Purim
As one who keeps Yahweh’s Feast and High Days found in Leviticus 23, it is interesting to note two Jewish celebrations found in Scriptures. These two Jewish celebrations are Purim and The Feast of Dedication or more commonly called Hanukkah. For this article we will review the Jewish celebration of Purim. For more information on the Feast of Dedication or Hanukkah, please read the article “Hanukkah”.
Although there is no direct mention of Purim in the New Testament, it is interesting to note that Messiah never criticized the Jews for keeping Purim. There is mention of the Feast of Dedication in John 10 and Messiah Himself was at the temple during the Feast of Dedication and claimed to fulfill it.
So where does the Jewish celebration of Purim come from? We find Purim in the Book of Esther. The Book of Esther in the Bible has all the elements of a great novel. There is the beautiful young orphan girl, Esther, who rises from obscurity to become queen and the heroine who saves her people from annihilation. She even hides the secret that she is a Jew which could bring about her demise.
The story line involves an order to destroy the Jews by Haman the Agagite (descendent of the Amalekites, Exodus 17:8-16, Deuteronomy 25:19, and 1 Samuel 15). In addition, Esther’s cousin Mordecai exposes and turns the table on Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews. Mordecai ultimately rises to the second highest rank in the land. The Book of Esther is a power struggle of good and evil which culminates with Yahweh delivering His children from destruction. As a side note, Esther was not her given Hebrew name. Esther’s given Hebrew name was Haddassah, which means “myrtle”.
Let us look at some key passages in Esther that outline the Purim story. First, we see the dire situation of the Jews as Haman receives permission from King Ahasuerus to destroy all Jews.
Esther 3:12 Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded….13 And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
But through Esther and Mordecai, Yahweh intervenes to save His people from ultimate destruction, destroying Haman, his family, and 75,000 Persian citizens.
Esther 8:7 Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. 8 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.
Esther 9:1 Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;) 2 The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.
16 But the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,
Although the Book of Esther does not include Yahweh’s name (tetragrammaton), the book non-the-less demonstrates Yahweh’s Providence and Sovereignty in a situation that seems hopeless. This deliverance of Yahweh’s children from a person who wants to destroy them is symbolic of all the times Yahweh delivers His children. It is the classic age-old battle between Satan and Messiah and His children (Genesis 3:15). It is a foreshadowing of Yahweh Messiah’s return to this Earth to bind Satan and his dominion and to save His children from annihilation.
Revelation 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
So, what do the Scriptures say about how we are to keep Purim? First, we see that Mordecai established that not only the Jews but all that would like to join the Jews were welcome to celebrate Purim. And this celebration of deliverance by Yahweh falls on the 14th and 15th Day of Adar (February/March). On these two festive days there would be feasting, rejoicing, rest, honor, light, joy, gladness, exchange of (food) portions, and giving gifts to the poor. The Scriptures state that this celebration of Purim is a memorial to all generations.
Esther 8:15 And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced (#6670) and was glad (#8056). 16 The Jews had light (#219), and gladness (#8057), and joy (#8342), and honour (#3366). 17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy (#8057) and gladness (#8342), a feast (#4960) and a good day (#2896).
6670 tsahal {tsaw-hal’} • a primitive root; to gleam, i.e. fig to be cheerful, to sound clear, shine, shout and to be lifted up.
8056 sameach {saw-may’-akh} • from 8055; blithe or gleeful – rejoice, joyful, merry, and merry hearted.
8057 simchah {sim-khaw’} • from 8056; blithesomeness or glee – rejoice, glad, joyful, merry, merrily, merry hearted.
In another technical use this noun signifies the entire activity of making a feast before Yahweh (see Nehemiah 8:12).
219 owrah {o-raw’} • fem of 216; luminousness, i.e. (fig) prosperity, also a plant (as being bright).
In Ester 8:16 “light” is one of several words describing the relief and joy felt by the Jews in Persia when the decree to destroy them had been rescinded. Prosperity and light are closely linked with joy. So, it is appropriate to find “happiness” as a meaning for “light”. The concepts are parallel in Psalm 97:11.
Psalm 97:11 Light (#216) is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
8342 sasown {saw-sone’} or !fof’ sason {saw-sone’} • from 7797 = to be bright, i.e. cheerful
3366 y@qar {yek-awr’} • from 3365; value, i.e. wealth, abstract costliness, dignity – honor, precious, precious things, price and splendor.
4960 mishteh {mish-teh’} • from 8354; drink, by implication drinking (the act), also by implication a banquet or general feast.
2896 towb {tobe} • from 2895; good, favorable, festive, pleasing, pleasant, well, better, right, best, delightful and favorable.
Esther 9:20 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 (#5117) from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy (#8057), and from mourning into a good day (#2896): that they should make them days of feasting (#4960) and joy (#8057), and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. 23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;
27 The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year; 28 And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.
5117 nuwach {noo’-akh} • a primitive root to rest, i.e. settle down.
So how did this Jewish celebration get the name Purim? We see that this Jewish celebration gets its name from the fact that Haman cast “pur” or “lot” to determine the day that the Jews would be destroyed.
Esther 9:24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur (#6332), that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them; 25 But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 26 Wherefore they called these days Purim (#6332) after the name of Pur (#6332). Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,
6332 Puwr {poor} also (pl.) Puwriym {poo-reem’} or Puriym {poo-reem’} • from 06331; TWOT – 1749; n m • AV – Purim 5, Pur 3; 8 • Pur or Purim = “lot” or “piece” 1) lot 1a) a special feast among the post-exilic Jews, to celebrate their deliverance from Haman’s destruction through queen Esther’s heroic actions
“Pur”, a Persian word meaning “lot” or “fate” is used in the Book of Esther as a synonym for the Hebrew word for “lot”, “goral (#1486). Therefore, in the Hebrew language this celebration is sometimes called, Hag (feast) Goral Samaeach (happy/joyful)
Esther 3:7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (#6332), that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar. 8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them. 9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed:
As a side note, not only is casting of lots used by non-believers to determine an outcome, it was a common way for believers to discern the will of Yahweh. For more information on the use of “lots” in the Scriptures, please read “Casting of Lots”.
So, it is clear from Scriptures that the 14th and 15th of Adar are days to celebrate Purim. But as we continue to read in Esther, chapter nine, it appears there was a second letter sent out by Queen Esther and Mordecai on Purim that adds a requirement of fasting and crying (i.e. mourning).
Esther 9:29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim (#6332). 30 And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth, 31 To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry. 32 And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.
So, when is this time of fasting and mourning that was added by the second letter? It has to be before the time the Jews were delivered and their celebration on the 14th and 15th of Adar. We see Esther’s command to fast and mourn came before the 13th Day of Adar, the designated day for their destruction. Esther and Mordecai’s command of fasting and mourning could be for three days on the 11th-13th of Adar or symbolically for a single day on the 13th of Adar.
Esther 4:15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise;
Of course, some will say that they are not blood-line Jews so this celebration is not for believers today. But as Mordecai wrote, not only is this celebration for Jews, it is for all that would like to join them as stated in Esther 9:27. And if you really think about the spiritual significance of Purim and the picture of Yahweh delivering His people, including at the end of this age and for eternity, maybe saints should join in on this celebration.
Also, aren’t we spiritual Jews? Paul clearly writes that if we keep the righteousness of the law inwardly, we are also a Jew inwardly. For more information about believers being Spiritual Jews, please read “Spiritually Jewish like my Savior”.
Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of Yahweh.
In fact, the question becomes “Who is a Jew or in a broader sense, an Israelite?” In the Old Testament Jews were not only those born from the seed of an Israelite but included those who kept Yahweh’s commandments.
Exodus 12:48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to Yahweh, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. 49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Numbers 9:14 And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto Yahweh; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.
Isaiah 56:3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to Yahweh, speak, saying, Yahweh hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. 4 For thus saith Yahweh unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; 5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. 6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to Yahweh, to serve him, and to love the name of Yahweh, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
Some will say that Purim is not a Feast declared by Yahweh found in Leviticus 23 and is not one of His appointed times. They are correct that this celebration is not found in Leviticus 23 and Yahweh did not directly speak to declare this celebration.
But we do know that this celebration of Purim is in the Scriptures and the Jews during Messiah’s time kept Purim. Plus, Messiah did not condemn them for keeping this celebration. Remember, Purim is open to both Jews and non-Jews alike and the Scriptures clearly tell us we are spiritually Jewish.
And this celebration represents Yahweh’s Providence and Sovereignty in situations that seem hopeless. It foreshadows Yahweh Messiah’s return to this Earth to bind Satan and his dominion (Revelation 20:1-3) and to save His creation from ultimate destruction (Matthew 24:21). It is also a picture of our deliverance from Satan’s power over death, since we will be with Yahweh and the Lamb in the New Heavens and Earth (Revelation 21:22-23 and 22:1-3) for eternity. Isn’t that something to celebrate?
A recommended way to observe Purim starts with a symbolic day or days of fasting and mourning. It could be a partial fast and could be from one to three days ending on the 13th of Adar. This fast would be followed by two-day celebration on the 14th and 15th day of Adar. This two-day celebration would include feasting, rejoicing, rest, honor, light, joy, gladness, exchange of (food) portions, and giving gifts to the poor.
HalleluYah
(2/17b)