Reference: Purim
American
Lots, a Jewish festival instituted by Esther and Mordecai, during the reign of Ahasuerus king of Persia, in memory of the providential deliverance of the Jews from the malignant designs of Haman. The propriety of the name appears form the fact that the lot was cast in the presence of Haman for every day from the first month to the twelfth, before an auspicious day was found for destroying the Jews; and thus the superstition of Haman was made the means of giving them time to turn his devices against himself, Pr 16:33; Es 3:7; 9:20-32. This festival was preceded by a day of fasting, and was observed by reading the book of Esther publicly in the synagogues, and by private festivities, mutual presents, alms, plays, and self-indulgence. Some think it is alluded to in Joh 5:1. It is still observed by the Jews, in the month of March.
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In the first month, that is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus they cast Pur - that is, a lot - before Haman, on what day and what month this should be done: and it went out the twelfth month, that is the month Adar.
And Mordecai wrote these acts, and sent the writings unto all the Jews that were in all the lands of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, that they should yearly receive and hold the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the month Adar, read more. as the days wherein the Jews came to rest from their enemies, and as a month wherein their pain was turned to joy, and their sorrow to prosperity: that they should observe the same days of wealth and gladness, and one to send gifts to another, and to distribute unto the poor. And the Jews received it that they had begun to do, and that Mordecai wrote unto them: how that Haman, the son of Hammedatha all the Jews' enemy, had devised to destroy all the Jews, and caused to cast Pur, that is lot, for to put them in fear, and to bring them to naught: and how Esther went and spake to the king, that through letters his wicked device - which he imagined against the Jews - might be turned upon his own head, and how he and his sons were hanged on the tree. For the which cause they called this day Purim after the name of Pur, according to all the words of this writing: and what they themselves had seen, and what had happened unto them. And the Jews set it up, and took it upon them and their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, that they would not miss to observe these two days yearly, according as they were written and appointed; how that these days are not to be forgotten, but to be kept of the children's children among all kindreds in all lands and cities. They are the days of Purim, which are not to be overslipped among the Jews, and the memorial of them ought not to perish from their seed. And queen Esther the daughter of Abihail and Mordecai the Jew wrote with all authority, to confirm this second writing of Purim, and sent the letters unto all the Jews, in the hundred and seven and twenty lands of the empire of Ahasuerus, with friendly and faithful words, to confirm these days of Purim, in their time appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had ordained concerning them: like as they upon their soul and upon their seed had confirmed the acts of the fasting and of her complaint. And Esther commanded to establish these acts of this Purim, and to write them in a book.
The lots are cast into the lap, but their fall standeth in the LORD.
After that there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Fausets
(See ESTHER.) From a Persian word, "lots"; because Haman had east lots to find an auspicious day for destroying the Jews (Es 3:6-7; 9:24). The feast of Purim was kept on the 14th and 15th days of Adar. An introductory fast was subsequently appointed on the 13th, commemorating that of Esther and of the Jews by her desire before she ventured into Abasuerus' presence (Es 4:16). When the stars appear at the beginning of the 14th candles are lighted in joy, and the people assemble in the synagogue. Then the megillah "roll" of Esther is read through histrionically. On Haman's name being mentioned the congregation exclaim, "let his name be blotted out!" His sons' names are read in one enunciation to mark they were all hanged at once.
At the close of reading the megallah all cry out, "cursed be Haman, blessed be Mordecai; cursed be Zeresh (Haman's wife), blessed be Esther; cursed be all idolaters, blessed be all Israelites, and blessed be Harbonah who hanged Haman!" The repast at home is mainly milk and eggs. At morning service Ex 17:8-16, the doom of Amalek the people of Agag (1Sa 15:8), Haman's ancestor (Es 3:1), is read. Saturnalian-like drinking and acting, the men assuming women's attire (the Purim suspending the prohibition, De 22:5), and offerings for the poor, characterize the feast (Es 9:17-32). The feast began among the Jews of their own accord; Mordecai wrote confirming it, and Esther joined with him in "writing with all authority to confirm this second letter of Purlin."
(See JESUS CHRIST on "the feast of the Jews," Joh 5:1, not probably Purim (which the Vaticanus and the Alexandrinus manuscripts reading, "a," favors), but the Passover (which the Sinaiticus manuscript, "the," indicates).)
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Then came Amalek and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, "Choose out men and go fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill and the rod of God in mine hand." read more. And Joshua did as Moses bade him, and fought with the Amalekites. And Moses, Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And when Moses held up his hand, Israel had the better. And when he let his hand down, Amalek had the better. When Moses' hands were weary, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat down thereon. And Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side and the other on the other side. And his hands were steady until the sun was down. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of his sword. And the LORD said unto Moses, "Write this for a remembrance in a book and tell it unto Joshua, for I will put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven." And Moses made an altar and called the name of it Jehovah Nissi, for he said, "The hand is on the seat of the LORD, that the LORD will have war with Amalek throughout all generations."
The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto the man, neither shall a man put on woman's raiment. For all that do so, are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
and took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
After these acts did the king promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and set him high, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
and thought it too little to lay hands only on Mordecai: for they had showed him the nation of Mordecai. Wherefore, he sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole empire of Ahasuerus and were of the nation of Mordecai. In the first month, that is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus they cast Pur - that is, a lot - before Haman, on what day and what month this should be done: and it went out the twelfth month, that is the month Adar.
'Go thou thy way then, and gather together all the Jews that are found at Susa, and fast ye for me, that ye eat not and drink not in three days, neither day nor night. I and my damsels will fast likewise, and so will I go in to the king contrary to the commandment: if I perish, I perish.'"
This was done on the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and on the fourteenth day of the same month rested they, which day they ordained to be a day of feasting and gladness. But the Jews at Susa were come together both on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and on the fifteenth day they rested, and the same day ordained they to be a day of feasting and gladness. read more. Therefore the Jews that dwelt in the villages and unwalled towns ordained the fourteenth day of the month Adar, to be a day of feasting and gladness, and one sent gifts to another. And Mordecai wrote these acts, and sent the writings unto all the Jews that were in all the lands of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, that they should yearly receive and hold the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the month Adar, as the days wherein the Jews came to rest from their enemies, and as a month wherein their pain was turned to joy, and their sorrow to prosperity: that they should observe the same days of wealth and gladness, and one to send gifts to another, and to distribute unto the poor. And the Jews received it that they had begun to do, and that Mordecai wrote unto them: how that Haman, the son of Hammedatha all the Jews' enemy, had devised to destroy all the Jews, and caused to cast Pur, that is lot, for to put them in fear, and to bring them to naught:
how that Haman, the son of Hammedatha all the Jews' enemy, had devised to destroy all the Jews, and caused to cast Pur, that is lot, for to put them in fear, and to bring them to naught: and how Esther went and spake to the king, that through letters his wicked device - which he imagined against the Jews - might be turned upon his own head, and how he and his sons were hanged on the tree. read more. For the which cause they called this day Purim after the name of Pur, according to all the words of this writing: and what they themselves had seen, and what had happened unto them. And the Jews set it up, and took it upon them and their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, that they would not miss to observe these two days yearly, according as they were written and appointed; how that these days are not to be forgotten, but to be kept of the children's children among all kindreds in all lands and cities. They are the days of Purim, which are not to be overslipped among the Jews, and the memorial of them ought not to perish from their seed. And queen Esther the daughter of Abihail and Mordecai the Jew wrote with all authority, to confirm this second writing of Purim, and sent the letters unto all the Jews, in the hundred and seven and twenty lands of the empire of Ahasuerus, with friendly and faithful words, to confirm these days of Purim, in their time appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had ordained concerning them: like as they upon their soul and upon their seed had confirmed the acts of the fasting and of her complaint. And Esther commanded to establish these acts of this Purim, and to write them in a book.
After that there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Hastings
PURIM
1. In the OT.
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In the first month, that is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus they cast Pur - that is, a lot - before Haman, on what day and what month this should be done: and it went out the twelfth month, that is the month Adar.
In the first month, that is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus they cast Pur - that is, a lot - before Haman, on what day and what month this should be done: and it went out the twelfth month, that is the month Adar.
And in all lands and places, as far as the king's word and commandment extended, there was great lamentation among the Jews and many fasted, wept, mourned and lay in sackcloth and in ashes.
And the Jews gathered themselves together at Susa, upon the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Susa, but on their goods they laid no hands. As for the other Jews in the king's lands, they came together, and stood for their lives, and gat rest from their enemies: and slew of their enemies five and seventy thousand: howbeit, they laid no hands on their goods. read more. This was done on the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and on the fourteenth day of the same month rested they, which day they ordained to be a day of feasting and gladness. But the Jews at Susa were come together both on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and on the fifteenth day they rested, and the same day ordained they to be a day of feasting and gladness. Therefore the Jews that dwelt in the villages and unwalled towns ordained the fourteenth day of the month Adar, to be a day of feasting and gladness, and one sent gifts to another. And Mordecai wrote these acts, and sent the writings unto all the Jews that were in all the lands of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, that they should yearly receive and hold the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the month Adar, as the days wherein the Jews came to rest from their enemies, and as a month wherein their pain was turned to joy, and their sorrow to prosperity: that they should observe the same days of wealth and gladness, and one to send gifts to another, and to distribute unto the poor. And the Jews received it that they had begun to do, and that Mordecai wrote unto them: how that Haman, the son of Hammedatha all the Jews' enemy, had devised to destroy all the Jews, and caused to cast Pur, that is lot, for to put them in fear, and to bring them to naught: and how Esther went and spake to the king, that through letters his wicked device - which he imagined against the Jews - might be turned upon his own head, and how he and his sons were hanged on the tree. For the which cause they called this day Purim after the name of Pur, according to all the words of this writing: and what they themselves had seen, and what had happened unto them.
For the which cause they called this day Purim after the name of Pur, according to all the words of this writing: and what they themselves had seen, and what had happened unto them. And the Jews set it up, and took it upon them and their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, that they would not miss to observe these two days yearly, according as they were written and appointed; read more. how that these days are not to be forgotten, but to be kept of the children's children among all kindreds in all lands and cities. They are the days of Purim, which are not to be overslipped among the Jews, and the memorial of them ought not to perish from their seed. And queen Esther the daughter of Abihail and Mordecai the Jew wrote with all authority, to confirm this second writing of Purim, and sent the letters unto all the Jews, in the hundred and seven and twenty lands of the empire of Ahasuerus, with friendly and faithful words, to confirm these days of Purim, in their time appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had ordained concerning them: like as they upon their soul and upon their seed had confirmed the acts of the fasting and of her complaint.
to confirm these days of Purim, in their time appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had ordained concerning them: like as they upon their soul and upon their seed had confirmed the acts of the fasting and of her complaint. And Esther commanded to establish these acts of this Purim, and to write them in a book.
After that there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Smith
Pu'rim
(lots), the annual festival instituted to commemorate the preservation of the Jews in Persia from the massacre with which they were threatened through the machinations of Haman.
... It was probably called Purim by the Jews in irony. Their great enemy Haman appears to have been very superstitious, and much given to casting lots.
They gave the name. Purim, or "Lots," to the commemorative festival because he had thrown lots to ascertain what day would be suspicious for him to carry into effect the bloody decree which the king had issued at his instance.
The festival lasted two days, and was regularly observed on the 14th and 15th of Adar. According to modern custom, as soon as the stars begin to appear, when the 14th of the month has commenced, candles are lighted up in token of rejoicing, and the people assemble in the synagogue. After a short prayer and thanksgiving, the reading of the book of Esther commences. The book is written in a peculiar manner, on a roll called "the Roll" (Megillah). When the reader comes to the name of Haman, the congregation cry out, "May his name be blotted out," or, "Let the name of the ungodly perish." When the Megillah is read through, the whole congregation exclaim, "Cursed be Haman; blessed be Mordecai; cursed be Zoresh (the wife of Haman); blessed be Esther; cursed be all idolaters; blessed be all Israelites, and blessed be Harbonah who hanged Haman." In the morning service in the synagogue, on the 14th, after the prayers, the passage is read from the law,
which relates the destruction of the Amalekites, the people of Agag,
the supposed ancestor of Haman.
The Megillah is then read again in the same manner. The 14th of Adar, as the very day of the deliverance of the Jews, is more solemnly kept than the 13th; but when the service in the synagogue is over, all give themselves up to merry making.
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Then came Amalek and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, "Choose out men and go fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill and the rod of God in mine hand." read more. And Joshua did as Moses bade him, and fought with the Amalekites. And Moses, Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And when Moses held up his hand, Israel had the better. And when he let his hand down, Amalek had the better. When Moses' hands were weary, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat down thereon. And Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side and the other on the other side. And his hands were steady until the sun was down. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of his sword. And the LORD said unto Moses, "Write this for a remembrance in a book and tell it unto Joshua, for I will put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven." And Moses made an altar and called the name of it Jehovah Nissi, for he said, "The hand is on the seat of the LORD, that the LORD will have war with Amalek throughout all generations."
and took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
After these acts did the king promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and set him high, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
In the first month, that is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus they cast Pur - that is, a lot - before Haman, on what day and what month this should be done: and it went out the twelfth month, that is the month Adar.
In the twelfth month, that is the month Adar, upon the thirteenth day, which the king's word and commandment had appointed, that it should be done, even upon the same day that the enemies should have destroyed the Jews to have oppressed them, it turned contrary wise, even that the Jews should subdue their enemies.
how that Haman, the son of Hammedatha all the Jews' enemy, had devised to destroy all the Jews, and caused to cast Pur, that is lot, for to put them in fear, and to bring them to naught: