THE CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF PURIM The thirteenth day designated for the annihilation of the Jews, turned from sorrow to joy; when in that same day the Jews could kill their enemies. And the two days: the fourteenth and the fifteenth became a joyful feast celebrated by the Jews every year. 1. The conquest and dominion of the Jews 1 - 10 2. Esther doubles the strike 11 - 19 3. Mordeccai institutes the feast of Purim 20 – 32 1- THE CONQUEST AND DOMINION OF THE JEWS: All the provinces of the kingdom have got two royal decrees: the first, sent by Haman from Shushan the citadel, dated the thirteenth of the first month, commanding the killing and annihilation of the Jews; And the second, sent by Mordeccai from the same city, dated the twenty third of the third month, authorizing the Jews to hold the sword, to defend themselves against their enemies. On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, when the enemies of the Jews intended to attack them, according to the first decree, “The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of king Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them because fear of them fell upon all people. And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and all those doing the king’s work, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordeccai fell upon them” (2, 3). If the enemy (the devil) stirred up against the church, assuming that he can overcome her. Yet he was cast defeated under her feet; as according to the Lord Himself: “The gates of Hades shall not prevail against her” (Matthew 16: 18); And as He says to the church of Philadelphia: “I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie – Indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you” (Revelation 2: 9) On the gallows prepared by Haman to crucify Mordeccai, he was crucified, as were his ten sons (14). Having plotted a complete annihilation of the people of God, he and all his followers perished. Despite their knowledge that a second contradictory decree has been issued, the enemies of the Jews hoped to overpower them” (1); they all joined forces to attack them, to end up with shame. … According to the Jewish tradition, no one could stand before the people of God, except the ‘Amalekites’, whose hearts were as hard as that of Pharaoh. As we already said, Haman was a descendent of Amalek (1 Samuel 15: 3, 9). Haman’s ten sons intended with persistence to avenge their father’s blood, whatever the cost might be. “The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of king Ahasuerus to lay hand on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all people” (2) That collective movement bears a spiritual concept which touches our life in the Lord. The gathering together of the Jews in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king, refers to the dedication of all man’s senses, motives, energies; and every talent submitted to the kingdom of God, to work together with one spirit and one mind, to oppose the devil with all his thoughts and seductions, which constitute an animosity intended to harm us. By so gathering together in the Lord, no one can withstand us, nor 66 any plot can overpower us; And we become, in the sight of the devil, awesome and fearful. “And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and all those doing the king’s work, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordeccai fell upon them” (4). The gathering together of the Jews in their cities, refers, as I already said, to that all man’s senses, motives, and the inner energies, would stand-by for spiritual strife, through his holy life. As to the help of “the officials, the satraps, the governors, and all those doing the king’s work”, It refers to the outside support for man, living in the Lord, like that from the heavenly hosts, the congregation of saints departed in the Lord, and the prayers of those still living….. Hence the apostle says: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12: 1). Bearing such a strength of the Spirit, its unity within, and an outer divine support, the people could overcome their enemies…. The number of those killed by the Jews reached 500 men in Shushan, beside Haman’s ten sons…. Yet the people did not stretch their hands to plunder their possessions, nor to kill women and children, despite the permission of the king to do that (8: 11); to confirm their intention, not to use the king’s decree to realize any goals for themselves, other than to seek their own safety. 2- ESTHER DOUBLES THE STRIKE: “The king said to queen Esther, ‘the Jews have killed and destroyed 500 men in Shushan the citadel, and the ten sons of Haman; … and asked her ‘What is your further request? It shall be done’. Then Esther said, if it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do again tomorrow according to today’s decree, and let (the corpses of) Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the gallows” (12, 13). Esther requested that, not for the sake of blood shedding, but probably, perceiving that the enemies of the Jews were still persisting on their plots to realize Haman’s plans, she intended to put an end to the whole matter. As to hanging the corpses of Haman’s ten sons, she intended to make that a lesson to anyone who might think of doing the Jews any further harm. What Esther has done refers to the commitment of the believer to strike the works of the devil up to the end; to leave no trace of him inside the palace (the heart), to keep him from any further attempt to get up and fight the soul anew; and to uproot from the soil of his inner life, every root of sin, to make the palace holy for the Lord to dwell in. That was concerning Shushan the citadel; As to the rest of the king’s provinces, they were committed to confine their revenge to the thirteenth day of the month, and not any further. 3- MORDECCAI INSTITUTES THE FEAST OF PURIM: “Mordeccai wrote all these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, both near and far, to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and the fifteenth days of the month of Adar”, as a memorial of God’s work with them, to send presents to one another, and gifts to the poor. The way God cared for them and saved their life, everyone, likewise is committed to care for his neighbor, and not disregard the poor and the needy. This day is called “the feast of Purim”. We already talked about its rites. 67 “To confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time as Mordeccai the Jew and queen Esther had prescribed for them, and as they had decreed for themselves and their descendants concerning matters of their fasting and lamenting”, (9: 30); as a praise of thanksgiving to God, who works to the account of His children. … According to St. Jerome: [Esther is a symbol of the church, whose congregation were saved from danger; Having slain Haman, whose name means (oppression), she delivered to the generations to come a great memorial day and feast1]. 1 Ep. 53: 8.
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