Question 1

What is Purim in this passage and why is it celebrated?

Accepted Answer

Purim in this passage is a yearly festival that the Jews agreed to keep so they would not forget how God saved them from Haman’s plan to destroy them. The name “Purim” comes from “Pur,” the lot Haman cast to choose the day of their ruin. Instead of being wiped out, the Jews were given rest from their enemies and their sorrow was turned into joy. So they set apart the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month Adar for feasting, happiness, sharing food, and helping the poor.

Question 2

Why did Mordecai write letters to all the Jews in every province?

Accepted Answer

Mordecai wrote letters to all the Jews, near and far, so the whole people would remember the same story and keep the same days together. Their danger had been shared, so their joy and memory should be shared too. By writing, he fixed the dates of Purim and explained that these days marked their rest from enemies and the turning of mourning into a good day. The letters helped make this not just a local habit, but a lasting, united practice for all Jews in the kingdom.

Question 3

How did God turn the Jews’ sorrow into joy in this passage?

Accepted Answer

Their sorrow came from Haman’s plan to destroy them, a plan he fixed by casting lots for the day. The Jews were grieving and afraid. God turned this around through Esther going before the king and speaking up. The king then ordered that Haman’s own evil plan fall back on his head, and he and his sons were hanged. Instead of being wiped out, the Jews were protected and gained rest from their enemies. This great change from mourning to joy is what Purim remembers each year.

Question 4

What is the meaning of sending portions and giving gifts to the poor at Purim?

Accepted Answer

Sending portions means sharing food or other good things with one another, and giving gifts to the poor means remembering those in need when you celebrate. In this passage, these acts are part of how the Jews were told to keep Purim. Their joy was not just private; it was to overflow in kindness, friendship, and care for the needy. The celebration of God’s rescue was tied to loving others, so no one would be left out of the feast or forgotten in their need.

Question 5

What role does Esther play in confirming the Feast of Purim?

Accepted Answer

Esther is not only the queen who risked her life to speak to the king; here she also helps make sure the memory of God’s rescue will last. Together with Mordecai, she writes with authority to confirm the second letter about Purim. Her decree fixes the practice for the Jews and their children, including both the joyful feasting and the matters of fasting and crying out to God. Her name on the order shows that this is not just a passing custom, but a settled part of their life as a people.

Question 6

Why does the passage mention fasting and crying along with feasting and joy?

Accepted Answer

The passage holds both sides together: the Jews had fasted and cried to God when they were in danger, and now they feast and rejoice after He brought them through. By tying fasting and crying to the days of Purim, the people remember not only the happy ending but also the deep need that came before it. Their joy is not careless; it grows out of answered prayer. This keeps the feast from becoming empty pleasure and reminds them to keep calling on God in future troubles.

Question 7

Who was Haman in this passage, and what happened to him?

Accepted Answer

Haman is called the enemy of all the Jews. He planned to destroy them and used lots, called Pur, to pick the day for their ruin. His plan was written into law, so it seemed sure. But when Esther came before the king and spoke about the danger, the king ordered that Haman’s own wicked plan should fall back on him. Haman and his sons were hanged on the gallows he had prepared. Remembering his fall shows that evil plans cannot finally stand against God’s care for His people.

Question 8

How can the establishment of Purim speak to believers today?

Accepted Answer

This passage shows how God can work quietly in history to protect His people, even when His name is not openly mentioned. It encourages believers to remember times when God has helped them and to tell those stories to the next generation. It also links joy with sharing and helping the poor, so celebration is joined with compassion. Finally, it reminds believers to hold together fasting and crying out to God in trouble with giving thanks and rejoicing when He brings relief.

Esther 9:20

¶ And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,

The Feast of Purim Instituted

The Feast of Purim Instituted

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Esther 9:20

¶ And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,

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The Feast of Purim Instituted

The Feast of Purim Instituted

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