1. King Xerxes, or King Ahasuerus mentioned in the book of Esther, is the same king Xerxes we've heard about in the movie 300. In chapter 2:16, he was just recovering from his defeat by the Greeks and the Spartans at Platea, after the battle of Thermophylae. This is the king that Esther was called to approach and ask for help. Understandably, she was afraid.
2. Something carried forward from Israel's ancient history:
1 Samuel 15:2 "This is what the Lord Almighty says, 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to the. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys."
Esther 3:1 "...Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite..." Agagite was synonymous with Amalekite.
When Saul failed to kill the Amalekites as ordered by God, Haman was the result. And Esther finished the job.
3. As a result of Esther realising her purpose, and making a tough decision, she is still remembered today.
Festival of Purim, celebrated in rememberance of Esther.
"That is why rural Jews-those living in villages-observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting, a day for giving presents to each other." 9:19
2 comments:
eh, got clown? i always thought it was a serious religious festival...
its a lot of fun apparently....they have a big feast, and the story of esther is retold and whenever haman's name is mentioned, the children wave noisemakers and shout loudly to drown out his name.
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