Day 179: OT Esther C8-16 (END); GOD Grants Vintage Old Testament Revenge for Phurim!

Day 179: OT Esther C8–16 (END); GOD Grants Vintage Old Testament Revenge for Phurim!

Queen Esther tells King Assuerus the truth about her uncle Mardochai and the former letters of the now dead Aman, the traitor and enemy of the Jews…

“For Esther had confessed to him that he was her uncle… And the king took the ring… and gave it to Mardochai. And Esther set Mardochai over her house.”

“I beseech thee, that the former letters of Aman the traitor and enemy of the Jews, by which he commanded that they should be destroyed in all the king’s provinces, may be reversed by new letters. For how can I endure the murdering and slaughter of my people?”

King Assuerus’ new decree allows for the revenge of the Jews on their enemies throughout the land…:

“Then the king’s scribes and secretaries were called for… and letters were written, as Mardochai had a mind… from India to Ethiopia… according to their language and characters, and to the Jews, according as they could read and hear… to prevent the former letters with new messages… to stand for their lives, and to kill, and destroy all their enemies with their wives and children and all their houses, and to take their spoil. And one day of revenge was appointed through all the provinces… that the Jews were ready to be revenged of their enemies…”

The ‘fame of the name’ Mardochai increased and the Jews rejoiced and took their revenge:

“…extolled the Jews for fear of Mardochai, for they knew him to be prince of the palace, and to have great power; and the fame of his name increased daily…”

“So the Jews made a great slaughter of their enemies, and killed them, repaying according to what they had prepared to do to them, insomuch that even in Susan they killed five hundred men, besides the ten sons of Aman the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews… And when they had slain them, they would not touch the spoils of their goods…”

The Feast of Phurim was instituted so that all Jews of future generations would know what happened…

“…and always at the return of the year should celebrate them with solemn honor… and give gifts to the poor… and since that time these days are called Phurim, that is, of lots; because Phur, that is, the lot, was cast into the urn… so that it should be lawful for none to pass these days without solemnity… as the years continually succeed one another… and by their posterity, which is bound to these ceremonies… that they should have peace, and receive truth, and observe the days of lots, and celebrate them with joy in their proper time…”

And the story of Esther was retold again and again:

“…and the Lord remembered his people, and had mercy on his inheritance… throughout all the generations hereafter of the people of Israel.”

“a dream of Mardochai… a conspiracy is detected by Mardochai… a decree was made to destroy the Jews… Mardochai prayed to the Lord… Esther lamented and prayed… beautiful Esther pleads for the people of Israel… and God changed the king’s spirit into mildness… But Aman as the next man after the king was so far puffed up with arrogancy…”

“But we have found that the Jews, who were by that most wicked man appointed to be slain, are in no fault at all, but contrariwise use just laws, and are the children of the highest and the greatest, and the ever living God, by whose benefit the kingdom was given both to our fathers and to us, and is kept unto this day…

And the Jews celebrated the Feast of Phurim…

Day 179: OT Esther C8–16 (END);

This book tells how the young Jewess, Esther, saved her countrymen from the slaughter planned for them by Aman, the prime minister of King Assuerus. Acting upon the advice of her uncle, Mardochai, she interviewed with the King. As a result her people were saved and Aman was hanged upon a gibbet.

Day 179: OT Esther C8–16 (END); GOD Grants Vintage Old Testament Revenge for Phurim!

Bible Notes:

Esther Chapter 8: Advancement of Mardochai; Esther Pleads for Her People; Assuerus’ New Decree; The Jews Rejoice.

Advancement of Mardochai:

For Esther had confessed to him that he was her uncle… And the king took the ring… and gave it to Mardochai. And Esther set Mardochai over her house.

Esther Pleads for Her People:

I beseech thee, that the former letters of Aman the traitor and enemy of the Jews, by which he commanded that they should be destroyed in all the king’s provinces, may be reversed by new letters. For how can I endure the murdering and slaughter of my people?

Assuerus’ New Decree:

Then the king’s scribes and secretaries were called for… and letters were written, as Mardochai had a mind… from India to Ethiopia… according to their language and characters, and to the Jews, according as they could read and hear… to prevent the former letters with new messages… to stand for their lives, and to kill, and destroy all their enemies with their wives and children and all their houses, and to take their spoil. And one day of revenge was appointed through all the provinces… that the Jews were ready to be revenged of their enemies…

The Jews Rejoice:

And all the city rejoiced and was glad. But to the Jews a new light seemed to rise, joy, honor, and dancing… there was wonderful rejoicing, feasts and banquets, and keeping holy day: insomuch that many of other nations and religion joined themselves to their worship and ceremonies. For a great dread of the name of the Jews had fallen upon all.

Esther Chapter 9: The Revenge of the Jews; The Sons of Aman are Hanged; The Number Who were Killed; Holy Days Ordained; The Feast of Phurim Instituted.

The Revenge of the Jews:

…when all the Jews were designed to be massacred, and their enemies were greedy after their blood, the case being altered, the Jews began to have the upper hand, and to revenge themselves of their adversaries…

…extolled the Jews for fear of Mardochai, for they knew him to be prince of the palace, and to have great power; and the fame of his name increased daily…

So the Jews made a great slaughter of their enemies, and killed them, repaying according to what they had prepared to do to them, insomuch that even in Susan they killed five hundred men, besides the ten sons of Aman the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews… And when they had slain them, they would not touch the spoils of their goods…

The Sons of Aman are Hanged:

And the king commanded that it should be done. And forthwith the edict was hung up in Susan, and the ten sons of Aman were hanged.

The Number Who were Killed:

…the Jews stood for their lives, and slew their enemies and persecutors: insomuch that the number of them that were killed amounted to seventy-five thousand, and no man took any of their goods.

Holy Days Ordained:

And therefore they appointed that day to be a holy day of feasting and gladness… for banquets and gladness, so as to rejoice on that day, and send one another portions of their banquets and meats.

The Feast of Phurim Instituted:

…and always at the return of the year should celebrate them with solemn honor… and give gifts to the poor… and since that time these days are called Phurim, that is, of lots; because Phur, that is, the lot, was cast into the urn… so that it should be lawful for none to pass these days without solemnity… as the years continually succeed one another… and by their posterity, which is bound to these ceremonies… that they should have peace, and receive truth, and observe the days of lots, and celebrate them with joy in their proper time…

Esther Chapter 10: Position and Power of Mardochai; Interpretation of Mardochai’s Dream.

Position and Power of Mardochai:

…wherewith he exalted Mardochai, are written in the books of the Medes, and of the Persians…

Interpretation of Mardochai’s Dream.

The little fountain which grew into a river, and was turned into a light, and into the sun, and abounded into many waters, is Esther, whom the king married, and made queen.

But the two dragons are I and Aman…

and my nation is Israel, who cried to the Lord, and the Lord saved his people: and he delivered us from all evils, and hath wrought great signs and wonders among the nations, and he commanded that there be two lots, one of the people of God, and the other of all the nations.

…and the Lord remembered his people, and had mercy on his inheritance… throughout all the generations hereafter of the people of Israel.

Esther Chapter 11: A Dream of Mardochai.

A Dream of Mardochai:

Now he was of the number of the captives whom Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried away from Jerusalem…

And behold two great dragons came forth ready to fight one against another…

And they cried to God: and as they were crying, a little fountain grew into a very great river, and abounded into many waters. The light and the sun rose up, and the humble were exalted, and they devoured the glorious…

Esther Chapter 12: Mardochai Detects a Conspiracy.

Mardochai Detects a Conspiracy:

NOTE: Appears to be a repeat of the earlier chapters this time in a dream of Mardochai!

Bagatha and Thara the king’s eunuchs…

And when he understood their designs, and had diligently searched into their projects, he learned that they went about to lay violent hands on king Artazerxes, and he told the king thereof… the two eunuchs of the king were put to death.

Esther Chapter 13: Artaxerxes’ Decree to Destroy the Jews; The Prayer of Mardochai.

Artaxerxes’ Decree to Destroy the Jews:

Whereas I reigned over many nations, and had brought all the world under my dominion, I was not willing to abuse the greatness of my power, but to govern my subjects with clemency and lenity, that they might live quietly without any terror, and might enjoy peace, which is desired by all men.

…there was a people scattered through the whole world, which used new laws, and acted against the customs of all nations, despised the commandments of kings, and violated by their opposition the concord of all nations… and seeing one nation in opposition to all mankind using perverse laws… we have commanded that all who Aman shall mark out… shall be utterly destroyed by their enemies… that these wicked men going down to hell in one day, ma restore to our empire the peace which they had disturbed.

The Prayer of Mardochai:

But Mardochai besought the Lord, remembering all his works, and said: O Lord, Lord, almighty king, for all things are in thy power, and there is none that can resist thy will, if thou determined to save Israel…

Thou knowest all things, and thou knowest htat it was not out of pride or contempt, or any desire of glory, that I refused to worship the proud Aman…

But I feared lest I should transfer the honor of my God to a man, and lest I should adore any one except my God…

And now, O Lord, O king, O God of Abraham, have mercy on thy people, because our enemies resolve to destroy us, and extinguish thy inheritance. Despise not thy portion, which thou hast redeemed for thyself out of Egypt…

Hear my supplication, and be merciful to thy lot and inheritance, and turn our mourning into joy, that we may live and praise thy name, O Lord, and shut not the mouths of them that sing to thee…

And all Israel with like mind and supplication cried to the Lord, because they saw certain death hanging over their heads.

Esther Chapter 14: Esther’s Lamentation; Esther’s Prayer for the People.

Esther’s Lamentation:

Queen Esther… had recourse to the Lord… she put on garments suitable for weeping and mourning… she covered her head with ashes and dung, and she humbled her body with fasts; and all the places in which before was accustomed to rejoice, she filled with her torn hair.

Esther’s Prayer for the People:

And she prayed to the Lord the God of Israel, saying: O my Lord, who alone art our king… my danger is in my hands… O Lord, didst take Israel from among all nations, and our fathers from all their predecessors, to possess them as an everlasting inheritance, and thou hast done to them as thou hast promised.

We have sinned in thy sight, and therefore thou hast delivered us into the hands of our enemies, for we have worshiped their gods

Remember, O Lord, and show thyself to us in the time of our tribulation, and give me boldness, O Lord, king of gods, and of all power.

O God, who are mighty above all, hear the voice of them, that have no other hope, and deliver us from the hand of the wicked, and deliver me from fear.

Esther Chapter 15: Mardochai Tells Esther to Plead for Israel; The Beauty of Esther; The King Receives Esther Kindly.

Mardochai Tells Esther to Plead for Israel:

And do thou call upon the Lord, and speak to the king for us, and deliver us from death.

The Beauty of Esther:

And glittering in royal robes, after she had called upon God the ruler and savior… but she with a rosy color in her face, and with a gracious and bright eyes, hid a mind full of anguish, and exceedingly great fear.

The King Receives Esther Kindly:

And God changed the king’s spirit into mildness, and all in haste and in fear he leaped from his throne, and holding her up in his arms, till she cane to herself, caressed her with these words: What is the matter, Esther? I am thy brother, fear not…

I saw thee, my lord, as an angel of God, and my heart was troubled for fear of thy majesty… but the king was troubled, and all his servants comforted her.

Esther Chapter 16: The Letter of King Artaxerxes; Evil Public Officials; The Treachery of Aman; Jews to be Unmolested.

The Letter of King Artaxerxes:

Evil Public Officials:

Many have abused unto pride the goodness of princes, and the honor that hath been bestowed upon them… and to violate in themselves the laws of humanity, but they think they can also escape the justice of God who seeth all things… while the crafty fraud they deceive the ears of princes that are well meaning, and judge of others by their own nature…. How the designs of kings are depraved by the evil suggestions of certain men…

The Treachery of Aman:

…and was worshiped by all as the next man after the king. But he was so far puffed up with arrogancy, as to go about to deprive us of our kingdom and life… and might transfer the kingdom of the Persians to the Macedonians.

But we have found that the Jews, who were by that most wicked man appointed to be slain, are in no fault at all, but contrariwise use just laws, and are the children of the highest and the greatest, and the ever living God, by whose benefit the kingdom was given both to our fathers and to us, and is kept unto this day.

Jews to be Unmolested:

Wherefore know ye that those letters which he sent in our name, are void and of no effect. For which crime both he himself that devised it, and all his kindred hang on gibbets, before the gate of this city Susan: not we, but God repaying him as he deserved.

Bit this edict, which we now send, shall be published in all cities, that the Jews may freely follow their own laws… For Almighty God hath turned this day of sadness and mourning into joy to them.