Esther is an obscure book to many, even though it is a story of romance and
palace intrigue set in the glory days of the Persian Empire. A Jewish
maiden, elevated to the throne of Persia as its queen, is used by God to
preserve His people against a Hitler-like annihilation.
To this day, the Feast of Purim commemorates the memory of this
deliverance. Even the works of Shakespeare's dramatic genius cannot
compare with the drama and irony in this captivating epic.
However, the book deals with real historical events, not just a story to
highlight a moral. It deals with an escape from genocidal annihilation
after their return from Babylonian captivity. Chronologically, Esther
makes possible Nehemiah. It was Esther's marriage to the king of Persia
that ultimately leads to the rebuilding of Jerusalem and enables the chain of
events that led to the appearance of the Messiah five centuries later.
The Mysteries of the Book
However, the Biblical mysteries abound: There is no mention of the name of
God in the book. There is no reference to worship or faith. There is
no mention or prediction of the Messiah; no mention of heaven or hell; there is
nothing "religious" about it. It is a gripping tale, but why is it here in
the Bible? Martin Luther believed it should not be part of the Canon!
The name Esther gives us a clue: it means "Something Hidden"! And we
discover that there are numerous surprises hidden behind, and underneath, the
text itself.
Summary of the Drama
Orphaned as a child and brought up by her cousin Mordecai, Esther was
selected by King Ahasuerus to replace the queen when Vashti was disgraced.
Haman, the prime minister, persuaded the king to issue an edict of extermination
of all the Jews in the Persian Empire. Esther, on Mordecai's advice,
endangered her own life by appearing before the king-without being invited - in
order to intercede for her people.1
Seeing that the king was well disposed toward her, she invited him and Haman
to a private banquet, during which she did not reveal her desire but invited
them to yet another banquet, thus misleading Haman by making him think that he
was in the queen's good graces. Her real intention was to take revenge on
him. During a second banquet, Queen Esther revealed her Jewish origin to the
king, begged for her life and the life of her people, and named her enemy.2
Angry with Haman, King Ahasuerus retreated into the palace garden.
Haman, in great fear, remained to plead for his life from the Queen. While
imploring, Haman fell on Esther's couch and was found in this ostensibly
compromising situation upon the king's return. He was immediately
condemned to be hung on the very gallows which he had previously prepared for
Mordecai.
The king complied with Esther's request, and the edict of destruction was
then changed into permission for the Jews to avenge themselves on their
enemies.
The Feast of Purim was instituted by Mordecai to celebrate the deliverance of
the Jews from Haman's plot to kill them. Our Jewish friends continue to
celebrate this feast to this day, which is based on the events in the Book of
Esther. Purim (from Akkadian, puru, "lots") is so called after the lots cast by
Haman in order to determine the month in which the slaughter was to take
place.3
Surprising Roots Behind the Tale
The two principal protagonists are, of course, Haman and Mordecai. We
are surprised to discover that this narrative has its roots several generations
earlier. Haman was an "Agagite," a royal Amalekite, the last of his proud
house to occupy a position of influence and power.4 "Agag" was the name given to the kings of Amalek,
the people "against whom the Lord hath indignation forever." We first read
of the land of the Amalekites, in the valleys of southern Palestine, involved in
the great conflicts of the Elamite ascendancy from which ultimately the Persian
Empire emerges.5
To fully understand the cosmic drama taking place, one must begin with the
birth of Esau and Jacob.6 The twins -
Jacob and Esau - struggling together picture the flesh and Spirit struggling
against one another.7 Amalek descended from
Esau.8
Amalek fought with Israel at Rephidim. "YHWH will have war with Amalek from
generation to generation."9 Both Balaam10 and Moses11 foretold the doom
of this haughty foe. Every time Israel rose up in their own power, they
were clobbered; whenever they rose up in faith and the lowliness of
self-judgment, Amalek's power was broken.12
Saul's Failure
Samuel commissioned Saul to "go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all
that they have, and spare them not."13 But Saul
failed to carry it out. He spared Agag, and so God took the kingdom from
Saul.14 Had Saul been obedient, Haman could never have
appeared on the scene. Although Samuel subsequently showed Agag no mercy, some
of his children escaped him. Haman is witness that Samuel likewise failed
to exterminate the rest of the royal family. Sin unjudged, evil
propensities unmortified, will result in grave trouble later. It is also
important to realize that Mordecai was a descendant of Shimei, who was a
recipient of David's grace when he refused to take vengeance upon him.15
Now 600 years later, Mordecai, a descendant of the house of Kish, the father
of King Saul, and a royal Amalekite by the name of Haman, a final descendant of
Agag, confront each other! With Haman's death, and that of his ten sons,
the name of Amalek will be blotted out from under heaven.
Microcodes
One of the many surprises hidden within the text itself are the presence of
eight microcodes: five acrostics and three "equidistant letter sequences" that
spell out the name of God and with some surprising designed-in relevances!
Macrocodes
Of even more personal impact than the microcodes are the macrocodes which
seem to be hidden behind the narrative. Paul reveals that the
historic incidents that happened to Israel are intended as types (or models) for
us:
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples [as a
warning]: and they are written for our admonition
[instruction]... - 1 Corinthians 10:11
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our
learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have
hope. - Romans 15:4
The Book of Esther also seems to foreshadow the Book of Romans as the
story-behind-the story: the classic struggle between the flesh and the
spirit. The Bible is given to us (1) to know God; and (2) to know
ourselves! And it is our very selves which also seem to be in view in some
surprising - yet practical - ways.
It is not only a gripping and enjoyable drama, but a challenging puzzle to
unravel, and it can be a deeply impacting influence on our Christian walk!
Good hunting!
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