

Revealing prejudice:

Those who were silent about their prejudice against the Jews were permitted and encouraged to murder them and confiscate their property by Haman’s edict. How the subjects of the Persian Empire reacted to this edict revealed whether or not they were prejudiced.

In the two months that it took for Mordecai to create a counter-law to Haman’s original edict, a percentage of Gentiles were ordering weaponry. It would stand to reason that they also openly practiced systemic racism by firing Jews on the job, refusing services, vandalism, looting their businesses, anti-Semetic graffiti, setting fire to their properties, public mockery, and the like.

Collecting data:

And it would also stand to reason that is how the Jews determined who was for them and who was against them. Obviously, they had to collect accurate and reliable data to righteously dispense justice. It would stand to reason that this list of people was given to the king and to Mordecai to ensure that the innocent were preserved and judgment passed only on the guilty.

2 The Jews assembled in their cities in all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them, because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of them. 3 And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and the king’s administrators helped the Jews, because fear of Mordecai had seized them. 4 Mordecai was prominent in the palace; his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful.

March 7th:

Innocent and vulnerable, the Jews were authorized to defend themselves and their families against these savage and barbaric men. Their enemies were dropping like flies and the men from the neighboring provinces did not come to their defense. In fact, all of the leading government officials and elites assisted the Jews to pass judgment and restore order. What does that mean? They were probably supplied with extra weaponry and had spies report the plans of the enemy. We are talking about serious warfare tactics here! What Haman and his followers planned and attempted to execute on the Jews, fell upon them.

Haman’s legacy destroyed:

The terror that Haman wanted to inflict on Mordecai came to pass upon Haman, his biological sons, and his followers! Mordecai was the second most powerful man in the kingdom. Unlike Haman, he was promoted without licking the king’s boots, manipulating circumstances, controlling people and situations or testing the king’s tolerance level. Haman may have been the only person to attend a banquet alone with the king and queen, but Mordecai was the only person, besides Esther, to enter the presence of the king uninvited, and was still lived to tell the day. And the king granted his request! Wow!! King Xerxes must really think the world of him! Like Joseph, King David, and King Solomon before him, Mordecai’s fame spread throughout the Persian Empire. God’s favor rested on Mordecai; he was respected and his orders were obeyed everywhere he went.

5 The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them.

An eye for an eye:

In self defense, the Jews killed their enemies and probably followed the “eye for an eye” concept given in the Bible in Exodus 21:24; Lev 24:20; and Deut 19:21. In other words, if an enemy destroyed a Jewish person’s property, their property would also be destroyed, and so forth.

6 In the citadel of Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. 7 They also killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizatha, 10 the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

500 is the light from sunrise that dispels the night:

“Quph” is the Hebrew letter that carries the numerical value of 500 (1). It means “the concentration of light surrounding the sun when it appears on the horizon” (2). It is the time of day when the sun dispels the night and sheds its glorious light. Everything that was hidden in the cloak of darkness is revealed. God’s light was shed on the hearts of these 500 men, most of them soldiers who lived in the citadel, and they were found guilty.

10 Sons of Haman:

Ten is the number that refers to the law (i.e. The Ten Commandments). Here is a list of the names of the ten sons of Haman and the meaning behind their names:

1) Parshandatha= given by prayer (3)

2) Dalphon= dripping (4)

3) Aspatha= the enticed gathered (5)

4) Poratha= fruitfulness or frustration (6)

5) Adalia=I shall be drawn up of Jah (7)

6) Aridatha=the lion of the decree (8)

7) Parmashta= superior (9)

8) Arisai=lion of my banners (10)

9) Aridai=the lion is enough (11)

10) Vaizatha=strong as the wind= Jezebel Spirit (12)

Haman’s life goals:

We can see the progression of Haman’s logic and life goals over this time by looking at the names of his sons. It appears that he had them ready to govern, each over their own districts.

The first son, he was praying to the gods of darkness.

The second was dripping with anointing from the gods of darkness.

The third would be charming and have followers of his cult.

The fourth would be fruitful in each evil endeavor.

The fifth would be lifted up or exalted by this dark god.

The sixth would establish laws that promoted evil agendas.

The seventh would be superior even to his other brothers.

The eighth would be a banner, or recognizes the ideals of a country, ideals that conformed to the dark gods he worshiped.

The ninth would be the lion is enough, in other words, this lion would take over the previous lion (Xerxes) Or the lion’s characteristics are enough to rule the provinces with an iron hand.

And the tenth is strong as the chaotic wind such as a tornado. It is a reference to the attribute of God, the Holy Spirit but he is referring to an evil spirit that surpasses and dominates the wind or breath of God.

No spoils:

Like Abraham, who conquered the four kings of the east and rescued Lot, he did not take any of the spoils of war so that no one would accuse him of being rich because of this victory. His victory and his riches came from the blessing of God. The Jews followed his example according to Genesis 14:21-24.

11 The number of those killed in the citadel of Susa was reported to the king that same day. 12 The king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman in the citadel of Susa. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? It will also be granted.”

The Fear of the Lord:

It has been about 10 months since Mordecai became second in command of Persia and King Xerxes is acutely aware how well respected he has become throughout the empire. King Xerxes astutely concludes that the God of the Jews is pleased with Mordecai and has elevated him in the eyes of everyone. This is exactly what Haman so keenly desired to impress upon the king and his subjects, but miserably failed in Esther chapter 6.

The reputation of the God of the Jews is world renowned and Xerxes has developed a healthy respect for Him. Esther enters the king’s court a third time and he gives her a report of the damage done so far. In order to remain in the good graces of this God, Mordecai, and Esther, Xerxes humbled himself and guaranteed that her petition would be carried out even before she voiced it.

13 “If it pleases the king,” Esther answered, “give the Jews in Susa permission to carry out this day’s edict tomorrow also, and let Haman’s ten sons be impaled on poles.” 14 So the king commanded that this be done. An edict was issued in Susa, and they impaled the ten sons of Haman. 15 The Jews in Susa came together on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and they put to death in Susa three hundred men, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

The end of the Agagites:

Posterity was very important to the ancient peoples. In fact, Haman bragged about having ten sons in Chapter 7. Impaling the dead sons of Haman was a sign to all the people of the empire that Haman and his posterity were destroyed. In effect, this was the genocide of the Agagites, yet another reversal of what Haman attempted to do to the Jews.

Susa, Capital of the Persian Empire:

Susa was allowed an extra day to hunt down anti-Semites. Remember, Susa is the capital of the Persian Empire and would compare to current day Washington D.C. The citadel (army base) of the largest army in the world at that time was located here. Also, the most elite governors, satraps, nobles, and king officials lived and worked in Susa.

300 is a bow that symbolizes victory:

The following day, after the slaughter of five hundred men who were determined to annihilate the Jews, three hundred more men were discovered who opposed them as well. It would appear that they had uncovered clandestine operations, secretly collecting data on Jewish people that can be used against them. They would have also uncovered covert operations, undercover actions conducted to negatively influence a course of events against the Jews. These men were also killed.

“Shin” is the Hebrew letter that carries the numerical value of 300 (13). Ancient texts record that shin represents a composite bow (14). In the Bible, the bow symbolizes victory.

Psalm 7:12 ISV

If the ungodly one doesn't repent, God will sharpen his sword; he will string his bow and prepare it.

16 Meanwhile, the remainder of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also assembled to protect themselves and get relief from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of them but did not lay their hands on the plunder.

More men killed than the number of Jews in total:

Haman made the point that they were a people that were less in number and scattered throughout the empire (Esther 3:8). For sure, more men were killed than there were Jews that lived in the empire at that time.

75,000:

Let’s look at the number of 75,000. In Hebrew, the numbers are often added or multiplied. This is how we will combine the numbers to equal 75,000.

70 + 5 x 1000.

The letter “Ayin” has the numerical value of 70, and it means “The Eyes of the Lord”(15). In Scripture, the eyes of the Lord observes good and evil and searches to strengthen the righteous.

Proverbs 15:3, the eyes of the Lord observe both good and evil.

2 Chronicles 16:9. The eyes of the Lord searches throughout the earth to strengthen those who are righteous and whose hearts are fully committed to him.

The letter “Hey” has the numerical value of 5 and means “the breath of God” (16).

In Scripture, the breath of God is His word or His voice.

Psalm 33:6, By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

Genesis 1:3, Then God said (Hey), “Let there be light”.

1000 stands for an entire age or era.

So 75,000 would symbolize the God who sees and observes good and evil and strengthens the righteous by speaking (breath) into their situation, shedding light upon what is evil and delivering the righteous for all ages.

Let’s pray:

Father,

Prejudice is abhorrent and causes nothing but pain and destruction. It is Your will that we respect one another. Remove any prejudice from my heart and give me the love that You have for all people. In Jesus name, Amen.