The WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, and HOW of PURIM

The year was 1996, and I was being interviewed for a student chaplain position at Bible College. I stood before a panel of two current student leaders and the men’s spiritual director, who in turn fired questions at me from both the Bible and real life situations. Two questions in particular I will never forget. The first was, “What is your favorite book of the Bible?” In a panic I blurted out the first book that came to mind. “Esther!” Esther? Why had I just said Esther? When was the last time I had even read Esther?
With my answer still dangling in the air, and puzzled looks on the faces of the men, I was then asked to explain myself. Once again I said the first thing that came to mind. “The Bible says she was hot!” Quickly grabbing my foot out of my mouth and beginning to sweat, wondering if I had just lost all chances now, I answered that it was awesome to see how God worked everything out for the good of His people, allowing none of the Jews to be harmed. It seemed I had saved myself as the interview continued on, that is up until the final question of the interview. The director looked at me with all seriousness and asked, “If Esther was to date one of us in the room, which one of us do you think she would go for?” It was at that point that I knew I would never live my answers down.
And I was right. While in my room doing homework that night, one of the men came to visit me. He shared that for many minutes following my interview I had been the reason for their laughs. Then he shared with me a fact I did not know at the time – the book of Esther does not mention the name God anywhere in it. What? This I had to search out for myself, and following his leaving opened my Bible to comb through. It was true. While the book does allude to God, it never mentions Him by name.
You may have already known that the book does not name God, or maybe not, but as we continue in this brief study, it is my hope that more truths will come to light and we will understand more completely the life of Esther, the hand of God, and the celebration of Purim.

Let us begin our study with a setting and an authorship. Esther 1:3 speaks that the events concerning the life of Esther and the salvation she brought began in the third year of the reign of King Xerxes (aka Ahasuerus or Artaxerxes II), the king of Persia. Putting this detail onto a calendar, we find the events happening within the estimation of 486-465BCE. As far as the author, many believe it to be the kingly writings as scribed by Mordecai, who later became second only to the king, and worked for the good on behalf of the Jews (Est 10:3). It was his lack of naming God, however, that almost kept this book out of the Canon.
As briefly touched on already, King Xerxes reigned over the Persia Empire. This Empire was massive for its time, stretching to include parts of Egypt to parts of India. When the king banished Queen Vashti, he had a great deal of women to choose from. The odds of being the one picked, being Jewish even, were great. Yet, the size of the Persian Empire should show the truth of how involved God is as He pin-pointed the exactness of our main character.

Now with our when and where out of the way, let us move to who, as we get to know our cast of characters within the book. In order of appearance, we first read of King Xerxes himself. The name Xerxes is Persian for “ruling over heroes.” While the Bible does not give details, history shows that Xerxes was murdered in 465BCE by his commander of the royal bodyguard, Artabanus. While great in many areas, it was his failed attempt at conquering Greece in 480BCE that was his greatest failure.
Next we read of the former queen, Vashti. One will not find Queen Vashti listed in the who’s who of wives for Xerxes, as her request to come may have blotted her memory. But it is also possible that Vashti was not her true name, as Vashti translates as excellent woman. Perhaps she was known for her looks instead. Regardless, when beckoned to come before the king, she refused and soon found herself put out.
The next character we want to keep in mind is Memucan. We know little about him, but we can reason that he was once of seven vice-regents under Xerxes. While not stated in the Bible, some scholars believe Memucan and Haman to be the same person. What the Bible does tell us, though, is that Memucan urged the king to dispose of Vashti, make an example out of her, and move on as the master of his own home.
The decision is made to hold a beauty contest, and the contestants were to be placed under the care of Hegai. Even less is known of Hegai, but we do read in Esther 2:3, 8, and 15 that Hegai had a hand in Esther’s preparations and treatments.
Mordecai (some believe Marduka) is introduced to us in Esther 2:7 as the cousin of Hadassah, whom he had raised. The Bible records that he was of those who sat at the king’s gate, showing us his relationship with the king. Not only did Mordecai save the king at one point, but he also played a major role in encouraging Esther to save the Jews. His constant refusal to bow before anyone other than God, including Haman, seemed to place him in positions of God blessing him, and humbling Haman. In the end, Mordecai was moved to second in command.
Hadassah, better known as Esther, plays another of our major roles within the story of Purim. Her given name, Hadassah, translates as myrtle. Her chosen name, Esther, is thought by many to be derived as was Daniel’s not long before, named after Babylonian gods and goddesses. Quite possibly Esther is derived from the goddess Ishtar, much as Mordecai would have taken his name from the Babylonian god Marduk. Be it her beauty, or the hand of God, or some of both, Esther beat out her competition to become Xerxes next wife. Her boldest move, however, is approaching the king uninvited, a fate normally ending in death.
And speaking of death, we introduce our final main character, Haman the Agagite. If you recall, King Agag and all the Amalekites were commanded of Saul to be destroyed in I Samuel 15. However, the task was not carried out fully, and as a result, the family line continued and birthed Haman. Perhaps he had a vendetta still, but Haman had it out for the Jews from the beginning. Angered even more with Mordecai’s refusing to bow, he approached the king seeking the death of every Jew. The thought was approved and left now for God’s intervention.

Now with all the characters in place, let us answer the what, why, and how…the good parts of the story so to say. In 2015, Purim will begin on March 4. It is normally a few days before this date that Jews will enter into a three day fasting period. This is to remember the boldness of Esther and how she saved the lives of her fellow countrymen. It is in this season we see the behind the scenes workings of God, not named in the book, but definitely active. But while the story itself happen years ago, the fact remains that the turnaround God did for His people then, is something He will still do for us today.
This is a season when the plot that the adversary has made against you will suddenly be turned around by God, as well as a time to usher in favor, blessing, and sudden freedom. The miracle that you need, that even now you are seeking God for, can in an instant be given. For Esther, it was. And as God has no favorites, the miracle He brought for her and the Jewish people, He can bring for you also.
The main parts of the story of Esther that people are familiar with normally include Esther’s beauty which led to her becoming queen, her going before her husband the king without his calling for her, and the events in the end where the Jews were saved and Haman was hung. I will admit, for the most part that was the extent of what I knew. But as time has allowed, I have found myself seeking out deeper truths of the Jewish holidays, this being one. It was in my brushing up a few years back that I saw the words, “They cast the pur in the presence of Haman to select a day and month”(Est 3:7).
Again, with Mordecai refusing to bow to Haman, even though Haman was given a piece of power from the king, a hatred festered. But again, Haman was an Agagite and descended from the Amalekites. It was these people that Moses spoke of when he declared, “The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation (Ex 17:15-16).” The Amalekites from that point on became the antithesis of the Jewish people. As the Jewish people lived lives of holiness in order to honor God, so the people of Amalek lived lives of sin and did not honor God. This same opposite continued throughout history and became a characteristic owned by Haman toward the Jews.
So then, this enemy of the Jewish people cast the pur, otherwise known as a lot. This rolling of the dice was used to determine the date that Haman should move forward to carry out his plan to execute the Jews. Hitler, who also opposed the Jews, used this same method of casting lots in an early version of his ‘Final Solution’.
In Hebrew, every name has a numeric value, and when added up, the pur cast by Haman equaled the value for King Agag, his ancestor. With confidence to now move forward, Haman went before the king requesting the extermination of the Jews. Once his request was granted, “…dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the orders to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews – young and old, women and little children – on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods (Est 3:13).”
Yet, our story does not there. The top view of the lots added up to King Agag, but the bottom view of the lots added up to the value of King David, from whose line the Messiah came. You see, things are not always as they seem. Sometimes what we see on the surface looks bleak. But underneath, where so many times we fail to look, God is at work and preparing an answer opposite of what we see right away.
In the midst of all that Haman was doing, rolling his dice and building his gallows, Mordecai approached Esther to go before the king and plead for the lives of the Jewish people. The only problem with Mordecai’s request, however, was that Esther had not been called upon in thirty days for reasons unstated. As Esther was sure to point out to her cousin, “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law; that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life” (Est 4:11).
Mordecai didn’t seem to impressed with her answer, probably because his life was on the line, and sent back another response to her. “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Est 4:13-14).
…For such a time as this. These are probably the most known words of the book of Esther. But these words can be said of us also I am sure. We have no real idea of how many people we affect daily, or of how many lives we influence. Yet one thing we can have assurance in is that God has put us here on earth for such a time as this. Growing up I was infatuated with the fifties. I listened to the music, watched the movies, and dreamed of life in the fifties. I prayed hard that God would let me travel back in time to this period. I never was allowed, though. And why? Simply because I was born for such a time as this. God put me in this time in history because He had planned specific people for me to reach. Yes, He could have used someone else, but He chose to use me. And He has chosen to use you also.
So then, with the pur cast and the days ahead looking dark, Queen Esther had her answer again taken to Mordecai. This answer, though, was for prayer and fasting. Fasting is a word that many struggle with. I will admit that I have feared it in the past. I am one who enjoys food, whether it be cooking or baking my own, eating out at a restaurant, or just rummaging through the cupboards for a snack. The idea of giving up the chance to eat when there are so many good foods to eat just doesn't sit right. Yet, it is a spiritual discipline. How can not eating be a spiritual discipline? Taking away my food is punishment enough, but how does it glorify God? Perhaps the answer that I come to learn is based on a couple verses. First, we are told in the Ten Commandments to put nothing before God (Ex 20:3). For me, food can very easily become a god and I can easily spend more time in the kitchen than in God's presence. Secondly, if Jesus is the Bread of Life (Jn 6:35), then the real question becomes am I eating my fill of Him. I know I am eating my fill of physical food because the scale tells me so. But am I eating my fill of what really matters? Of what I should be eating freely?
A time of fasting is a time of putting aside the things that have stolen our devotion from God so that purposefully we can seek God. It is easy for us to get wrapped up in other things that we put God on the back burner and forget about Him. Fasting helps us to not, for in the moments when we would be eating, we can then take that time and apply it to time with God. It is in these moments, these minutes or hours that we would be preparing food, eating food, and then cleaning up the dishes, that these duties cease to exists and give us the freedom to be with God.
We see this devotion in this scripture. Esther was approached by a messenger sent by her uncle requesting that she go before the king and beg him to change his decree against the Jews. Her response was that she would indeed go un-beckoned before the king and risk death for this action. But, she did not go unprepared. She called a fast of all the Jews. For three days and nights, all together, they swapped food and drink for prayers of salvation. The odds were stacked against them; death to all Jews was days away. Yet, the Jewish people made a point to petition God instead of cure their cravings. Life was more important than a sandwich, chips, and a diet coke. And life, life in Christ, should be more important to us as well.
The day of risk came. With the knowledge setting in that she too may not be exempt from death, Esther approached the king, an action that in itself could have brought about her death. Yet still she came. And what is more, she found the mercy of the king as he held out his gold scepter to her (Est 5:2). At the king’s request, she spoke that her desire was to have the king and Haman join her for a feast. When night fell, she was joined by these men and asked again what she desired. Her request once more, was that they again join her the next evening for another meal. Esther’s request was once again accepted.
It was on the second night that the true reason for Esther’s request was made known as she pleaded to the king, in the presence of Haman, that her people be spared. Queen Esther spoke, “If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty, grant me my life – this is my petition. And spare my people – this is my request. For I and my people have been sold for destruction and slaughter and annihilation (Est 7:3-4).” Outraged, the king demanded to know who had made a threat on Esther’s life. Then, pointing in the direction where Haman sat, Esther replied, “The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman.” Furious, the king left while Haman, knowing his fate, begged now for his life and fell at the seat where Esther sat. This fall happened just as the king was returning, and sealed the fate of Haman the Agagite. The curse of death that Haman had planned for the Jews now became the same curse that would end his life.
So then, with the death of Haman came the adaptation of the ruling the king had already approved. Where once the decree had gone out stating that Jews would die, now the degree was amended to state that the Jews could fight back against any army that opposed them (Est 9:1-5). And this ordinance, also sealed with the king’s signet ring, is the basis of what we celebrate during Purim. But the words of Mordecai, the risk of Esther, and the secret hand of God brought about life for the Jews, not prayers to Esther. And in this we celebrate. Again, when it looks as though all hope is gone, it serves us to know that God is still at work. God’s faithfulness and protection will always be there even when we cannot see His physical hand.