FOREWORD
The
Book of Esther is the only book in the whole of Scripture,
which does not contain God's name. Not once is God mentioned
in all of its ten chapters. The miracle of Purim was a hidden
one. But
whoever knows how to read between the lines will see the
Hand of G-d in the story. With a little bit of analysis,
the story begins to unfold and almost ... read itself:
CHAPTER 1
It was in the days of Achashverosh1,
the king of 
Persia
and Media, whom threw a 180-day party to all the officials
of his 127-province worldwide empire.2 Upon
completion of this party, he threw yet another party for the
inhabitants of his new capital city, Shushan. All were invited
to this grand bash, from the highest nobleman to the lowliest
peasant.
His
wife, Queen Vashti threw a party of her own for the noblewomen
of Persia & Media.
On
the seventh3 and final day of the party,
when the King was somewhat inebriated, he called for Queen
Vashti 4 to appear in her crown (only her
crown!) and parade in front of the men at his party. Her refusal
infuriated Achashveirosh and his anger burnt within him.
Her
refusal 5 to obey the King's request threatened
Achashveirosh in two ways. Who can respect a King who can
not even rule in his own house? Perhaps the women of the Empire
would follow the Queen's lead and disobey their husbands.
The
King's advisors recommended swift punishment for Vashti.6
Not only was Vashti put to death, but also her story was to
be written into the royal constitution. Letters were to be sent
to all the provinces. No woman would ever repeat Vashti's mistake.
The king had decreed that every man should rule in his home
and speak the language of his people.
CHAPTER 2
Not surprisingly, Achashverosh
began to feel lonely without his dear Vashti. It was time to
find a new queen. But where would Achashverosh, look for this
new queen. Enter the advisors: "Let the king appoint commissioners
in all the provinces of his kingdom, to gather together every
beautiful young maiden to Shushan the capital." -- a beauty
pageant. In the royal harem, under the charge of Hege, these
fair maidens would undergo six months of "oil and myrrh"
treatment, followed by six months of "cosmetic treatment".
Only then would each girl have her own personal audience with
Achashverosh.
There
was a Jew by the name of Mordechai who had been exiled from
Jerusalem to Shushan by Nebuchadnezzar 7
. He had reared his niece, Esther, ever since her parents
had died. She was as charming as she was beautiful and found
favor in the eyes of all whom met her.
It
is every girl's childhood dream to marry into royalty; to
be the richest queen in the entire world -- every girl except...Esther.
But there was no avoiding the king's decree. After four years
of hiding, Esther was taken against her will to the king's
harem. And when it came her turn to come before Achashverosh,
although she had requested no special perfumes or cosmetics,
the king was so taken with her that he immediately set the
royal crown upon her head and pronounced her as his queen.
He made a great feast in her honor and declared a holiday
for all the provinces. Following Mordechai's instructions,
Esther kept her ancestry hidden. Achashverosh did not even
suspect that she was of Jewish descent.
Now,
Achashverosh was not loved by all his royal subjects and two
of his chamberlains, Bigsan and Teresh, planned to assassinate
him. Mordechai just "happened" to be outside the gate
of the king's palace 8 and he overheard 9
them plotting. Mordechai informed Esther of their attempted
treason and she promptly informed the king, mentioning of course
that it was Mordechai who had thwarted their plans. The matter
was investigated and corroborated, and both Bigsan and Teresh
were hanged. The incident was recorded in the king's "book
of chronicles" and was then promptly forgotten!
CHAPTER 3
Suddenly, as
if from nowhere, a new player arrives on the stage -- Haman.
He quickly advanced in the political hierarchy and ultimately
the king, himself, promoted him and placed him above all his
fellow officers
According
to the king's command, all would bow down and prostrate themselves
before Haman. Mordechai, however, refused to participate in
this new Haman-worshiping cult10. The kings'
servants tried to warn Mordechai, but he refused to heed their
words.
When
Haman became aware of the defiance of this Jew, he was filled
with rage. However, it seemed contemptible to him to lay his
hands on Mordechai alone. He would die together with his people:
the Jewish people.
That
was Haman's plan, the only thing that remained was to pick
a lucky date for the annihilation to begin. In the twelfth11
year of Achashverosh's reign, in the month of Nissan, Haman
cast lots. Adar was Haman's lucky month12,
and the thirteenth was his lucky date. Haman now had twelve
months to make his plan a reality.
Haman
then approached the king "There is a certain13
people scattered throughout and dispersed among all the provinces
in your realm. Their laws are different. They do not observe
the king's laws. The king should not tolerate them".
Haman was ready14 to pay Achashverosh ten
thousand silver talents (the equivalent of 750 tons of silver)15
for the right to the lives of the entire Jewish nation.
Achashverosh
removed his signet ring and gave it to Haman to write an edict
for the destruction of the entire Jewish people and to have
it sealed with the king's signet ring. "And as for the
money," said the king, "keep it!". Letters
were sent out by courier to every province.
Happy
with their new plan, the king and Haman sat down to drink, but
the Jews of Shushan were confused and bewildered.16
CHAPTER 4
When Mordechai
learned of the threat, he tore his clothes and donned sackcloth
and ashes. The Jews throughout the provinces followed suit with
fasting and weeping.
Mordechai
sent a message to Esther, bidding her to appeal to the king
on behalf of her people. "It is well known", Esther
replied, "that anyone who approaches the king without
being summoned is put to death. And I have not been summoned
for the past thirty days"
"Who
knows" replied Mordechai, "whether it was for just
such an opportunity as this that you attained your royal position".
Esther
agreed to try, but with one condition. Mordechai was to gather
all the Jews in Shushan and declare a three day long public
fast. Esther, together with her maids, would also fast. "Only
then," she said "will I go. And if I perish, I perish".
CHAPTER 5
Esther approached
the king's chambers. As she stood in the inner courtyard, Achashverosh
noticed her. She won his favor and he extended his golden scepter
to her "What is your wish Queen Esther? Up till half of
my kingdom, I will grant you".
Esther
did not request half of his kingdom. All she asked, was that
Achashverosh come together with Haman to a private banquet
later that day.
Later,
at this little feast Achashverosh, sensing that Esther was
leading up to something repeated his offer to Esther "What
is your request? Up to half of my kingdom and I shall grant
it you".
Again,
Esther replied, that all she desired was that the king, together
with Haman, attend yet another banquet the following day.
When
Haman left the party, he was euphoric. Just the king and queen
and Haman...oh what an honor. But as he left the palace, he
saw that arrogant Mordechai, who refused to stand up for him
or bow down to him.
Haman
told his wife and sons of all the honor that had been accorded
to him. "But all this is worthless to me", he continued
"as long as I see that Jew Mordechai sitting at the king's
gate".
Haman's
wife Zeresh had the answer " Let a gallows be made, fifty
cubits high; and tomorrow morning speak to the king and have
them hang Mordechai on it". Haman was pleased with this
plan and was so eager to carry it out that he immediately had
the gallows constructed.
CHAPTER 6
That night Achashverosh was
unable to fall asleep. So he ordered to be brought before him
the king's "book of chronicles" and had it read before
him. The royal story readers "chanced" to open the
book at that long forgotten chapter - the story of how Mordechai
had saved the king's life. "What honor has been bestowed
upon Mordechai?" asked the king. "Nothing has been
done for him", answered the king's pages.
Just
then, Haman happened to be standing in the outer court of
the palace. Not wanting to loose a moment, he had come to
speak to the king about hanging Mordechai.
Achashverosh
ordered for him to be brought in. "What should be done
for the man whom the king wishes to honor?" asked Achashverosh.
So Haman, thinking that there could be no one who the king
would want to honor more than him, saw the opportunity to
have his dream made a reality. "Dress him in the king's
robes and have him ride on the king's horse with a royal crown
on his head. Then have one of the king's most noble officers
parade him through the city square". Oh...What honor,
thought Haman.
"Then
hurry", said the king "Get the robe and the horse
and do as you have suggested for Mordechai the Jew"
Haman
returned home, dejected and despondent and told over the day's
events to his wife Zeresh and to his advisors. Zeresh saw that
there was no hope and forecast his downfall. "If Mordechai
is of Jewish descent then you will not prevail".17
CHAPTER 7
At
Esther's second party, Achashverosh once more repeated his offer:
"What is your request, Queen Esther? What is your petition?
Up to half of my kingdom and I will grant it you".
The
time was right. Esther replied "If I won your favor,
let my life be granted to me as my request and my peoples
as my petition. For we have been sold, I and my people, to
be destroyed, slain and annihilated".
Achashverosh
was taken by surprise. "Who is the one who dared to do
this?"18
"An
adversary and an enemy", she replied "This wicked
Haman".
As
Haman trembled in terror, the king rose in anger and went
out to the palace garden, leaving Haman to beg Esther for
his life. Achashverosh returned to find Haman prostrated on
the couch upon which Esther was sitting.
"Would
he actually assault the queen while I am in the house?",
stormed Achashverosh.
At
that point, Charbonah, One of the chamberlains in attendance,
informed the king that the fifty cubit gallows, which Haman
had built for Mordechai, was ready and waiting and would be
perfect for Haman!19
"Then
hang him on it!" ordered the king.
So
Haman was hanged on the very same gallows which he had prepared
for Mordechai.
CHAPTER 8
Now Esther and Mordechai
were in favor with Achashverosh. He gave Haman's entire estate
to Esther and placed Mordechai over it.
Esther
approached the king and begged him to avert the evil decree,
which Haman had brought about.20
"An
edict signed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked",
said Achashverosh. But he handed the signet ring to Mordechai
and Esther and told them that they may write whatever they
desired.
Mordechai
ordered for letters to be sent to the Jews in all the provinces
stating that the king had given permission for the Jews of
every province to prepare their defense against anyone who
may attack or threaten them.
The
fate of the Jewish nation had been turned around. From destruction
to salvation; from dejecton to honor; from sorrow to gladness.
CHAPTER 9
So the Jews organized their
defense. Those in the provinces succeeded in fighting off their
attackers on the thirteenth of Adar and so celebrated on the
fourteenth. However, the Jews of the capital, Shushan, took
until the end of the fouteenth to fight off their enemies, and
so their celebration took place on the fifteenth of Adar.
Haman's
ten sons were hanged and their enemies were destroyed, but
the Jews did not lay their hands on the spoils.
The
Jewish nation accepted upon themselves to celebrate these two
days, without fail, at the proper time each year. Aside from
the feasting, they were to send delecacies to one another and
gifts to the poor. That was how Purim would be remembered for
generations to come.
CHAPTER 10
Mordechai had
been promoted
to the position of Viceroy to the king. He was respected by
all and was able to take care of the welfare and posterity of
his people.
THE
END!
______________________________________
Footnotes
1
Achashveirosh is also known in the book of Ezra (4:6-24) as
Artaxerxes. He was the successor of King Cyrius of Persia.
Cyrius permitted the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem,
and Achashveirosh rescinded this permission upon the incitement
of Haman and his sons.
2 This feast also celebrated the permanent
downfall of the Jewish people and their G-d. Daniel prophesized
that the Jewish People would be exiled for 70 years. Achashveirosh
thought that these 70 years had begun with the exile of King
Yohoyakim of Yehudah. The end of 70 years from this date coincides
with the beginning of this feast.
3 According to tradition the seventh day of
the party was Shabbat (the seventh day of the week).
4 Queen Vashti was the daughter of Belshazar,
King of Babylon, grandson of Nebuchadnezer. She made Jewish
women serve her naked on Shabbat and was punished by G-d measure
for measure.
5 Her exact words to Achashveirosh were that
"a peasant stable boy in her father's house could hold
his wine better than Achashveirosh, without making such insane
requests".
6 The advisor who managed to make his voice
heard above the others was called Memuchan. According to tradition
this is a nickname for Haman. The name Memuchan implies that
he is destined or prepared for a certain end. With this advice
he prepared the way for his own destruction.
7 This verse of the Megilla, is said aloud
in the synagogue by the congregation during the public reading.
It marks the beginning of the redemption, which took place
through Mordechai. The seeds for the redemption were sewn
through the hands of the evil Nebuchadnezzar, even before
the threat of annihilation.
8 He would frequently pass by to inquire about
Esther's well being. He understood that G-d must have some
reason for causing such a righteous woman as Esther to be
forced into marriage with someone like Achashverosh.
9 Being a member of the Sanhedrin (Great Rabbinical
Court), Mordechai knew seventy languages. They spoke in their
native Tarsian tongue in Mordechai's presence, not expecting
him to understand them.
10 To make it clear that homage due to him
was of an idolatrous character, Haman fastened an idol to
his clothes. This was the main reason behind Mordechai's objection.
11 Note that five years have passed since
Esther's appointment as queen and nine years have passed since
the story began with the grand feast. How would these events
have appeared to the people who lived in Shushan at the time?
12 Haman was happy -- he had picked a winner.
Adar was the month in which Moses had died, surely an unlucky
month for the Jews. What he did not know was that Moses had
also been born in Adar, and the effect of his birth far outweighed
that of his death.
13
The Megillah records that Haman worded his scathing remarks
on the Jews with the word "Yeshno" -- 'there is'.
In Hebrew Yeshno also contains the word "Yoshen"
-- they are sleeping. Haman was aware that in the past his
ancestor, Amalek, had failed in his attempt to destroy the
Jewish people, but he thought that he now had a unique opportunity.
They are sleeping, they slumber in their observance; they
are not worthy of G-d's special protection. He was right,
but there was one thing that he had not accounted for. What
was it?
14 Note again the significance of the word
ready or prepared (see note 6). Haman was prepared to do whatever
it takes to destroy the Jews.
15 It is symptomatic of the true enemy of
the Jewish people to value the final solution to the Jewish
problem more highly than anything else in the world.
16 Note how quickly everything takes place.
The plan, the lots, the date, the king's consent, the royal
edict, the letters -- all in the space of a few days. No wonder
the reaction was one of bewilderment. What else takes place
at lightening speed later on in the story?
17 She explained Israel are compared to stars
and to dust (Genesis 22:17). When they fall, they fall right
down into the dust and when they begin to rise, they rise
all the way to the heavens.
18 Note that Achashverosh was still unaware
of Esther's ancestry.
19 The importance of Charbonah's recommendation
for immediate action should not be underestimated. The king
was so fickle that unless Haman was hanged there and then,
he could easily find his way back into the king's favor. For
this reason the celebratory passage, which is sung after the
public reading of the Megilla, makes mention of Charbonah
as being worthy of praise.
20 Note that this decree had been ordered by the king
and signed with his signet ring. To retract the decree at
this late stage would make him look indecisive. No wonder
that Esther had to beg and plea for the lives of her people.
