Esther ends the History segment of the Old Testament, and it is a flashback to the Jewish diaspora under the Persians after their exile into Babylon.
And begins one of the two extra-Levitical/Deuteronomical festivals of the Jewish faith (meaning festivals not referenced in Leviticus or Deuteronomy).
And it isn't Hanukkah.
It's Purim.
And that means lots.
As in the things that are cast to determine something based on chance.
Kind of like rolling dice.
Although I've never celebrated Purim, I've heard that it is lots of fun.
(from your humble servant: Please pardon the pun).
It is an event currently celebrated with feasting and food, drinking until you can't tell the difference between "cursed is Haman" and "blessed is Mordechai" (sounds like fun), gladness and gifts, and presents to the poor.
The book of Esther (the entire book, called "the whole Megillah" (so that's where that word comes from)) is recited during the process.
During the whole Megillah, whenever the name Mordecai is mentioned, cheers and hoorays emanate from the celebrants.
Whenever the name Haman is mentioned, boos, hisses, and noisemakers attempt to "blot out" its hearing by the crowd.
That's Purim.
And it commemorates a day of slaughter and destruction.
Huh?
Supposedly condemned by Martin Luther as properly excluded from the canon, the book of Esther recounts the tale of Jews (the "yehudi") of the diaspora under the Persians.
Specifically, the story of the Persian King Ahasuerus, the Jewish cousins Mordecai (a Benjaminite) and Esther (who Mordecai adopts as his daughter, and who catches the king's eye and becomes queen), and Haman, the king's "right hand man" (who was an Amalekite, specifically an Agagite, which you might recall were the people defeated by Saul (also a Benjaminite) when he got in trouble with with God and ultimately lost his kingdom for not doing "herem" (utter destruction) according to Hoyle by letting King Agag initially survive the sword. See King me.).
Haman hated Jews.
Understandable, in light of what Saul did (eventually) to his kinsmen.
Herem (utter destruction) being what it is.
Anyway, Haman cons the king into issuing a decree to destroy, kill, and annihilate all Jews.
To occur on the day before Passover.
A date that was selected by casting lots.
Which, as we now know, is what Purim means.
Lots.
Haman also hates Mordecai.
Not just because he is a Jew and a Benjaminite, but because he won't bow before Haman when Haman passes the gate.
Haman hates Mordecai so much that he builds a special gallows to hang Mordecai when the date selected for the destruction of the Jews arrives.
Mordecai, however, had previously uncovered an assassination attempt against the king, who remembers the foiled plot, wants to honor and distinguish Mordecai, and is requested by Esther to order Haman to robe and parade Mordecai around the town.
After the parade, Haman's plot to kill the Jews is revealed to the king.
Who orders Haman to be hanged on Mordecai's gallows.
Mordecai is thereafter appointed to Haman's prior position with the king, and receives all of Haman's property.
The edict to kill the Jews is revoked.
And a new one is issued.
Authorizing a one day opportunity for the Jews to exact revenge on their enemies.
And on that day, it is written:
So the Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword,
slaughtering and destroying them,
did as they pleased to those who hated them.
75,000 Persians are "put to the sword".
That doesn't sound like fun.
But that is the event that is celebrated during Purim.
Hate to admit it, but I'm kind of glad that the History is over.
The cognitive dissonance between the last three books and the principles of my faith have been troublesome to my poor little pea-sized brain.
And begins one of the two extra-Levitical/Deuteronomical festivals of the Jewish faith (meaning festivals not referenced in Leviticus or Deuteronomy).
And it isn't Hanukkah.
It's Purim.
And that means lots.
As in the things that are cast to determine something based on chance.
Kind of like rolling dice.
Although I've never celebrated Purim, I've heard that it is lots of fun.
(from your humble servant: Please pardon the pun).
It is an event currently celebrated with feasting and food, drinking until you can't tell the difference between "cursed is Haman" and "blessed is Mordechai" (sounds like fun), gladness and gifts, and presents to the poor.
The book of Esther (the entire book, called "the whole Megillah" (so that's where that word comes from)) is recited during the process.
During the whole Megillah, whenever the name Mordecai is mentioned, cheers and hoorays emanate from the celebrants.
Whenever the name Haman is mentioned, boos, hisses, and noisemakers attempt to "blot out" its hearing by the crowd.
That's Purim.
And it commemorates a day of slaughter and destruction.
Huh?
Supposedly condemned by Martin Luther as properly excluded from the canon, the book of Esther recounts the tale of Jews (the "yehudi") of the diaspora under the Persians.
Specifically, the story of the Persian King Ahasuerus, the Jewish cousins Mordecai (a Benjaminite) and Esther (who Mordecai adopts as his daughter, and who catches the king's eye and becomes queen), and Haman, the king's "right hand man" (who was an Amalekite, specifically an Agagite, which you might recall were the people defeated by Saul (also a Benjaminite) when he got in trouble with with God and ultimately lost his kingdom for not doing "herem" (utter destruction) according to Hoyle by letting King Agag initially survive the sword. See King me.).
Haman hated Jews.
Understandable, in light of what Saul did (eventually) to his kinsmen.
Herem (utter destruction) being what it is.
Anyway, Haman cons the king into issuing a decree to destroy, kill, and annihilate all Jews.
To occur on the day before Passover.
A date that was selected by casting lots.
Which, as we now know, is what Purim means.
Lots.
Haman also hates Mordecai.
Not just because he is a Jew and a Benjaminite, but because he won't bow before Haman when Haman passes the gate.
Haman hates Mordecai so much that he builds a special gallows to hang Mordecai when the date selected for the destruction of the Jews arrives.
Mordecai, however, had previously uncovered an assassination attempt against the king, who remembers the foiled plot, wants to honor and distinguish Mordecai, and is requested by Esther to order Haman to robe and parade Mordecai around the town.
 |
| The triumph of Mordecai |
After the parade, Haman's plot to kill the Jews is revealed to the king.
 |
| Esther denouncing Haman and his plot |
Who orders Haman to be hanged on Mordecai's gallows.
Mordecai is thereafter appointed to Haman's prior position with the king, and receives all of Haman's property.
The edict to kill the Jews is revoked.
And a new one is issued.
Authorizing a one day opportunity for the Jews to exact revenge on their enemies.
And on that day, it is written:
So the Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword,
slaughtering and destroying them,
did as they pleased to those who hated them.
75,000 Persians are "put to the sword".
That doesn't sound like fun.
But that is the event that is celebrated during Purim.
 |
| Wheeee! Have a Happy Purim! |
Hate to admit it, but I'm kind of glad that the History is over.
The cognitive dissonance between the last three books and the principles of my faith have been troublesome to my poor little pea-sized brain.
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