~ Featured Inside ~

Sha1om Aleichem,

      May our greeting find you at peace with our Heavenly Father and his Righteous Son, Yeshua HaMashiach, and with all those with whom you come into contact. And may you also be at peace (shalom) with your own self, content with the circumstances in which our Father is currently allowing you to live, as lie gives you personal instruction in His righteous ways.

~ Another Year Has Past ~

      At the end of this Roman year of 1998, it seems appropriate to pause and consider all that has transpired in the world during the last twelve months, for it appears to many that the world is on a fast track to trouble.
      On the economic front, the U.S. stock market continues to fly high even though major corporations are announcing massive layoffs of workers. The Asian and South American economies are still depressed, despite analysts’ predictions that recovery is just around the corner. Meanwhile, the meltdown of the Russian economy continues unabated.
      The worst storm season in recent history has just past, with predictions that next year will be even worse. Mad cow disease, super hugs that no longer respond to treatment from anti-biotics, and new forms of viruses all have made headline news during 1998.
      Then there is the continuing struggle in the Middle East between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, plus Saddam Hussein’s on going defiance of the United Nations inspection teams which have led to the bombing of Iraq.
      Yet, on the other hand, there is good news as well. Violent crime in the U.S. continues to drop. Despite the announced layoffs of many workers, the U.S. economy continues to create more jobs than it loses, putting unemployment at its lowest level in decades. New developments in medicine seem to hold great promise in the fight against cancer, AIDS and heart disease.

~ A New Year Arrives ~

      In fact, the world continues to go on, much as it always has, while many wonder; Will 1999 be the year in which the stock market readjusts? When it does readjust, will it be a major correction or a deep depression? Will midnight of December 31, 1999 be the end of the world as we presently know it? Will the Y2K computer problem cause the electrical grid to go down, the banks to cease functioning. the airplanes to stop flying and cars to quit running? At this point only our God in heaven knows for sure; the rest of us can only speculate.

~ Fear Breeds Fear ~

      One thing we all need to understand is that the fear that the Y2K problem will lead to the breakdown of society can, by itself cause major disruptions in the economy and lives of all the people on earth. Even if Y2K proves to he a cry of ‘wolf,’ the fact that so many people believe that it will cause massive breakdowns in the functioning of the modem world could, by itself prove to be the cause of very real problems. At times, the public’s perception of reality may cause more problems than the actual problem itself. It is true that if proper preparations are not made for Y2K, the end result could be chaos. However, if the general public is convinced that the economy is going to fall as a result of the Y2K problem, then it will at least stagger as a result of that perception. On the other hand, if the public believes that all xvill be well, then, if Y2K proves to be more smoke than fire, all will be well. Therefore we must use good sense in dealing with it.
      Former U.S. president, Franklin D. Roosevelt put it in understandable terms when he said; “We have nothing to fear but fear itself” While there is much truth to this statement, it would be folly to completely ignore the problem in the hope that it might just go away. It is our sincere conviction that things will be different after January 1, 2000, but just how different we do not know.

~ Preparedness Is the Key ~

      One thing for sure, panic is not the answer. Preparedness is the key. All Believers need to be ready for the worst, both spiritually and physically (but especially spiritually) so that do not find ourselves caught unaware if serious problems do develop. However, at the same time, we need to continue our lives as if things will go on pretty much as they have been in the past, so that if the problems do not come to pass as predicted, we can continue moving forward in our service to our Creator God without interruption.
      The point is that we must all be careful not to over react when we hear various predictions. Our Messiah, Yeshua said that we should watch what is going on around us and be prepared for every eventuality, but that ultimately we cannot know for sure the exact details of what is going to take place, or when it is going to take place.

      "And He spoke to them a parable: ‘Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you, likewise, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things are fulfilled. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
      "‘But take heed to yourselves, least your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
      "‘Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.’"
(Luke 21:29-36)

      In the past fifty years a number of religious organizations have taught that the Great Tribulation would begin during a specific year in their very near future. Many people believed those predictions to be true. As a result, some people decided not to conduct their personal lives in a proper manner since “it was all going to end anyway.” For example, some postponed going to the dentist for several years and eventually ended up with major dental problems, while others charged too much to their credit cards and had problems digging themselves out of debt when the false prophecy failed to come to pass. Therefore, we exhort each of you to use good sense, for:

      ""Good sense is a fountain of life to those who have it."
(Prov. 16:22a - Tanakh)

~ Thank You ~

      As the year draws to a close we would like to give a hearty thank you to those who have supported Hebrew Roots with your prayers and financial assistance. This third year has been a turning point for our ministry; in growth, direction and operation. A great blessing came our way this past fall, when funds were donated specifically for the purchase of some much needed bindery equipment which enables us to produce our printed publications in substantially less time than previously required. As a result, we are now able to offer booklets in addition to the regular Hebrew Roots journal.

~ This Issue ~

      The lead article for this issue, Holocaust Averted, covers the Jewish holiday of Purim. The book of Esther tells the story of Purim, and how an early attempt to rid the world of the Jewish people was thwarted by the bravery and persistence of a Jewish Queen of Persia, named Esther.
      Captives Delivered tells the short story of how YHVH delivered Daniel and his companions from certain death.
      One Destiny, was written in 1945, shortly after the end of World War II, by a Polish Jew named Sholem Asch. It deals with the difficult subject of how Christians and Jews can, and must, reconcile with each other in the aftermath of the terrible tragedy that has come to be know as the Holocaust.
      The Messiah Prophecies: The Torah - Part II, completes the passages found in the Torah (first five books of the Bible) which the ancient Jewish sages saw as pertaining to the Messiah. In these prophecies we see the life of Yeshua revealed in advance.

~ Current Offers ~

      Many of our readers have expressed a desire to hold a Passover Seder (say-der = set order) as a part of their worship during the Passover season, but do not know how to begin. Many Jewish Haggadot (hah-gah-doat = plural form of the word that is used to describe the book which contains the Seder service) are available in bookstores, but only a very few have been produced by Believers and center on Yeshua and the ‘Last Supper.’ To help fill this void, we have prepared A Believer’s Passover Haggadah, which focuses on Yeshua HaMashiach and the last evening lie spent with His disciples. If you would like to reserve a free copy please check the appropriate box on this month’s order form. It will be mailed to you as soon as it is ready. (No later than March 1, 1999.) If you are planning to hold a Passover Seder and need extra copies, we will be happy to provide them. However, in such cases we must ask that you help us out by enclosing a donation to defray printing and postage costs for the extra booklets.
      The Roots of Our Faith tape series continues with Part VIII. Joseph: A Type of Messiah (cont.) explores how Joseph’s reconciliation with his brothers foreshadows a similar reconciliation that is yet to take place.
      The second tape is a continuation of another series: The Wedding of the Messiah. This message deals with the actual marriage ceremony and is entitled: Face to Face.
      If you wish to obtain any of these offers please complete and return the enclosed Offer Form, with the appropriate boxes checked.
      May YHVH bless you abundantly as you seek to worship Him in Spirit and in truth and...

            May the peace of God
            be with you always,

            Dean & Susan Wheelock

Holocaust

      History is full of stories about the persecution of the Jewish people, some of them being recorded in the Scriptures themselves. One story in particular stands out above all the others by offering hope with a happy ending. This story, where the Jews triumph gloriously over their enemies, is found in the book of Esther.
      Many scholars believe that the events found in the book of Esther never took place. They point to several difficulties, including the fact that the kings of Persia were required to marry only within seven high ranking families of Persia. They say that for this reason Ahasuerus could not have taken an unknown Jewish woman to be his queen. However, the actual validity of this story is not really important, for the book of Esther is of great significance to all generations because of what it teaches. This story could well be a Midrash (Meed-rahsh); a story that is intended to teach a great moral lesson. If that is the case, then the details become secondary and, because of its moral teaching, the story is considered to be true. This is another one of those ‘Hebrew things,’ which people born and reared in a Western culture often find confusing, if not incomprehensible.
      To clarify, in this particular story we find the classic tale of good versus evil. Good is represented by Mordecai and Esther, two players from God’s Chosen People, who suddenly find themselves in positions of leadership and importance. What they do; how they react, whether they conduct themselves within the framework of the Torah instructions, and therefore within the will of HaShem, is of the utmost importance.
      Haman, on the other hand, is the complete embodiment of evil. His entire nature reeks of evil, as he goes to great lengths to destroy the Jewish people, making them odious in the eyes of the king, describing them as:

      "‘...a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people’s, and they do not keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain.’"
(Est. 3:8)

~ A Commanded Festival? ~

      The Feast of Purim (Poor-eem’) celebrates the story found in the book of Esther. In fact, a command is issued in the last chapter of Esther which instructs the Jewish people to celebrate Purim each year on the anniversary of their great victory over their enemies.

      "So they called these days Purim, after the name Pur. Therefore, because of all the words of this letter, what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had happened to them, the Jews established and imposed it upon themselves and their descendants and all who should join them, that without fail they should celebrate these two days every year, according to the written instructions and according to the prescribed time, that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, and that the memory of them should not perish among their descendants."
(Esther 9:26-28)

      So, according to Scripture, the Jewish people are commanded to keep this festival every year at the prescribed time. But the invitation, to celebrate Purim, is also given to all those who have a love for the Jewish people.

~ What Does Purim Mean? ~

      The word Purim is the plural form of the word pur (poor) which is said to mean ‘lot’ in Aramaic, the language of the Persian Empire. Thus, in English, this festival would be known as the Festival of Lots. The reason for this designation is because Haman, the villain of the story, cast lots to determine the most auspicious time for the empire to commit genocide against its Jewish residents.
      Many writers point out the similarity between the word Purim and the Hebrew word for the Day of Atonement, Kippur. Yom Kippur is considered to be the most solemn and holy day of all the festivals, while Purim is the most rowdy and raucous. Thus, they stand at the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to the character of the day. However, one similarity is the fact that the casting of lots is intimately connected with both festivals. In the case of Purim it was done with the destruction of the Jews as its purpose, while on Yom Kippur the lots were cast to identify which of the Atonement goats was to be for the LORD and which was for Azazel.

~ When Is Purim Celebrated? ~

            Purim is celebrated throughout the world on the 14th day of the month of Adar, except in Shushan, the former capital of Persia, and Jerusalem, where it is the custom to celebrate Purim on the 15th. The reason for this difference is because it took two days for the Jews of Shushan to complete the work of destroying their enemies, while in the outlying territories it only took one day. Thus, the complete victory was not gained until 14 Adar. The celebrations are set to occur on the days following these respective victories.
      One other question that arises has to do with the fact that in seven out of every nineteen years, the Hebrew calendar contains two months named Adar. They are called Adar I and Adar II. The reason for the dual months is because the Hebrew calendar follows the lunar cycle, rather than the solar. Therefore, there can be only twenty-nine or thirty days in a month. Thus, each lunar year is from nine to eleven days short of the 365 day solar year. To keep the lunar calendar from retrogressing backwards (where eventually, the first month of the year, Nisan, would end up in the fall instead of the spring), thirteen month leap years are added every two or three years. When this occurs, the thirteenth month is called Adar II.
      A question arises when Adar II is added: In which Adar should Purim fall? The sages have determined that during leap years, Purim should occur in Adar II so that it always falls one month before Passover.

~ The Story of Purim ~

      The full story of Purim is found in the book of Esther. It is the practice of the Jewish people to read this entire book on the day of Purim. The book of Esther is called a Megillah (meh-gehl-lah) in Hebrew, a word which means scroll.’ There are five books of the Tanakh that are designated with the term Megillah, and taken together they are called the Megillot (plural form). Each is read on one of the festivals. These books are: The Song of Songs (Passover); Ruth (Shavu'ot); Lamentations (Ninth of Av); Ecclesiastes (Sukkot) and Esther (Purim). It is said that on Purim one is to read the ‘whole Megillah,’ that is the entire book.

* Captivity *

      The story begins in the sixth century BCE, when Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, took the nation of Judah captive:

      "Now in Shushan the citadel there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite. Kish had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been captured with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away."
(Est. 2:5-6)

      Most English translations render this verse to say the one carried away captive was ‘Kish.’ However, the Hebrew text is unclear since it literally says "...who had been carried away..." not "Kish had been carried away..." So in reality we cannot be absolutely sure who was taken captive, ‘Kish,’ or Mordecai himself. It seems most likely that it was Mordecai who was taken captive, probably about the same time as was Daniel. It also seems likely that the real purpose of this list of names is to establish that Mordecai is from a very famous Judean family. Kish is the name of the father of King Saul, and Shimei is the name of a family member of Saul. (He was the one who threw stones at King David when he was fleeing from Absalom during the rebellion.) While Mordecai is probably not a direct descendant of King Saul, he is from the same family line.
      It must be remembered that quite often the Scriptures do not include all of the ancestors of a particular individual. Only enough men or women were listed to show the important lineage of the person in question. Since there were at least five hundred years between the life of King Saul and Mordecai, it was important to only list the key ancestors which tie Mordecai back to the family of King Saul. This was done through the family patriarch, Kish. In the following passage, Shimei was said to be the son of Gera (his actual father) “of the house of Saul.” Since both Saul and Shimei were from the same house, they would both be descended from Kish, as was Mordecai.

      "Now when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came. And be threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
      "Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: ‘Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! The LORD has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!’"
(II Sam. 16:5-8)

      David refused to allow his general to kill Shimei, for he said:

      "‘It may be that the LORD will-look on my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing this day.’"
(II Sam. 16:12)

      Little did King David know that Mordecai and Esther, descendants of this cursing man from the family of Saul, would be key players in saving the Jewish people, including some of David’s own descendants, from total annihilation.
      Mordecai had charge over a young woman whose Hebrew name was Hadassah, which means ‘Myrtle.’ However, her Persian name was Esther, which means ‘star.’ Most writers identify Mordecai as Esther’s ‘uncle’ but the Scriptures indicate that he was actually a first cousin. In any event, the Scriptures tell us that Mordecai was responsible for her care and upbringing:

      "....for she had neither father nor mother...."
(Est. 2:7)

* A Queen Rebels *

      At that time a man called ‘Ahasuerus was king over all of the Persian Empire. Apparently the Persians had already captured Babylon since his kingdom was said to encompass an area extending from India to Ethiopia, and including 127 provinces.
      Many feel that the word ‘Ahasuerus was not a name but a royal title, like ‘premier,’ ‘king’ or ‘pharaoh.’ This leads to much discussion as to who the actual ruler might have been. Some conclude that the Persian king Cyrus (558-529 BCE) was the ‘Ahasuerus’ of this story; however the evidence is far from conclusive. Other scholars (and at least one Jewish tradition) place the story in the 485-465 BCE time frame.
      As the story opens, Ahasuerus was giving one big party for all of his officials. This festive season lasted 180 days and was culminated in a final seven day feast. On the last day of the feast, when King Ahasuerus ‘was merry with wine,’ he sent for his wife, Queen Vashti:

      "...to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing her royal crown, in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful to behold."
(Est. 1:11)

      Some traditions hold that what King Ahasuerus really asked her to do was appear before his guests wearing her crown and nothing else. But Queen Vashti refused, and the King was greatly incensed.

      "But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs; therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him."
(Est. 1:12)

      This created an uproar among Ahasuerus counselors, for they felt if Vashti was allowed to get away with refusing the king’s command, and word got out to the women of the realm, the men would have nothing but trouble with all of the women of the empire. One of his advisors recommended issuing a decree that the Queen no longer be allowed to come into the presence of the king.

      "After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what had been decreed against her. Then the king’s servants who attended him said: ‘Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king; and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to Shushan the citadel, into the women’s quarters, under the custody of Hegai the king’s eunuch, custodian of the women. And let beauty preparations be given them. Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti’
      "This thing pleased the king, and he did so."
(Est. 2:1-4)

* And the Replacement Is.. *

      A great search took place to find a suitable replacement for Vashti. Of course, the winning candidate was none other than Esther, the beautiful (and as the Tanakh puts it ‘shapely’) young Jewish virgin. So Esther became Queen in Vashti’s stead, but did not reveal to Ahasuerus that she was Jewish:

      "...for Mordecai had charged her not to reveal it."
(Est. 2:10)

      Because of her new position, Mordecai began to visit the palace gates on a daily basis, in order to maintain contact with Esther. There he was able to communicate with her, either in person or through one of Esther’s trusted servants. One day while sitting at the palace gates, Mordecai overheard two of the king’s eunuchs planing to assassinate Ahasuerus. Mordecai immediately relayed this information to Queen Esther who told the king. An investigation was held, the information was discovered to be true, and the men were hanged. The details of this event were:

      "...written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king."
(Est. 2:23)

* A New chief of Staff *

      "After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.”
(Est 3:1)

      Haman’s genealogy is also very important to the story, since he is said to be an ‘Agagite.’ A trace of his ancestry turns up a story involving King Saul. After Samuel had anointed Saul king of Israel, he instructed him to wage war against the Amalekites:

      "‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘I will punish what Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him on the way when he came up from Egypt. Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’"
(I Sam. 15:2-3)

      It is clear that God was very angry with the people of Amalek for what they did to the Israelites during their trek in the wilderness.

      "Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. ...
      "So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword."
(Ex. 17:8, 13)

      In fact, God was so angry lie swore that lie would blot them out of existence at some future time:

      "Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.
      "And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; for he said, ‘Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”’
(Ex. 17:14-16)

      The destruction of Amalek was supposed to take place once the children of Israel had come into the promised land:

      "‘Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary: and he did not fear God.
      "‘Therefore it shall be, when the LORD your God has given you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget.’"
(Deut. 25:17-19)

      King Saul was chosen by God to by the destroyer of the Amalekites. At that time, the king of the Amalekites was none other than Agag, the ancestor of Haman. Saul did wage a vicious war against the Amalekites and, because God was behind the whole affair. King Saul prevailed over them. However, he did not fully obey the decree given by God through the judge, Samuel:

      "But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed."
(I Sam. 15:9)

      This brought on big trouble for King Saul, for it was this act of incomplete obedience that caused God to take the kingship from the family of Saul and give it to David. Saul defended himself by saying they took the livestock in order to offer them to God. However, God’s reply through Samuel is straightforward and to the point:

"‘Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in, obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
He also has rejected you from being king.’"
(I Sam. 15:22-23)

      Apparently one of the results of King Saul’s disobedience was the escape of some of the Amalekites, including descendants of King Agag, himself It was because of this indiscretion that the Jewish people were nearly forced to suffer genocide at the hands of Haman in the far off land of Persia many centuries later. However, it was members of the family of King Saul, Mordecai and Esther, whom God used to be instruments in the removal of this reproach.
      It must be remembered that the forces of good and evil have always existed in the world, from the time that the serpent deceived Eve in the garden until this very day. And those forces will continue to war against one another in this world until the very day that Messiah brings peace by fully establishing the Kingdom of God on this earth.

* Meanwhile Back at Shushan... *

      The cause of all the trouble was over Mordecai’s refusal to ‘kneel or bow low’ before Haman as the second in command over all the realm. This seemingly defiant act threw the power hungry Haman into a full fury of rage.

      "But he (Haman) disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus--the people of Mordecai.
...
      "Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, ‘There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people’s laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.’"
(Est. 3:6, 8-9)

      A note in the Open Bible (NKJV) states this amount of silver as being worth $3,840,000,000 in 1983 dollars. Now 3.8 billion dollars sounds like a lot of money, but when one considers the expense that Adolf Hitler went to in his efforts to exterminate millions of Jews, as well as other so-called ‘undesirables,’ this figure does not look so large.

* The King’s Decree *

      Ahasuerus accepted Haman’s suggestion and delegated his authority to Haman to deal with the matter:

      "So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. And the king said to Haman, ‘The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you.’"
(Est. 3:10-11)

      Once the genocidal decree had been issued in the king’s name there was an additional problem for the Jews. It was the law of Persia that the king’s decree could not be rescinded, even by another decree from the king himself. The decree of genocide was written on 13 Nisan, just before Passover, and letters were subsequently sent over the entirety of the realm; all 127 provinces, instructing the enemies of the Jews to:

      "...annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions."
(Est. 3:13)

      How was the date of 13 Adar determined? By Haman’s casting of lots:

      "In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that -is, the lot), before Haman to determine the day and the month, until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar."
(Est. 3:7)

* Mordecai Springs to Action *

      "When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry. He went as far as the square in front of the king’s gate, for no one might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. And in every province where the king’s command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
      "So Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her, and the queen was deeply distressed. Then she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and take his sackcloth away from him, but he would not accept them.
      "Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs whom he had appointed to attend her, and she gave him a command concerning Mordecai, to learn what and why this was.
      "So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square that was in front of the king’s gate. And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the sum of money that Ha-man had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries to destroy the Jews. He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction, which was given at Shushan, that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people.”
(Est 4:1-8)

      When Esther received Mordecai’s message she sent word back to him that his request placed her in a very dangerous situation. She had not been invited into the presence of the king for the past thirty days, and if she were to go into his presence uninvited she would be put to death; unless he extended his golden scepter to her, in which case she would be allowed to live and to make her request.
      But Mordecai was not to he dissuaded. His reply is classic, and should serve as a beacon of light to all Believers:

      "‘Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”’
(Est. 4:13-14)

      Upon hearing Mordecai’s reply Queen Esther sent word of her decision:

      "Then Esther told them to return this answer to Mordecai:
      "‘Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”’
      "Then Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him."
(Est. 4:15-17)

      Brave Queen Esther began her fast during the Days of Unleavened Bread, and on the third day entered the king’s chambers uninvited. Esther found favor in the eyes of the king and he extended his golden scepter to her and asked for her request. He then promised her anything she asked up to one-half of his kingdom. What Esther requested was that Haman and the king attend a banquet that she had prepared for them, on that very day.
      The king called Haman and they immediately went to the banquet. Once again the king asked Esther what she wanted and, in response, she asked that the two of them attend another banquet the very next day. The King agreed and Haman was ecstatic, for he believed that he had made great inroads to power by the fact that the Queen had invited only the king and himself to the two banquets. However, one thing still gnawed at him, that Jew, Mordecai still refused to bow down to him.

      "So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai."
(Est. 5:9)

* Human Seeks Counsel *

      "Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, all the ways in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king.
      "Moreover Haman said, ‘Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to conic in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king. Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.’"
(Est. 5:9-13)

      Their advice was clear:

      "‘Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.’
      "And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made."
(Est 5:14)

* YHVH Answers Prayer *

"The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD,
Like the rivers of water;
He turns it wherever lie wishes."
(Prov. 21:1)

      There are only two books in the entirety of the Bible which do not mention God or the name of God within their pages. One is the Song of Songs the other is the story of Esther. Nevertheless, the hand of God is apparent in this next section, as YHVH answers the prayers of His chosen people.

      "That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.
      "Then the king said, ‘What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?’ And the king’s servants who attended him said, ‘Nothing has been done for him.’
      "And the king said, ‘Who is in the court?’ Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. The king’s servants said to him, ‘Haman is there, standing in the court.’ And the king said, ‘Let him come in.
      "So Haman came in, and the king asked him, ‘What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?’ Now Haman thought in his heart, ‘Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?’
      "And Haman answered the king, ‘For the man whom the king delights to honor, let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head. Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: "Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!”’
      "Then the king said to Haman, ‘Hasten, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king’s gate. Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken.’"
(Est 6:1-10)

      One can only imagine the seething mortification that Haman must have felt as he personally led Mordecai through the streets of Shushan proclaiming to all that this was the man whom the king wished to honor; his most hated enemy.

      "Afterward Mordecai went back to the king’s gate. But Haman hastened to his house, mourning and with his head covered. When Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, ‘If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him.”’
(Est. 6:12-13)

* The Second Banquet *

      Despite his mortification, Haman still felt optimistic, for he had been invited to attend the second of the Queen’s private banquets. Of course, he did not know that Queen Esther and Mordecai were closely related and Esther had not revealed that she was Jewish. It was at this banquet that Esther played her hand, and once again the king asked for her request.

      "Then Queen Esther answered and said, ‘If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. For we have been sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. Had we been sold as male and female slaves, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could never compensate for the king’s loss.’"
(Est. 7:3-4)

      The King demanded to know who dared to do such a thing.

      "And Esther said, ‘The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!’"
(Est. 7:6)

      At this point Haman was beside himself with fear. When the king "... arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden; ..." (Est. 7:7a), Haman took the opportunity to plead with Esther that his life be spared, "...for he saw that evil was determined against him by the king." (Est. 7:7b). Finally, he collapsed on Esther’s bed.

* Human is Condemned *

      "When the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the banquet of wine, Haman had fallen across the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, ‘Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house?’ As the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face."
(Est. 7:8)

      One of the eunuchs pointed out the fifty cubit gallows that Haman had erected for Mordecai.

      "...then the king said, ‘Hang him on it!’ So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath subsided."
(Est. 9b-10)

      The king then elevated Mordecai to Haman’s position as second in command of the realm, and Queen Esther put him in charge of Haman’s property.

* The Jews Still Had a Problem *

      The problem was that the decree that Haman issued, in the king’s name, could not be rescinded. However, the date set for the killing of the Jews was eleven months away, so time was on their side. They approached the king with a plan to counteract the evil decree of Haman:

      "...‘If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight and the thing seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to annihilate the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces. For how can I endure to see the evil that will come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?’
      "Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, ‘Indeed, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he tried to lay his hand on the Jews. You yourselves write a decree for the Jews, as you please, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for a letter which is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring no one can revoke.’
      "So the king’s scribes were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day; and it was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded, to the Jews, the satraps, the governors, and the princes of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven provinces in all, to every province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language. And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, sealed it with the king’s signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses bred from swift steeds.
      "By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and protect their lives--to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, with little children and women, and to plunder their possessions, on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province and published to all people, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
      "Then the couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king’s command. And the decree was issued in Shushan the citadel."
(Est. 8:5-14)

      This provided a twofold solution to the problem. The first decree would flush out into the open all of the anti-Semites so they could be identified. The second decree would allow the Jews to prepare themselves so they could purge the entire realm of anti-Jewish sentiment. As a result of these events, not only did the Jewish people rise to a position of power in Persia, many of the gentile people of the empire converted to Judaism:

      "The Jews had light and gladness, joy and honor. And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land became Jews because fear of the Jews fell upon them."
(Est. 8:16-17)

      Adar 13 came, and the Jews were victorious over their enemies. The final act was to take Haman’s ten sons and hang them on the gallows.

      "So the king commanded this be done; the decree was issued in Shushan, and they hanged Haman’s ten sons."
(Est. 9:14)

      So 14 and 15 Adar were proclaimed a festival day, to be celebrated by Jews throughout the world. And such is the case to this day.

~ A Footnote ~

      During the early 1940’s a terrible holocaust took place in eastern Europe. Over six million people died in Hitler’s death camps; the vast majority of them Jewish. After the war, the victorious Allies (United States, Great Britain, France, and the USSR) set up a military tribunal to bring the surviving Nazi leaders to justice for the war crimes they had committed. These trials took place in Nuremberg, Germany, and have become known as the Nuremberg Trials.
      The main trial was conducted for twenty-two of the Nazi German leaders. On September 30, 1946 (during the Days of Awe, between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur), twelve of the defendants were sentenced to death. One of them, Martin Bormann had escaped and was tried in absentia. Another, Hermann Goering, committed suicide in his cell by swallowing a capsule of poison. That left ten Nazi leaders who were scheduled to be executed: Joachim von Ribbentrop, Wilhelm Keitel, Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Alfred Rosenberg, Hans Frank, Wilhem Frick, Julius Streicher, Walther Funk, Fritz Sauckel and Alfred Jodl.
      Execution was scheduled for the early morning hours of October 16, 1946, during the night portion of the last day of Succoth (Feast of Tabernacles). This day is also know as Hoshana Rabbah, the ‘Great Day of the Feast.’

      "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’"
(John 7:37-38)

      It is important to note that Hoshana Rabbah is also know as the ‘Day of the Beating of the Willows.’ During Succot, the Torah instructs that observers gather four species of plants.

      "‘And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days.’"
(Lev. 23:40)

      In Jewish practice the four species are said to be:

• A citron or etrog - a citrus fruit that represents the "fruit of beautiful trees."

• A palm branch - "branches of palm trees."

• A myrtle branch - to represent the "boughs of leafy trees." (The myrtle is called Hadassah which is Esther’s name in Hebrew.)

• A willow branch - for the "willows of the brook."

      Each of these four species represents a certain type of person.

• The etrog (citron) has both good taste and good smell. It represents people who have knowledge of the Scriptures and also perform good deeds.

• The palm branch is from a tree that has good fruit but no smell. It represents those people who know the Scriptures but do not do good deeds.

• The myrtle (Hadassah) is from a tree that has good smell but does not produce fruit. It represents people who do good deeds but do not know the Scriptures.

• The willow is from a tree that has neither good smell or good fruit. It represents people who neither know the Scriptures nor do good deeds.

      It is said that all four species arc found represented within the Believing community, and that those who have no knowledge of Scripture, and do not perform good deeds, must be nurtured in the faith so they will produce good fruit.
      On Hoshana Rabbab, the seventh or ‘Great Day of the Feast,’ a great water pouring ceremony used to take place at the temple. First the priests led a procession of worshippers to the pool of Siloam to draw water. Then they returned to the Temple where they performed a ‘Water Pouring Ceremony.’ This involved taking the vessel of water plus a vessel of wine, and pouring them out together on a corner of the Altar. As they performed this ceremony, the worshippers circled the Altar one time singing "Hosanna," which means; "Save us now!" This ceremony was performed on each of the intermediate days of the Festival. On the seventh day of the Feast they circled the Altar seven times. As they did so, they beat the willows on the ground until all of the leaves fell off and were trodden underfoot.
      One traditional understanding of the ‘Beating of the Willows’ ceremony. is that it represents the destruction of the wicked of the world; those who do not know God, and are opposed to His ways and Ills people. For this reason, it seems significant that the ten Nazi war criminals were executed on the ‘Day of the Beating of the Willows.’

* The Execution *

      Nine of the ten Nazi war criminals went to the gallows peaceably. One of them, Joachim von Ribbentrop, seemed repentant as he spoke his last words:
      "God protect Germany, God have mercy on my soul. My last wish is that German unity be maintained, that understanding between East and West be realized and that there be peace in the world.’
      However, Julius Streicher (the most virulent Jew hater of the lot) had to be dragged out of his cell kicking and screaming. They brought him up the thirteen steps to the gallows and placed the noose around his neck. He refused to give his name and shouted at the executioner, Sergeant John Woods from Texas; "The Bolsheviks will hang you one day!"
      As they placed the black shroud over his head he cried out: "Purim Festival, 1946!" Then the trapdoor was opened and he dropped to his death. Thus, the ten wicked henchmen of Hitler were hanged on the gallows, just as the ten wicked sons of Haman had been, some 2500 years earlier.

"That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun"
(Eccl. 1:9)

~ Celebrating Purim ~

      The festival of Purim is not a commanded festival such as those found in Leviticus chapter 23. however, it is commanded for the Jewish people, and those who love the Jewish people are invited to join them in this great celebration. We believe that, as Believers in Messiah, Yeshua, we can come to know our Creator God in a more intimate way by participating in its celebration.
      The celebration of Purim is to be a totally festive occasion. It has become a tradition to emphasize it as a day that is especially fun for the children. On Purim it is customary to dress tip in costumes that depict the various characters found in the story: King Ahasuerus, Queen Vashti, Mordecai, Esther and, of course, the wicked Haman.
      It is tradition to read the entire book of Esther on this day. Various people, in costume, commonly read the lines for the various parts. Every time Mordecai and Esther have their name mentioned everyone present cheers, while the mention of ‘Haman’ elicits loud boos and noise from a variety of noisemakers. The purpose in doing this is to obey the command to blot out the memory of Amalek from the earth. Of course, food, games and music are also an integral part of the celebration. Above all, it is supposed to be a rather raucous affair and lots of fun.
      Purim plays are also a popular attraction. A children’s play, in costume, using lines right from the book of Esther can be a delight for both children and parents.
      A favorite food for this day is the mohntaschen. These are three cornered cookies filled with mohn or poppy seeds. They are said to depict the three cornered hat that Haman wore as prime minister.
      It is customary to give charity to the poor on Purim so that all can enjoy the festivities. Presents of food are often sent to friends in the community, but the gift of charity to the poor is considered more important.
      The main thing to remember, if you decide to join your Jewish brethren in the celebration of Purim, is that you are to read the book of Esther and have a lot of fun.

~ The Meaning of Purim ~

      What does all of this mean?
      The Jewish sages have said that one day all of the other festivals would cease, but that the celebration of Purim would never cease. This is quite an amazing statement when one considers the fact that Purim is currently considered to be a ‘Minor Festival’ on the Jewish calendar.
      We can make sense of this statement when we understand that all of the seven major festivals listed in Leviticus 23 are celebrated as rehearsals for events that have either already taken place, or are yet going to take place in the plan of God for His people on this earth. Once that plan reaches complete fruition, there may no longer be a need to celebrate them. But the victory of good over evil will be an eternal cause for celebration.
      Another aid in understanding this day is knowing the relationship between Yom Kippur and Purim. The formal name for the Day of Atonement is Yom Hakippurim. The sages have taken this name and reworked it into Yom Haki-purim which means “a day that is like Purim.”
      How are Yom Kippur and Purim alike? it has already been mentioned that both involve the casting of lots. On Purim it was done to determine the most propitious day on which to destroy the Jews. On Yom Kippur lots were cast to determine which goat was sacrificed and which one was sent into the wilderness.
      Yeshua addressed the principle of time and chance in a person’s life:

      "There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
      "And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.’"
(Luke 13:1-5)

      In other words being in the right place at the wrong time can lead to personal disaster. But, just like in the book of Esther, God is involved whether He is directly identifiable as a player or not. Yeshua said that we will all perish, unless we repent. However, even with complete repentance, we all must physically die eventually, but when we are under his protection, through the blood of Yeshua HaMashiach, we have the wonderful hope of the resurrection to carry us through the troublesome times. As Arthur Waskow puts it in his book The Seasons of Our Joy, p.l25; “There is absurdity in the world, but the world is not absurd. Do Purim and Yom Kippur both teach us that we must expect the unexpected, cope with the unpredictable -- by tuning our responses to a sense of ultimate harmony and order?”
      Good question! Our answer is an unqualified yes.

~ Conclusion ~

      It is difficult to sum up the festival of Purim. It has deep and traumatic undertones, yet it is set in a rather humorous fashion, somewhat like the early silent movies where the villain ties the young girl to the railroad tracks, only to be saved at the last minute by the hero. Only in this story the hero turns out to be a heroine instead.
      Perhaps all we can say in conclusion is that sometimes the only alternative to despair is a good hearty laugh!
      May God bless your festival of Purim with laughter, joy and merriment.

DEW & SAW

~ Sources ~

Bloch, Abraham P., The Biblical and Historical Background of Jewish Custom and Ceremonies, Ktav Publishing House, New York, 1980.
___ The Biblical and Historical Background of the Jewish Holy Days, Ktav Publishing House, New York, 1978.
Gaster, Theodor H., Festivals of the Jewish Year, William Sloane Associates, New York, 1953.
Goodman, Philip, Rejoice in the Festivals, Bloch Publishing, New York, 1956.
Green, Jay P., Sr., The Interlinear Bible, Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, 1985.
The Jewish Encyclopedia, 12 Vols, Funk & Wagnalls Co., New York & London, 1901.
The Open Bible, The New King James Version, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville> 1985.
Spier, Arthur, The Comprehensive Hebrew Calendar, Feidheim Publishers, Jerusalem/New York, 1986.
Strassteld, Michael, The Jewish Holidays, A Guide and Commentary, Harper & Row, New York, 1985.
Strong, James, S.T.D., L.L.D., Strong’s New Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, World Bible Publishers, Inc., Iowa Falls, 1986.
Trepp, Leo, The Complete Book of Jewish Observance, Behrman House, Inc., New York, 1980.
Waskow, Arthur, The Seasons of Our Joy, Beacon Press, Boston, 1982.