Tag: Haman

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Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Discussions Prophets and Writings Purim Torah

Tree of Knowledge and Haman’s gallows: Esther shows us how to overcome our desire to replace God

Tree of Knowledge & Haman's gallows: Esther show us how to overcome our desire to replace God. Artwork shows a fruit tree on the left side of the image.

Bible prophecy often talks about widespread persecution against the people of God in the “latter days.” But that seems so far removed from today’s society, where we have global human rights watchdog groups, U.S. First Amendment protections for religious freedom, the International Court of Justice and the United Nations.

This study of the Torah reading וַיִּקְרָא Vayikra (“and He called,” Levicus 1:1–6:7) plus readings for the Sabbath of Remembrance (Deuteronomy 25:17–19; 1Samuel 15:2–34; 1Peter 4:12–5:11) and the Book of Esther reminds us why we keep seeing outbreaks of perplexing violence throughout history, in spite of attempts to legislate away evil.

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Appointments With God Discussions Purim

Structure of the Book of Esther points to messianic prophecy

"Queen Esther" painting by Edwin Long, 1878
"Queen Esther" by Edwin Long, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 1878

Many passages in the Bible were written with a chiastic structure, which is like rhyming patterns in poetry but pairing similar information or concepts instead. That’s one reason why some passages seem to be highly repetitive. The point of chiastic structures is to point the reader to a key concept. Daniel explains that the Book of Esther is one large chiastic structure, focusing on a messianic prophecy in the middle.

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Purim

Book of Esther dramatic reading for Purim available for download

Hallel Fellowship has been celebrating Purim, the Feast of Lots recorded at the end of the Bible book of Esther, with a dramatic reading of the book with pantomime. The fellowship has developed an hourlong version of the book.

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Purim

‘Esther’s Legacy’: A historical look at numerous assaults against Jews and the response from by-standers

Purim: Festival of Lots from the Bible book of Esther

In the Book of Esther, Mordecai encourages Esther to stand up for her people in the face of powers bent on destruction of the Jews (Esther 4:13-14). This article takes a historical look of various attacks against the community and the nation and compares these assaults to the patterns shown in the Book of Esther.

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Discussions Purim

Purim: Book of Esther tells a never-old tale of hatred against God’s blessed servants

Purim: Book of Esther tells a never-old tale of hatred against God's blessed servants

The “Preacher” in Ecclesiastes said “there is nothing new under the sun.” The hatred against Yehudah, the Jews, has persisted throughout time, and the spirit of Amalek has taken many forms, including Haman, Antiochus IV, etc. Yet the LORD has kept Israel in the form of mostly Yehudah intact. Through Yehudah came the Messiah, the Seed of Eve Who crushed the serpent’s head and the Seed of Abraham Who brought God’s blessing to the world. That preservation of Yehudah above all odds through the eons, in the face of concerted genocidal efforts, is testimony that indeed the LORD is the one at work.