Good morning,
The festival of Purim celebrates God’s deliverance from a plot to destroy all the Jews. This year the celebration begins on the evening of 25 February and ends on the evening of 26 February.
Today we conclude our study of Esther. We will look at Esther’s banquet request and the death of Haman, promotion of Mordecai and new decree to allow the Jews to defend themselves, Jews destroy their enemies and Purim instituted, and Mordecai’s greatness.
Please read these chapters for the complete story.
Chapter 7 Esther’s banquet request and the death of Haman
“Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage.5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?6 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.” (7:3-6)
“So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.” (7:10)
Chapter 8 Promotion of Mordecai and new decree to allow the Jews to defend themselves
“On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews’ enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.2 And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.” (8:1-2)
“Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring: for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse.” (8:8)
“And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus’ name, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,” (8:10-11)
Chapter 9 Jews destroy their enemies and Purim instituted
“Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.” (9:5)
“And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,21 To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.” (9:20-22)
“Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,” (9:26)
Chapter 10 Mordecai’s greatness
“For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.” (10:3)
Chapter 7
Esther tells the king that Haman has plotted to kill her people the Jews. As the king contemplates what to do, Haman throws himself on Queen Esther for mercy. The king, however, thought that Haman was assaulting the queen. Haman is sentenced to be hanged on the gallows he had made for Mordecai.
Chapter 8
The problem still exists, what will become of the Jews? The king’s decree could not be revoked.
The king promotes Mordecai to Haman’s position. He suggests that Mordecai write a new decree. He does. “Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,”.
Chapter 9
The Jews defeated their enemies. To commemorate this event the festival of Purim was initiated. It has been celebrated from that time till today.
Chapter 10
Mordecai is second to the king. More importantly, he is accepted by the Jews as a great benevolent leader.
So the story has a happy ending.
God orchestrated each event. He was in every circumstance that Mordecai, Esther, and Haman encountered.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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