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GOOD MORNING SIBLINGS!
Today’s readings are Esther 6-10
Click here to read today’s passages on BibleGateway.
Special thanks to our dear sister, Debbie Ingle, for sharing her notes today!
Debbie’s Rabbit Trails
Christy explained Mordecai’s genealogy in yesterday’s post, but let’s dig down one more layer. Mordecai is indeed of Saul’s family line, but he is also of Shemei (Esther 2:5). Do you recall the man who spewed insults at King David in 2 Samuel 16:5-7? Do you recall that David spared his life? Connect the dots with me. David spared Shemei’s life, and Mordecia played an instrumental role in sparing the lives of the Jews. David even said at the time, “Perhaps YHVH will look on my affliction and return good to me for his cursing this day” (2 Samuel 16:12). I would say that David got his request! I point this out to shed light on the fact that
EVERYTHING in The Word has meaning.
The Father. Wastes. Nothing.
Chapter 6. Just enjoy this. It’s the age-old plot of misunderstanding. Haman in his pride is sure that he will be honored only to find out that all of his suggestions will be used to honor his enemy (Esther 6:10). Can you imagine Haman’s disappointment?
Speaking of Haman. Let’s look at his genealogy. We are told in chapter 3 that Haman is the son of Hammedatha the Agagite. Do you recall that King Saul was to have put under a “ban of destruction” all of the Amalekites? Agag was their king and was spared, only to be killed later by Samuel. Obviously, Saul left other survivors. Generations later, in walks Haman. So, we can look back at one disobedient act committed by King Saul as the source for this opportunity for Haman to annihilate the Jews.
Chapter 7. The big reveal. Esther asks for the king to “grant me my life…and spare the life of my people” (Esther 7:3). Esther then reveals that it is Haman who has orchestrated this plan (Esther 7:6). –Can you imagine all the thoughts that must be swirling in the king’s head. Lots of “dot connecting” must have been going on. He withdrew to the garden to think things through. Haman realizes his life is in jeopardy and begs for mercy. In walks the king.
חָפָה(Strong’s H2645 – kha-fa) Let’s look at this Hebrew word for a moment. When the king returns to find Haman begging Esther for his life, the king becomes angry. His words literally “kha-fa” Haman. That word is “cover” in Esther 7:8. Throughout the Hebrew text, the word kha-fa is only used in a literal sense of covering something in a physical way…like a head covering. Here, it is used to describe how King Ahasuerus’s words “covered” Haman. I am picturing some IN YOUR FACE angry yelling taking place here. I imagine Haman could feel the breath of the king physically pronounce his doom. Kha-fa could also indicate the certainty of Haman’s doom. His fate was “covered” at this point.
Chapter 8. The irony. Esther is given the estate of Haman and puts Mordecai in charge of it! Mordecai is given the king’s signet ring! Haman is “hanged” on the very gallows built for Mordecai! (A rabbit trail for you left over from the very end of chapter 7…the Hebrew indicates something closer to impalement…think “crucifixion.” Do you recall from the Torah that it was a curse to be “hung on a tree?” (Deut 21:22-23) Lots of room for a trail here. Just be sure to come back and join us!)
While King Ahasuerus cannot reverse the law, he gives Queen Esther full privilege to use his name to create a solution (Esther 8:8). And what a great plan she and Mordecai came up with! The Jews are allowed to assemble and protect themselves (Esther 8:11). This is such good news that the Jews rejoice throughout the empire and “many of the people of the land became Jews” (Esther 8:17). Recall that in the Torah, outsiders were welcomed if they agreed to the covenant. They were to be treated the same as the native-born (Numbers 15:13-16). Growing “The Kingdom” is not a New Testament/Covenant concept. It certainly took on exponential capacity in the NT, but The Father has always been about the work of growing His Kingdom. HallaluYAH!
Chapter 9. The Victory. The Jews prevail! Even Haman’s 10 sons are “hanged” (Esther 9:5 & 9:14).
Mordecai creates a new festival to commemorate this event. It will be called “Purim.” While this is a worthy festival created to help future generations remember their history, let me be very clear about one thing. Ready?
This. Is. NOT. One. Of. The. Father’s. Appointed. Times.
You will not find this as a command in the Torah.
Does that make it bad? In my opinion, no. But let’s be real about opinions. As Christy reminds us daily: Test Everything!
The word “Purim” translates as “lots.” Remember that “they cast the pur in the presence of Haman” (Esther 3:7). So the festival is named for that process as a backhanded reflection on Haman.
Jews in Israel celebrate Purim to this day. In its purest form, it teaches the history of the Jews and their deliverance from Haman’s evil plot to destroy them.
We just finished Esther – Rak Chazak!
Click here to get the Esther Focus Sheet
Click here to view the answer key
Test everything, hold tight to what is good.~ 1 Thess 5:21
We are saved by Grace alone: Obedience is not the root of our salvation, it is the fruit!
May YHWH bless the reading of His Word!
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