Mordecai
recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews in all of King
Ahasuerus’s provinces, both near and far. He ordered them to celebrate the
fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar every year because during those days the Jews gained relief from
their enemies. That was the month when their sorrow was turned into rejoicing
and their mourning into a holiday. They were to be days of feasting, rejoicing,
and of sending gifts to one another and to the poor. Esther 9:20-22
Purim is a Jewish holiday
celebrated on the 14th and 15th of Adar, the 12th month in the Jewish
calendar. It commemorates the
preservation and protection of the Jewish people from Haman, the evil adviser to King Ahasuerus who ruled the Medo-Persian Empire. A remnant of Jews remained in Persia after
the Babylonian captivity, choosing to stay rather than return to their homeland
and Jerusalem. The heroine of the story,
Esther, was a young Jewish woman who had been adopted by her cousin Mordecai as
his own daughter after her parents died.
During a celebration at the palace, the King summoned Queen Vashti in
order to display her beauty to those in attendance. Vashti refused the King’s command to
appear. In response, the King removes
the Queen and issues a decree to find a new Queen. Esther is chosen as the new Queen and hides
her identity as a Jew from the King.
Haman despises Mordecai and
devises a plan to destroy all Jews in the empire. The word "Purim" comes from the Hebrew word "Pur" meaning "lots" because Haman cast lots to determine the actual day on which to destroy the Jews. Mordecai encourages Esther to use her influence and approach the King to plead for the protection of the
Jews, even though to approach the King unbidden means certain death. Mordecai says to Esther “who knows whether or
not you have been appointed for such a time as this?” Esther fasts for 3 days and nights, and then
clothes herself in her royal attire and approaches the King. The King sees Esther and accepts her into his
presence as she finds favor in his eyes. Esther then informs the King of the plot by Haman to kill the Jews. The King issues a decree which cancels out Haman's plot, and has Haman hung on a pole that Haman himself had erected in order to kill Mordecai on. The King then places Mordecai in Haman’s
position as trusted adviser. Through Esther and Mordecai, the Jews are delivered from destruction and instead given an opportunity to prosper.
Purim is similar to
Hanukkah in that both are Jewish holidays, but are not Jewish Feasts appointed
by God. Neither were included by Moses in the Torah as Feasts to be observed. The
Old Testament Books of Ruth and Esther are similar in that they both involve
stories of brides, love, and God’s protection and provision. Esther and Ruth are also Books which are prophetic in nature, as they contain important information in understanding future events related to the coming Messiah. Ruth provides a symbolic framework for Jesus as the Kinsmen Redeemer, and His relationship with both the Bride of Christ (the Church), and with God’s chosen people (the Jewish people). Similarly, the Book of Esther provides a symbolic framework for Jesus and His actions during Passover to deliver people from destruction.
Esther is similar to the biblical stories of both Joseph and Moses in that they are types of the Messiah, deliverer of His people. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers, but became a trusted administrator of the Pharaoh. Through his position and power, Joseph was able to protect and preserve his family. Likewise, Moses was hidden in a basket, found by the daughter of the Pharaoh, and placed into a position where he could deliver his own people from their bondage and into the Promised Land. Esther was placed into a position of power and trust where she could protect and preserve her people from the plans of the evil one to destroy them all.
In the Book of Esther, the King is symbolic, or a "type", of the Lord God. He is the most powerful person in the story, deciding the actions and fates of others. Esther is a type of the Messiah and deliverer, Jesus. She approached the King to plead for the lives of the condemned. She also fasts for 3 days and nights prior, echoing the 3 days and nights that Jesus was in the tomb. Mordecai I believe also represents a type of the Messiah. He advises Esther and encourages her, and ends up being the one who issues the decree that allows the people to prosper from the deadly decree which Haman issued. Mordecai would not bow to Haman just as Jesus did not give in to Satan's temptations during His 40 days in the wilderness. Mordecai just prior to Esther's 3 days of fasting is clothed in sackcloth and ashes, and not allowed to enter the courts of the king but must remain outside the king's gate instead. This symbolizes Jesus bearing the sins of all mankind on the cross and temporarily being unable to be in the presence of God due to the sin He bore for us. Mordecai and Esther are given the house of Haman which is symbolic of Christ redeeming this fallen world to Himself once again in the last days. Haman is symbolic of Satan as the word used to describe Haman (Tsarar) is the Hebrew word for “enemy” or “adversary.” Queen Vashti represents the Law. Just as Vashti does not respond to the King’s command, the Law is unable to accomplish its purpose. Vashti is replaced by Esther, just as Jesus and the new covenant replaces the Law and the old covenant. The Jews who are delivered from destruction are symbolic of Christians, those who are saved by actions of Esther/Mordecai.
In the story, we are told that Haman devises his plan to destroy the Jews on the 13th day of the first month (Nisan). Mordecai finds out about the plan and informs Esther. Esther then fasts for 3 days and 3 nights, and afterwards approaches the King and is accepted into his presence. The timing of this plot is no coincidence, as the day after the 13th of Nisan is Passover (the 14th of Nisan). Christ was crucified on Passover, and then spent 3 days and 3 nights in the tomb. Afterwards, Christ our risen Lord finds favor in the eyes of God because of the sacrifice He has made for our sins. The plans of the enemy (Haman) are countered, and instead Haman is destroyed and his plans for destruction reversed. Later we are told that Haman's 10 sons (a reference to the Antichrist of the Tribulation, the "Beast with 10 horns" in the Books of Daniel and Revelation) are destroyed in the exact same manner as Haman.
In the Book of Esther, the King is symbolic, or a "type", of the Lord God. He is the most powerful person in the story, deciding the actions and fates of others. Esther is a type of the Messiah and deliverer, Jesus. She approached the King to plead for the lives of the condemned. She also fasts for 3 days and nights prior, echoing the 3 days and nights that Jesus was in the tomb. Mordecai I believe also represents a type of the Messiah. He advises Esther and encourages her, and ends up being the one who issues the decree that allows the people to prosper from the deadly decree which Haman issued. Mordecai would not bow to Haman just as Jesus did not give in to Satan's temptations during His 40 days in the wilderness. Mordecai just prior to Esther's 3 days of fasting is clothed in sackcloth and ashes, and not allowed to enter the courts of the king but must remain outside the king's gate instead. This symbolizes Jesus bearing the sins of all mankind on the cross and temporarily being unable to be in the presence of God due to the sin He bore for us. Mordecai and Esther are given the house of Haman which is symbolic of Christ redeeming this fallen world to Himself once again in the last days. Haman is symbolic of Satan as the word used to describe Haman (Tsarar) is the Hebrew word for “enemy” or “adversary.” Queen Vashti represents the Law. Just as Vashti does not respond to the King’s command, the Law is unable to accomplish its purpose. Vashti is replaced by Esther, just as Jesus and the new covenant replaces the Law and the old covenant. The Jews who are delivered from destruction are symbolic of Christians, those who are saved by actions of Esther/Mordecai.
In the story, we are told that Haman devises his plan to destroy the Jews on the 13th day of the first month (Nisan). Mordecai finds out about the plan and informs Esther. Esther then fasts for 3 days and 3 nights, and afterwards approaches the King and is accepted into his presence. The timing of this plot is no coincidence, as the day after the 13th of Nisan is Passover (the 14th of Nisan). Christ was crucified on Passover, and then spent 3 days and 3 nights in the tomb. Afterwards, Christ our risen Lord finds favor in the eyes of God because of the sacrifice He has made for our sins. The plans of the enemy (Haman) are countered, and instead Haman is destroyed and his plans for destruction reversed. Later we are told that Haman's 10 sons (a reference to the Antichrist of the Tribulation, the "Beast with 10 horns" in the Books of Daniel and Revelation) are destroyed in the exact same manner as Haman.
