Read the two posts before this if you haven't yet, please. When you see a "*" before a word, that means that there is an explanation for it too long to be placed directly there at the bottom of the post.
The Book of Esther, Chapter 3
After these events, King Ahasuerus promoted Haman (the son of Hammedatha- the Agagite) and advanced him. He established his authority over all the princes who were with the king. All of the servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded. But Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage.
Then the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why are you transgressing the king’s command?”
Now they continued to speak daily to him about the matter, and he would not listen to them. They then told Haman to see whether Mordecai’s reason would stand; for he had told them he was a Jew.
When Haman saw that Mordecai neither bowed nor paid homage to him, he was filled with intense rage. But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were; therefore, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews (the people of Mordecai) who were in the kingdom of Ahasuerus.
In the twelfth year of King Ahsuerus, in the first month (Nisan), *Pur was cast before Haman from day to day and from month to month for entire year, until the month Adar. Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain group of people scattered and dispersed throughout all the provinces of your kingdom whose laws are different from those of all other people and they do not observe the king’s laws, so it is not in the king’s interest to let them remain. If it is pleasing to the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the men who carry out the king’s business, to put into the king’s treasuries.”
Then the king took his signet ring (a ring with letters, usually one’s initials, or a design carved into it) from his hand and gave it to Haman, then enemy of the Jews. The king said to him, “The silver is yours and the people’s, to do with them as you please.”
Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written just as Haman commanded to the king’s satraps (the governors of provinces) and the princes of each people. It was written to each of the providences according to its own script and each people group according to their own language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with his signet ring.
Letters were sent by couriers (messengers who transport goods/documents) to all of the king’s provinces to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, in one day (the thirteenth day of the month of Adar), and to seize their possessions as plunder (goods taken from people by force, typically in times of war or civil disorder).
A copy of this edict was issued as law in every province, to all the people so they should be ready for this day. The couriers went out, impelled by the king’s command, while the decree was issued at the citadel in Susa; and while the king and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa was in confusion.
*Pur was explained to me by my pastor, and instead of trying to take his words and explain from them, I’m going to let you read what he had to say! One would have to know the culture at the time that these events occurred to understand what it really means. “‘Pur’ refers to a Persian custom of consulting a qualified astrologer who was properly trained in a ritual of chance for the purpose of obtaining guidance from the gods. They were rolling the dice so to speak. Haman would ‘roll the dice’ and when the indication was right, he would seek the king on the authorization of the dice landing right. The king was more likely to receive his request favorably in the light of the official astrological report that the Pur fell in favor of Haman. As you see the king was induced to look favorably and without dispute on Haman’s request. What amazing persistence! He had the Pur cast every day from the first month until the twelfth month until he finally got what he wanted.”
I would really like to hear what you think about all of this!
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