An edict had gone out that was irrevokable that the Jews were to be destroyed on a particular day. Thanks to God’s intervention, a second edict went out giving the Jews permission and legal right to defend themselves and destroy their enemies. And now, the day was here.
Many tried to come against the Jews but they could not overpower them. In each city, the Jews assembled to protect themselves.
“Not a single person could withstand them: terror of them fell on every nationality” (Esther 9:2).
Even the officials in the provinces supported the Jews because they were afraid of Mordecai. The king had made him second in command and his power was immense.
By the end of the day, the Jews were overwhelmingly victorious. The sons of Haman had been killed as well as 75,000 others who had tried to destroy them. There was great rejoicing and celebration in the land.
It was then that Mordecai and Esther established that there would be an official holiday every year commemorating God’s deliverance. There was to be feasting, celebrating, sending gifts to one another and to the poor (Esther 9:22).
Pur was the word for “Lot” which Haman had cast a lot against the Jews. But the Lord had flipped the script and used to establish and empower the Jews. Therefore the day was now called “Purim” which is the plural of “lots.”
It is a day celebrated even to this day, 2500 years later around mid-March. It’s huge. Thousands of years later, God still didn’t want them ever to forget his deliverance. That’s the power of celebration and tradition.
