This coming Wednesday marks the start of Purim - the festival that celebrates the story of Esther and God's deliverance of Israel from destruction.

Purim is a minor biblical and Jewish festival which takes place in February/March in the Western calendar and begins on the 14^th of the month of Adar in the Hebrew calendar. Its theme is the deliverance from destruction of the Jewish people. This year the festival begins at sundown on Wednesday 23 March.

Purim: Instituted by Mordecai

Purim, meaning 'lots', was instituted during the Jewish exile in Persia in the 4^th century BC. Esther 9 explains its origins, from verse 20:

Mordecai recorded these events [i.e. the story about the attempted destruction of the Jews by Haman], and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, that they should celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote to them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

So the Jews agreed to continue the celebration they had begun, doing what Mordecai had written to them. For Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the pur (that is, the lot) for their ruin and destruction. But when the plot came to the king's attention, he issued written orders that the evil scheme Haman had devised against the Jews should come back on to his own head, and that he and his sons should be impaled on poles. (Therefore these days were called Purim, from the word pur.)

Because of everything written in this letter and because of what they had seen and what had happened to them, the Jews took it on themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should without fail observe these two days every year, in the way prescribed and at the time appointed. These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews – nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants. (Est 9:20-28)

The Story of Esther

A young Jewish woman called Esther was chosen above all the other young women of the Persian kingdom to replace Queen Vashti, who had displeased King Ahasuerus (or Xerxes) by refusing to obey one of his commands. Under the guidance of her cousin Mordecai, who brought her up, Esther concealed her Jewish identity and became Queen.

Purim, meaning 'lots', was instituted during the Jewish exile in Persia in the 4^th Century BC.

In a separate instance of heroism, Mordecai found out about a plot against the king and this was recorded in the royal chronicles. However, Mordecai also made an enemy of Haman, the king's vizier, by refusing to bow down to him:

...having learned who Mordecai's people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai's people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. (Est 3:6)

Haman cast the pur or lot (Est 7:3) to decide the day of annihilation of the Jews. Then he went to King Ahasuerus (or Xerxes) and asked for permission to issue an edict saying that on the day chosen by the lot, the Jews in all the provinces of the King's empire should be killed - young and old alike - and their goods should be plundered.

Mordecai asked Esther to approach the king to get him to withdraw the edict, even though she risked her life by doing so. To approach the king without being summoned meant certain death - unless the king extended his sceptre towards the person. Esther fasted three days and nights and then approached the king. He extended his sceptre and she asked permission to invite the king and Haman to a banquet.

At the banquet she invited them to another banquet on the following day. Haman went home in high spirits at the King's and Queen's favour to him, but was angered to see Mordecai still not bowing down to him. So, on the advice of his wife and friends, he built a gallows ready to ask the king's permission to hang Mordecai the following morning. That night, however, the king could not sleep and so he ordered the book of the chronicles of his reign to be read to him. The passage about Mordecai uncovering the plot against the King's life was read to him.

He then found out that Mordecai was not rewarded for this and the next day when Haman came before the king, the king asked him "What should be done for the man the king delights to honour?" (Est 6:9). Haman assumed the king was referring to him and suggested that the king should put a royal robe on this man and have him led through the streets on the king's horse with the proclamation that "this is what is done for the man the king delights to honour".

In the story of Esther, Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai save the Jewish people from the retribution of powerful vizier Haman, by pleading their case before the king, Xerxes.

Then the king ordered Haman to do honour to Mordecai. Haman was commanded to lead the horse and make the proclamation. Mortified, he then attended the second banquet with the King and Queen. At the banquet, Esther asked the king to spare her life and the lives of her people and told the king that Haman was responsible for the decree for their annihilation.

The king flew into a rage and left the room. On his return, he found Haman appearing to molest Queen Esther as he fell towards her begging for his life. The king ordered that Haman be hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Haman's estate was given to Esther and the king issued another edict allowing the Jews to defend themselves against the attack of their enemies, which was still due to take place on the day arranged by Haman (this was because the king's edicts could not be repealed, so an opposing edict had to be issued instead, allowing the Jews to destroy their enemies).

In this way, all the enemies of the Jews were destroyed, including Haman's sons. In Esther 9:20, we read that Esther and Mordecai, who had assumed the position of influence that Haman had held, ordered that the Jews everywhere should celebrate annually for ever more with feasting and great joy the festival of lots, or Purim, and that they should give one another presents of food and give gifts to the poor.

Purim Today

Hamentashen, traditional biscuits eaten on Purim. See Photo Credits.

Today, Purim is celebrated by the Jewish people with a fast on the day before the festival, mirroring Esther's fast, and then a feast. There are five good deeds (or mitzvot) associated with the festival: first, reading the scroll of Esther, then reading a portion of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible), third, sending gifts to friends and relatives, fourth, distribution of charity to the poor and finally, participation in a festive meal.

Purim plays are often put on and children (and sometimes adults!) dress up in fancy dress. People eat biscuits known as Hamantaschen (iHamantaschenn Yiddish) meaning Haman's ears (in Hebrew oznei Haman). This may refer to the practice of cutting off criminals' ears before they were hanged.

Purim is thought of as a minor feast, but it occupies a major place in the hearts of the Jewish people because its theme of deliverance from annihilation has had relevance throughout history. It is also popular because it is light-hearted and fun, a time of celebration rather than serious reflection.

Purim is a minor feast, but it occupies a major place in the hearts of the Jewish people because of its theme of deliverance from annihilation.

Blotting out the Amalekites

During the reading of the story of Esther, every time Haman's name is mentioned, everyone will make as much noise as possible. There is a special Purim noisemaker usually known by its Yiddish name, grogger, which makes a loud rattling sound. The idea is to blot out Haman's name.

A Purim 'grogger', for blotting out Haman's name. See Photo Credits.

Why? Well, Haman is referred to as 'the Agagite' in the book of Esther. Agag is from a Hebrew root from which come words to do with fire, flames, fury and anger (appropriate for one who seeks to destroy). Haman is therefore thought to have been a descendant of Agag, King of the Amalekites, who were the arch enemy of the Israelites. Haman the Agagite is said to be the 17^th generation descended from Amalek, son of Elifaz, who was the firstborn son of Esau.

In Deuteronomy 25:19, it is commanded to "blot out the memory of the Amalekites from under heaven", and in Exodus 17:16, "The Lord's war with the Amalekites will continue generation after generation". This is echoed in the book of Esther with its command that the days of Purim should be remembered and kept generation after generation (9:28).

In 1 Samuel 15, we read that Saul disobeyed the Lord's instructions not to take plunder from the Amalekites. They were to be utterly destroyed including all their property. Saul disobeyed and took the plunder and because of this the Lord rejected him as king over Israel. So, in Esther, we read that the Jews are very careful not to lay their hands on the plunder of Haman and his sons (Est 9:10).

There is a further connection with the story of Saul here. Mordecai's grandfather was called Kish, as was Saul's father, so it seems that the author of the book of Esther had in mind the story of Saul and the Amalekites by hinting at it in mentioning Mordecai's descent (Est 2:5-6).

Why did Mordecai choose not to bow before Haman? One may infer that Mordecai knew Haman's origins, that he was descended from the Amalekites. Bowing indicates honour towards someone, or even worship - and Mordecai refused to do that to the son of the sworn enemy of the Jewish people. It also explains why Haman wished to destroy all Mordecai's people once he found out he was a Jew and therefore the sworn enemy of the Amalekites. Haman's ancestral line presumably explains his irrational hatred of Mordecai and the Jews. That same irrational and implacable hatred continued to feed anti-Semitism throughout history and continues today, making the story of Esther continually relevant.

The same irrational and implacable hatred of Jews expressed by Haman has continued throughout history and continues today – making the story of Esther ever-relevant.

God Implicitly Present

Purim, like Passover, is a celebration of deliverance from evil, of the redemption of God for his people. Interestingly, however, the book of Esther is unique among the books of the Bible in that nowhere is the name of God mentioned. Similarly, it can sometimes appear to us as though our enemy is all too real and present in our lives and the lives of those around us and that God is nowhere to be found - but God always has his plan of deliverance ready.

There is also no mention of the Jews' religion or religious practices at all in Esther. Yet the presence of God is implied throughout the story by the way co-incidences (or God-incidences) happen to favour Mordecai and Esther. Esther happened to be beautiful and so rise to a position of power. Mordecai happened to hear of the plot against the king and the king happened to awaken one night and be read the exact section from the chronicles which told of this.

Divine destiny surfaces nowhere more clearly than in Mordecai's charged statement to Esther that if she does not help the Jewish people in their hour of need, deliverance will arise from another place. She can use her position to help save her people or she can draw back, but she and her father's family would perish.

Thus the importance of human obedience within the context of divine sovereignty becomes clear. God prepares us, he places us in certain positions, in his perfect timing, then he gives us the opportunity to serve him to accomplish his purposes. This is always the choice: to serve the Lord and prosper, or to disobey him, ignore his call and perish. His will always be done, with or without us. Esther heeds Mordecai's words that she has been placed in her royal position "for such as time as this" (Est 4:14), risking her life to do it but saving the lives of many.

The book of Esther is unique in that it does not mention the name of God – and yet God's presence is implied throughout the story.

Esther and Joseph

The story of Esther is often compared to the story of Joseph. Both rise to positions of influence within the court of a foreign power which holds sway over the Jewish people. Both save their people from death - in Joseph's case from famine - and in doing so risk their own lives. Similar to the story of Esther, the disruption of the king's sleep leads to the release of Joseph from prison (Pharaoh's dream), just as the king's wakefulness in the book of Esther causes Mordecai to be rewarded.

Both conceal their Jewish identity to accomplish the redemption of the Jewish people. Joseph, in particular, is often referred to as a type of the Messiah. Like Joseph, Jesus appears before his Jewish brethren today with Gentile appearance. He has been adopted by the Gentiles and presented in Gentile garb. We look forward to the day when Jesus will thoroughly reveal his Jewish identity and Messiahship to the Jewish people and there will be great weeping and mourning, as the prophet Zechariah indicates, "They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son" (Zech 12:10), just as Joseph and his brothers wept together as they met for the first time in years.

Purim and the Church

Throughout history, God has brought deliverance to the Jewish people from the plans of the enemy. Haman in the story of Esther can be seen as representing the enemy of God's people, the Adversary satan.

The Jewish people have designated many days as Purims, occasions on which the Jewish people were delivered from annihilation in their history. Many such Purims are associated sadly with the Church, particularly with the Christian blood-libel accusation (the totally unfounded accusation that the Jews need the blood of a Christian child for their Passover rites, an abominable and tragic lie which has caused persecution and suffering to Jews over centuries).

The Jewish people have designated many days as Purims over the years, because of repeated attempts through history to annihilate them – many, sadly, associated with the Church.

Purim also caused anti-Semitic feeling historically. A custom in a number of Jewish communities was to burn an effigy of Haman. Christians said that the Jews used this to represent the death of Jesus and that they were killing him all over again. The Christian reformer Martin Luther wrote about Esther that she was a typical despicable Jew, eager to shed Gentile blood. He also wrote:

Do you know, Jew, that Jerusalem and your kingdom, together with the Temple and the priesthood, were destroyed over a thousand years ago?...The exile shows that God is not their God and they are not his people.¹

Luther's anti-Semitism was seized on by Hitler who used Luther's writings (such as his notorious work On the Jews and their Lies) as support for his own programme of destruction. The celebration of Purim today always carries the shadow of the Holocaust, the 20^th Century Haman being Hitler. Sadly, the long shadow of Christian anti-Judaism and anti-Semitism remains.

Today, the celebration of Purim carries the shadow of the Holocaust, the 20^th Century Haman being Hitler.

Most Christians are aware that we are called to watch the signs of the times and to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Let us also remember God's sovereign and unchangeable choice of a people and a land for his possession: Israel. It is "for such a time as this" that we must be ready to stand up with the Jewish people against today's Hamans.

References

1 Kaufmann, Y, 1929-30. Exile and the Alien Land, Vol 1, p299.