2022 Purim beginning at sunset on March 16th and ending at sunset on March 17th make me want to know more about Purim. It’s a day from weeping to laughter, from fasting to feasting, from wailing to celebration.
Purim is a Jewish holiday which commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian empire from Haman, a royal vizier to Persian king Ahasuerus, who was planning to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews. Literally “lots” in ancient Persian, Purim was thus named since Haman had thrown lots to determine when he would carry out his diabolical scheme. Haman convinced the king to issue a decree ordering the extermination of all the Jews on the 13th of Adar. His plans were foiled by Mordecai and Esther, Mordecai’s cousin and adopted daughter who had become queen of Persia after her marriage to Ahasuerus. The day of deliverance became a day of feasting and rejoicing among the Jews.
The above excerpts make this event seem so easy. And, the Book of Esther does not mention God. It looks like it was brought about by some chance, coincidence, or ordinary good luck. Is that so? The territory of the Persian Empire in the 4th century BC stretched from India to Cush, with a total of 127 provinces, and all the Jews were its subjects. It is very possible that such a powerful empire would be able to exterminate the Jews. But if it wasn’t for God’s intentional arrangement, how could they survive? Let’s see.
- Two queens: one was deposed, the other was erected.
- King Ahasuerus of the Persian Empire wanted his wife, Queen Vashti, to display her beauty at a feast. She refused.
- Her refusal prompts Ahasuerus to have her removed from her post and hold a pageant for a new queen. Not knowing she was Jewish, Ahasuerus chose Esther.
- Two conspiracies: the palace guards want to kill the king; Haman wants to kill Mordecai.
- Mordecai discovers a plot by two palace guards to kill Ahasuerus. They are apprehended and hanged, and Mordecai’s service to the King is recorded in the daily record of the court.
- Ahasuerus appoints Haman as his viceroy. Mordecai, who sits at the palace gates, falls into Haman’s disfavor as he refuses to bow down to him. Having found out that Mordecai is Jewish, Haman plans to kill not just Mordecai but the entire Jewish minority in the empire.
- Two decrees: one from Haman, to destroy the Jews; one from Mordecai, to save the Jews.
- When Mordecai refused to bow to Haman, Haman was incensed and he convinced the king to issue a decree ordering the extermination of all the Jews on the 13th of Adar by casting lots (“Purim”) to decide the date.
- Although Haman’s plans were foiled eventually, the previous decree against the Jewish people could not be nullified so the King allowed Mordecai and Esther to write another decree as they wished. They decreed that Jewish people may preemptively kill those thought to pose a lethal risk.
- Two “coincidences”:
- Mordecai happened to discover a plot planned by two palace guards.
- King Ahasuerus happened to suffer from insomnia that night. When the court’s daily records were read to him to help him fall asleep, he learned of the services rendered by Mordecai in the earlier plot against his life.
- Two hangings:
- The guards were hanged after their plot was discovered.
- Haman was hanged on a gallows prepared by himself (originally made for Mordecai) after his plot failed.
- Two rings:
- King Ahasuerus gave Haman the ring. He wrote a decree in the king’s name to destroy, kill and annihilate the Jews on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. He sealed it with the king’s ring.
- King Ahasuerus gave Mordecai the ring recovered from Haman, and he wrote a decree to seal it to save the Jews. The decree states that the king will allow Jews to gather to protect their lives on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, to destroy, kill and annihilate all the enemies who might attack Jews.
In the Book of Esther, I see Mordecai fasting and repenting when he learned that Haman was going to destroy the Jews. After that, Esther also fasted and prayed and had the courage to take actions that could save the Jews. This made me see the importance of fasting and prayer.
How do Jews celebrate Purim?
- Reading of the Book of Esther, which recounts the story of the Purim miracle. This is done once on the eve of Purim and then again on the following day.
- Sending food gifts to friends.
- Giving money gifts to at least two poor people.
- A festive Purim feast, which often includes wine.
What other traditions and customs are there for Purim?
- The Fast of Esther: On the day before Purim (or on the Thursday before, when Purim is on Sunday), it is customary to fast, commemorating Esther’s fasting and praying to God that He save His people.
- It is customary for children (and adults, if they desire) to dress up in costumes.
- Burning of Haman’s effigy.
- A traditional Purim food is hamantaschen (or oznay Haman), three-cornered pastries bursting with poppy seeds or another sweet filling.
2022年的普珥節從 3 月 16 日的日落開始直到3 月 17 日的日落結束。讓我想進一步了解普珥節，這是一個從哭泣到歡笑 從禁食到盛宴 從哀號到節慶的日子。
普珥節是一個猶太節日，紀念古代波斯帝國的猶太人從哈曼手中得到拯救，哈曼是波斯國王亞哈隨魯的王室大臣，他計劃摧毀、殺死和消滅所有的猶太人。由於哈曼曾將抽籤決定何時執行他的惡魔計劃，因此普珥節應古波斯語中的「抽籤/拈鬮」一詞而得其名。哈曼說服國王頒布法令，下令在亞達月十三日消滅所有猶太人。他的計劃被末底改和以斯帖挫敗，後者是末底改的堂妹及養女，她在與亞哈隨魯結婚後，成為波斯王后。得救的這一天成了猶太人歡慶的日子。
上述的節錄，讓這個事件看似輕而易舉，在《以斯帖記》中並未提及神，這件事看起來像是由一些機會、巧合或好運而促成，真是如此嗎？公元前 4 世紀的波斯帝國的版圖由印度到古實，共127個省，所有的猶太人都是它的臣民。這麼有勢力的帝國能夠滅絕猶太人是很有可能的。但是如果不是上帝刻意安排，他們怎麼能存留下來？讓我們來看看是怎麼一回事。
- 兩位王后：一個被廢，一個被立。
- 波斯帝國國王亞哈隨魯希望他的妻子瓦實提王后在宴會上展示她的美貌。她拒絕了。
- 她的拒絕促使亞哈隨魯王將她免職，並為選新王后舉行了選美比賽。在不知道她是猶太人的情形下，亞哈隨魯選擇了以斯帖。
- 兩個陰謀：王的守衛要謀害王；哈曼要謀害末底改。
- 末底改發現了兩名宮廷守衛要殺死亞哈隨魯王的陰謀。他們被捕並被絞死，末底改對國王的功勞被記錄在宮廷的日常記錄中。
- 亞哈隨魯任命哈曼為總督。坐在宮殿門口的末底改因拒絕向哈曼鞠躬而受到哈曼的厭惡。在發現末底改是猶太人後，哈曼計劃不僅要殺死末底改，還要殺死帝國中的所有的猶太少數民族。
- 兩封詔書：一封出自哈曼，要滅絕猶太人；一封出自末底改，要拯救猶太人。
- 當末底改拒絕向哈曼鞠躬時，哈曼被激怒了，他說服國王頒布法令，通過拈鬮（「普珥」）來決定在亞達月 13 日，下令消滅所有猶太人。
- 雖然哈曼的計劃最終被挫敗，但之前針對猶太人的法令不能廢止，所以國王允許末底改和以斯帖按照他們的意願寫下另一條法令。他們下令猶太人可以先發製人地殺死那些被認為構成猶太人致命風險的人。
- 兩個「巧合」：
- 末底改碰巧發現了兩個宮廷守衛的陰謀。
- 亞哈隨魯王湊巧那個晚上失眠，當他閱讀法庭的日常記錄以幫助他入睡時，他得知了末底改在早些時候救他性命的功勞。
- 兩個绞刑：
- 守衛的陰謀被揭發後被绞死。
- 哈曼事敗後被绞在自己做的木架上(原本是為绞死末底改而做的)。
- 兩隻戒指：
- 亞哈隨魯王賜給哈曼戒指，他用王的戒指蓋印，以王的名寫旨意在亞達月十三日來剪除殺戮滅絕猶太人。
- 亞哈隨魯王賜給末底改從哈曼追回的戒指，他寫諭旨用它蓋印來拯救猶太人。諭旨中顯示王准猶太人在亞達月十三日，聚集保護性命，剪除殺戮滅絕那要攻擊猶太人的一切仇敵。
在《以斯帖記》中，我又看到當末底改得知哈曼要滅絕猶太人的時候，他禁食並懺悔。之後以斯帖也禁食禱告而有勇氣做出可以拯救猶太人的行動。這讓我看到禁食禱告的重要性。
猶太人如何慶祝普珥節呢？
- 閱讀以斯帖記，講述普珥節奇蹟的故事。在普珥節前夕閱讀一次，然後在第二天再閱讀一次。
- 送食物、禮物給朋友。
- 向至少兩個窮人贈送金錢禮物。
- 享用普珥節盛宴，通常包括葡萄酒。
普珥節還有什麼其他的傳統和習俗呢？
- 以斯帖的齋戒：在普珥節的前一天禁食（或前一個星期四，如果普珥節是星期天的話），以紀念以斯帖的禁食，並向拯救祂的人民的上帝祈禱。
- 兒童（和成人，如果他們願意的話）穿著戲服。
- 焚燒哈曼像。
- 傳統的普珥節食物是哈曼的耳朵餅乾，三角糕點，裡面有罌粟籽或其他甜餡。
By Arthur Szyk - Arthur Szyk : Six paintings of Jewish holidays, published New York : Arthur Rothmann Fine Arts., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=121146514
XYZ/Inspirational Posts 其它雜類或勵志帖子
References 參考資料
- Wikipedia: Purim
- Jews for Jesus: Purim
- 耶書亞研經中心: 普珥節的由來與屬靈意義：從哭泣到歡笑, 從禁食到盛宴, 從哀號到節慶 (作者：Ada Lui）