Page 89 - Advanced OT Survey Student Textbook

Mordecai’s Appeal (4) Mordecai and all Jews respond with mourning. Mordecai informs Esther, and
instructs her to go to the king. When Esther is reticent, since appearing before the king without
invitation could be deadly, Mordecai urges her to use her position- for such a time as this, to save her
people from certain death. Accepting her responsibility, she agrees and says, “ if I perish, I perish.”
Esther agrees to go the king, asking Jews of Susa to fast for 3 days. It is assumed she also means prayer.

Esther’s 1st Banquet (5) As Esther approaches Xerxes, and she wins favor with the scepter. When he
offers to grant nearly any request, Esther invites the king and Haman to a banquet. At banquet, the king
repeats his offer, and Esther invites them to a 2nd banquet the next day.

Chapter’s 5-6 focuses on Haman’s fall and Mordecai’s rise. Between banquets, Haman’s downfall is
directly contrasted with Mordecai’s rise. (1) As Haman recounts his glory, fixated on Mordecai’s shame,
his wife and friends urge him to build gallows, ask for his hanging. (2) At the same time, as Xerxes can’t
sleep, he is reminded of Mordecai’s heroic deed. When Haman arrives, king asks how to honor one
whom the king desires to honor. While Haman came to king to request Mordecai’s hanging, thinking he
himself will be the honored one, king commands him honor Mordecai. (3) After honoring his enemy,
Haman goes home in shame and mourning. His wife and friends foretell ruin.

Esther’s 2nd Banquet (7) With warning in the air, officials arrive to bring Haman to the 2nd banquet.
When Xerxes repeats offer, Esther requests her life and reveals Haman’s plot to destroy, kill, annihilate
her people- this wicked Haman! As Haman begs for his life, he appears to be assaulting Queen Esther.
Informed of his plot against Mordecai, Xerxes orders that Haman be hanged on his own gallows.

Mordecai’s Appeal (8) The King gives his seal to Mordecai, in Haman’s place. They appeal to king to
avert genocide. Since the law cannot be revoked, a 2nd law issued that gave permission for the Jews to
st
destroy, kill, annihilate those seeking their harm. The initial confusion at 1 decree is turned to
celebration at 2nd decree. Out of fear, many Persians declared themselves Jews!

Jews Victorious (9) On the very day that their enemies had hoped to gain mastery over them, the
reverse occurred: Jews gained the mastery over their enemies and no one could stand against them.
The sons of Haman are killed and 800 are killed in Susa, and 75 thousand in other provinces but the Jews
took no plunder. The Jews gather to celebrate the victory over their enemies.

Chapter’s 9-10 focus on Mordecai’s exaltation. A national 2-day holiday, is instituted by Mordecai,
Purim-lots, to remember days Jews got relief from their enemies why passive? Mordecai is honored, as
nd
2 in rank to Xerxes and great among the Jews!

The Feast of Purim today

Purim is one of the most fun holidays celebrated by the Jewish people, but is often under recognized.
Purim (held on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar — usually March or April) commemorates the
day Esther, Queen of Persia, saved the Jewish people from execution by Haman, the advisor to the
Persian king. Esther bravely exposed her previously hidden Jewish heritage to her husband the king and
asked him to save her people, which he did.

Many Jewish holidays incorporate stricter rules, which could include mandatory fasting, but Purim is
much more relaxed. There is only a minor fast the day before Purim, which commemorates the three
days Esther fasted before approaching the king. Then, the holiday itself is known for a party
atmosphere, with big feasts where you can eat and get drunk (within reason, but it is encouraged).

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