And the Festival of Purim was clearly established through the works of Queen Esther, a day of freedom as well as honor....Gleanings from Esther 9:16-32
" In the other provinces throughout the empire, the Jewish people also gathered together to protect and free themselves from the hatred...that had originated through Haman and his desire to see the Jewish people completely wiped out.
On March 7th, 473 B.C., the total throughout the empire was: 75000...men who were killed that day...who had joined in and aligned themselves with Haman and their concentrated effort to destroy the Jewish people.
Although for those Jews living in the capital city of Susa, the fighting continued into the next day on March 9th, the rest of the Jewish people living in the Persian empire began to take comfort and rest from all the tyranny that had been brought against them. The oppression was finally over, and March 8th became a day of feasting and triumph!
The Jewish people who dwelled in the capital city, Susa, began their celebration on the following day, March 9th.
This is why Jewish people who lived outside the capital celebrate on the 8th, while those in Susa celebrate beginning the 9th.
Mordecai recorded all the events that happened, and sent letters to all the Jewish faithful throughout the empire declaring both days, March 8th and 9th, as an annual festival, a time to commemorate the days when the Jewish people were freed and gained relief from their adversaries who had brought dissension within the Persian empire. The time destined to be sorrow for the Jewish people has now turned into gladness, a time destined for great mourning is now a time of greater joy!
And all the Jewish people followed the instructions Mordecai conveyed, and set aside these 2 days each year to follow as a time both of remembrance and celebration!
Here then, is the official decree as given by Mordecai, recorded in Susa, the capital city of Persia, under the rule of King Xerxes:
"Let this be remembered each year, throughout the great Persian empire:
Because of Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, whose bitter hatred for all Jewish people drove him to orchestrate an evil plot, and that be to have every person with the Persian empire who was of Jewish descent...to be killed. Haman then cast Pur, that being the lot, to determine the "lucky day" for this evil decree to be fulfilled.
Yet, our beloved Queen Esther was given Grace, and was able to intervene and speak before our King, King Xerxes, and inform him of this diabolical plot against the Jewish nation, and to save us all from this terrible calamity.
Then, the king gave his orders: Haman and all his sons would be punished...and punished in the same manner they had planned for Mordecai and all Jewish people. And, so it happened. Haman and his 10 sons were hanged and impaled on sharpened poles, their plans being totally reversed, and what they had planned for the Jewish people....came upon them instead!
So this day I so declare to you shall be called the "Feast of Purim"...for this event was chosen by the casting of lots!"
As a result of the decree given by Mordecai...and because this event is as real today as it was when it first happened, all Jewish people will remember this day, and embrace this celebration throughout the empire. Furthermore, this feast is to be passed down to each generation, and to establish this custom that is to be observed each year without fail, as appointed by Mordecai.
This celebration shall be remembered in every generation, by every Jewish family, in each city and throughout each province, reaching out to the farthest end of the great Persian empire. And this day, I declare these 2 days remembrance to be called: "The Festival of Purim"...may these days be remembered...forever!
So, Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai, the Jew, gave their total written authority to this matter, by writing this 2nd letter to officially declare and to establish the "Festival of Purim".
There were also letters of peace and reassurance sent to all the Jewish people throughout the 127 provinces of the empire.
In these letters it was clearly stipulated to establish this festival at the appointed time each year. as so decreed. It was further charged all Jewish people to follow the instructions in relation to this Festival, in particular the times of mourning and of fasting.
Queen Esther then confirmed the practice of the "Festival of Purim", and this event became the Law of the Land...by the authority of ...Queen Esther! All these events are recorded in the historic Chronicles of king Xerxes and the Persian empire.
"Long Live the Queen!"
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