6
TRAGIC LIFE OF JEPHTHAH AS SON
AND FATHER
Jephthah was the son of Gilead born to a prostitute. He was a mighty and most powerful warrior. Gilead’s wife also bore him sons. The sons of Gilead born to his wife one day told Jephthah, that he had no right to claim any property that belonged to their father, because he was an illegal son born to a prostitute. So, Jeph thah thought that his step-brothers might kill at any time if he continued to stay in their house. He left that house unhappily and came to a new place called Tob. In the meantime some outlaw people became his friends and Jephthah spent his time by going to riding with them.
Some years passed. At that time the children of Ammonites became a head ache to Israel. They wanted to declare war against Israel. In such situation some elders of the town Gilead decided to approach Jephthah to help them in such critical time and fight with Ammonites by leading the Israel army as a commander. Then Jephthah made a vow to the Lord. He asked the elders to hand over the Ammonites to him so that he would deal with them. He also talked about the burnt offerings to God and the elders accepted all his demands as they needed him at that time.
Jephthah went to the battlefield and defeated Ammonites massively. The result of the battle was about twenty towns came under his control and the Ammonites became submissive to Israel since that time. After the war Jephthah returned home at Mizpah and at place his only daughter was waiting to welcome him anxiously for his great victory. She wished to receive him with tambourine music and dancing. She was the only daughter and no sons to Jephthah. And when he saw her first, immediately he tore his clothes. He spoke to her saying she brought disgrace to him and added he would not take his oath back from the Lord.
Actually, there are some more fascinating characters that their worth was not recognized in the Bible. We miss such men and women.
Tragic life of Jephtha as Son and Father
Our hero Jephthah might be one of such characters who remained unrecognized and ignominus. He remained unknown to anybody for more than thirty years in a strange place. It is only due to the ill-treatment of the half brothers at Gilead in his father’s house. He undoubtedly did great service to Israel the God chosen people. When they were threatened by Ammonites their neighboring nation, he did that service as Samson saved Israel from the hands of Philistines and as Gideon saved Israel from the hands of Midianites.
But Jephthah was not given as much importance in the Bible as Samson and Gideon. His story was said only in about 12 verses (Judges 11:1 – 6 and 30:35).
The story of Jephthah appeared to be a classic tragedy. After his birth he led his life as a tragic son and ended his life as a tragic father.
As the readers of the Old Testament Biblical story, we must realize that Jephthah symbolized a tragic character that was controlled by the tragic incidents only in his life as if he was a chosen victim. For such persons from birth to adult, life and finally to death, their life would be a series of disappointments and confusions and at last mental see-saw. As we understand, the reproductive system of the world in birth as men produces men and tragedy produces tragedy. So persons who experience perpetual storms and pains in life they conclude that life is nothing but a tragedy.
But in this story, the writer of the judges introduced Jephthah as a Jephthakite to the readers. Then he was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead and his mother was a prostitute (Judges 11:1). The greatness of the Biblical writers was that they were very economical in using the words. Accordingly we can understand his life story, though it is in a few words. Regarding his childhood life we can imagine something in these words, “Gilead’s wife also bore him sons”.
These words showed that Gilead was financially sound.
So, Gilead brought Jephthah to his house and raised him though he was born to a prostitute. We must also give credit to Gilead’s wife for taking the responsibility of the boy. She brought him up well. But the presence of Jephthah was a regular reminder of the infedelity of her husband Gilead. But still he must have requested her to take care of the boy Jephthah who was like a half brother to the sons of Gilead. They understood him and almost treated him as a stranger in their house. When he grew, they came to know about his birth by accident. And he must have thought of his mother who was a prostitute by profession. He must have cursed his father for this entire unhappy thing.
Offsprings from the Tabernacle
He could not know that one day he would become a great man and more popular among Israel. Any way the time had come. his half brothers finally asked him mercilessly to leave the house and they said “you shall not inherit anything in our father’s house” and added “you are the son of another woman”. It is quite natural to be unkind, when the question of property comes. These words made
Jephthah afraid of his half brothers and fled from the house from the hostile atmosphere. Then he went to the land of Tob.
He would become a leader and that was in his blood also. This heroic spirit prompted him to gather some outlaw people. They became friends and spent their time by riding. The standard version called them “worthless fellows”. They finally became seekers of fortunes. Then all of a sudden, there was a wonderful change in the life of Jephthah. The Israel had to face war with their enemy
Ammonites the neighbouring nation. In such situation, they needed a worthy leader or commander to lead the army into the battlefield. The spirit of the Lord came upon him.
They wanted a military type of leader who could command and shout at the victory. So the elders of the Gilead town gathered together and planned to approach Jephthah because they knew his talents. It was decided upon and a delegation was sent to meet him for his approval and leadership. The members met him and made a request to lead the Israel army into the battle field. But he was smart enough to remind them, how they all once tried to cast him out for the back ground of the birth and other reasons that caused him flee from that place.
All the above said incidents were lingering in his mind. On the other hand the Israel’s were in a helpless position. They badly needed his help because they knew he was a successful man wherever he went. Finally he accepted but put some conditions. The delegation accepted all his conditions as there was no other alternative for them. Now Jephthah became the commander in clnif of the Israel armies to lead against Ammonites. He was no doubt a brilliant and able leader.
His unpleasant past life must have prompted him to establish himself with good strength and ability to do any kind of work.
As a leader with remarkable statesmanship he tried his best as a mediator to avert war. He tried through conferences to come to an understanding. Yet all his attempts became futile. And finally reconciliation became impossible. The Israel army is also well organized for the battle. Then Jephthah made an vow to the Lord saying “if you will give me the children of Ammonites into my hand” he pledged, Tragic life of Jephtha as Son and Father “then whatever would come out of my house first to meet me when I return victorious from the Ammonites shall be the Lords to be offered by me as a burnt offering” (Judges 11:30-31).
It is no doubt a strange, violent and inhuman vow he had taken with God.
Some theologians were of the opinion that according to the expectations of Jephthah, some animal might come or some servant from the house. But the language and inference of that statement showed that no other than some human being would come out of the house first and he wanted to sacrifice that as burnt offering to God. However, the decision he had taken was incomprehensive to the present day and culture.
Now-a-days we find some people who use to bargain with God by saying that they go to church regularly by their faith, if God can give them what they needed like a good job, prosperity in business, promotions, medical seats etc.
Some others may say they give huge money to the church if they become great politically or in the church politics. Even those people who engage themselves in such activities in divine speculation could never expect vowing human sacrifices.
It is said in the Hebrew scripture that it never approved human sacrifices, but this must be in regular practice in some group of Israelites or some neighbouring people of Israelites. But those inhuman sacrifices were strictly prohibited among Jews. Keeping aside the peculiar life of his people at that time, Jephthah was a successful man in all his attempts and he never accepted failure in his life.
He believed in winning. He might have well said, “winning is the only thing” and that's true in politics, sports and wars. As he anticipated Jephthah won the battle. It was a magnificent victory to Jephthah and to Israel. Since the Ammonites faced utter defeat they became submissive to Israel. As he said before going to the war he returned home. As he approached his house the first person that came out of the house was no other than his daughter. It is really a pathetic seen to look at.
She was the only child, only daughter and no sons. She was fully excited to see him. She came to him as if she was welcoming her father. She came playing the tamburins. She was dancing and rejoicing in her father’s wonderful victory over the pagan Ammonites. She was everything for him in his life. This favourite girl was on the verge of her womanhood. She was more beautiful than any other
Offsprings from the Tabernacle girl in her time. She loved her father so much that she even worshipped him because his victory became her greatest pride.
The girl in her excitement ran to her father and her approach to him was like the fall of heavens. He saw his daughter. Immediately he tore his clothes and wept. He looked at her desperately. He rebuked his daughter by saying that she brought disgrace to him. He said he had opened his mouth before God, and he could not take back his oath.
Let us as readers think for a while who was really responsible for bringing him to the lowest position of insult. Really it was not his daughter but himself.
He himself had gone to that level by taking unnatural oath with God.
In this context, someone would have advised Jephthah, that God would certainly honor it if he withdrew his oath with God. But he was a man of severe commitment. This is a strange story in the Bible even the strangest, one can say.
We all know Jephthah not as a man who sacrificed his own daughter by honouring his vow to God. Let us forget about his sacrifice for a while and think about him.
What kind of man he was. The story of Jephthah was a remarkable and pathetic one.
For example, about a business man He will be always busy in his transactions, meeting different business people, travel to places on flights, then he has to think about his children’s education. Though all these things make him busy he will get the comfort by looking at the faces of his children. But when we think of poor Jephthah when he would return with greatest triumph at any time, there was no one to receive him and share his success. The only daughter he had he sacrificed to God.
This is a pathetic story we find in the Bible as an immortal character with human sacrifice. We have another story which was almost the same. That is the story of Abraham, who got only son at the age of 99 years. He was the gift of God to Abraham. But God wanted to test his faith. So, He asked Abraham to sacrifice his son and Abraham without questioning took the boy Isaac to Mount
Morea and tried to sacrifice him. And God understood Abraham’s faith and stopped it. Since then Abraham was called father of faithful.
Abraham could save his own son with his faith but Jephthah could not save his daughter from the sacrifice. Anyway, what was done would not be undone.
Tragic life of Jephtha as Son and Father
After this remarkable achievement in favor of Israel, Jephthah remained as their protector for six years. But his entire story was said in about twelve verses only in the Bible. He made some more wars during that period and got success in all including “Shibboleth” battle. But the thing he loved most was gone.
When he walked with pride for his heroic achievements, men and women cheered at him and common people felt jealous of him for his name and fame. He was a big man. People used to comment and they told this even to their children.
He was even perhaps the greatest general after Joshua. Whoever saw him commented that he was a self made man and he was a lucky fellow. This tragic story of Jephthah prompts us to put some questions – 1)Did he make his life miserable because he was born to a prostitute?
2)Why did he make his life more tragic by sacrificing his own daughter as burnt offering to God?
We may say the profession of his mother and the ill treatment of the half brothers must have made him like that. One tragedy after another followed in his life: tragic son and tragic father.
We may doubtfully say tragedy begets tragedy, life begets life, wealth begets wealth, people beget people and so on because it is the process of genetics. In the same manner, tragedy of course produces in one’s life more tragedy. The physical condition of such people lead them to mental see-saw and when some more problems are added we are undone and we must accept our defeat. If anybody is experiencing tragic life, then worse things follow and his life becomes more tragic logically.
We may also think as somebody would have suggested Jephthah positively in those days before he had taken such dangerous oath with God. And as a result the tragic son would have become blessed father. We as readers may show our sympathy to Jephthah who lived a tragic life. To speak the truth, the inhuman sacrifice was avoidable; if he had withdrawn his oath with God and repent for it
He would have prayed to God even. But he did not do all that and implemented his oath exactly. Due to his honoring the oath to God, the story became very fascinating to every reader of the Bible.
We as Christians some times with our weaknesses forget God as Israel always did and become disappointed. We must always remember the Bible
Offsprings from the Tabernacle quotation “ask and it shall be given”. Let us keep these words in mind and depend upon God for everything. It is the nature of our Lord Jesus Christ to build where life is in shambles and to redeem where all seems lost.
One can believe that philosophical genetics aside the tragic son and tragic father syndrome is not an individual one. The public life does not breed tragedy from tragedy. Our gracious God and omnipotent can bring good from the bad. So let us walk with God in His light with faith and hope till the end.
This is a moral story. Though Jephthah was born under tragic circumstances he could have had peaceful life with the blessings of God and die with the love of God. The conclusion is that with the grace of Almighty, the son of tragedy could have become the father of blessing from the Holy God, if he believed in His goodness. Since then the daughters of Israel used to lament for the daughter of Jephthah for four days in a year.
The Beauty and the Beast
7
THE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
There was a rich man in Maon whose name was Nabal. He kept all his riches in Carmel. He had three thousand sheep and one thousand goats. The name of his wife was Abigael. The woman was not only of good understanding but also beautiful to look at, but her husband was a rude and mean fellow with an evil desire and he was the descendant of Caleb.
David was accidentally moving in the wilderness because he was afraid of saul the first king of Israel. The king was watching every movement of David and wanted to kill him. The reason was that each one afraid of the other. David was moving from one place to another and at last came to Engedi wilderness. Saul went even to that place to attack David. But in that place David got a chance to kill Saul. But David did not do so, but mentiond an old popular saying “wickedness proceedeth him the wicked”.
While moving in the wilderness, David came across the shepherds of Nabal and the men of David helped those shepherds from the danger of enemies. The men guarded them from the danger of bandits. So as to receive something as a payment for that service, David sent ten young men to the house of Nabal on his behalf. He did advised them how they should approach him. So they went and said "peace be to God, peace be to your family and peace to all what you have”.
Then the messengers said they met his shepherds in Carmel, but they did not do any harm to them, instead they helped them.
They came with a request for some fee to the sevice they rendered to his people and added they were sent by David, son of Jessi. But Nabal was very reckless and rude in his reply to the messengers. They felt almost insulted by his talk and returned to their master David. He reacted to the behavior of Nabal and decided to attack him. He asked his young men to be ready with their swords. He selected four hundred young men and left two hundred men in charge of the baggage.
Offsprings from the Tabernacle
David and his men stayed at a place and again some messengers went to the house of Nabal and by accident one of them met Abigael and told her the whole story. They also told her they came from David, to inform that they should come and salute their master in the wilderness. Their words worked well in their minds and Abigael in particular. She immediately got ready to meet David with two hundred loaves of bread, two skin bags full of wine, five neatly dressed sheep, five measures of parched green, one hundred clusters of raisin and two hundred cakes.
She loaded all of them on donkeys. She asked the servants to go first and she followed them.
They reached the place of David. When Abigael saw him she got down the donkey. She bowed down to the ground and fell on her face. Then she requested him to pardon his servant Nabal for his rude behavior towards his men. After that she offered him what she brought from her home. David accepted the presents and said, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you to me on this day”. This God of Israel must be blessed for sending her to David.
David told Abigael that she prevented him from taking revenge against her husband (a beastly man). He received all she brought willingly and asked her to go in peace and her petition to pardon her husband was also granted. Abigael reached home happily. She wished to tell her husband all the information about David. But he was in full drunken state and also enjoying the feast he arranged which was like the kings feast. She tried in the next morning, but his heart became dry within and he was like a stone. And within ten days after this incident God struck Nabal and he died.
David heard about the death of Nabal, and he wished to take Abigael as his wife. So he sent a messenger again with that news. She was happy at this news and bowed down. She immediately got ready to go with the messenger. She took her five servants and went to David. He commented about the death of her husband Nabal. He said “Blessed be the Lord God who had judged the case of Nabal’s insult to me and break his servant from evil doing”. Abigael finally became his wife.
Generally some people in the society wish for the happy ending of any story and some others prefer tragic end. That depends upon the individual taste. The situation and greater satisfaction form any story and suitable conclusion makes anybody happy.
The Beauty and the Beast
There is a beautiful story in “French Fairy Tale” which is pictured later. Its name is “Beauty and the Beast”. According to that story, a beautiful young woman has to stay in a palace with a beast in order to save her father. The situation is really wonderful because that beautiful woman has to spend her life time with a beast. But she herself giving to the frightening assignment with such kindness and devotion. And in the meantime the beast is transformed into a prince. The fairy tale ends in what conclusion we accept to make us happy and remember the story forever. People of different ages will enjoy that fairy tale because of its happy ending.
When we look into the Bible, we come across such a man who is worse that a beast and his name is Nabal, and the beautiful woman Abigael during the time of king Saul and prophet Samuel. It is said in the Bible that Abigael is not only a beautiful woman but also a very clever one. Such a woman is destined to live with Nabal who is just like a beast in the behavior as said in the story of “Beauty and the Beast”. In the Bible he is described as seirly and mean. If anybody studies the character, behavior and mannerisms of Nabal, he certainly conclude by calling him a beast. So, the two characters in the popular French fairy tale “Beauty and the Beast” are quite suited to the family of Abigael and Nabal.
Any person who lives with beauty will be certainly influenced with in some way or the other. Instead of calling him Nabal one can call him the beast because it is best suitable. During the time of Abigael and Nabal there was a young man by name David, a shepherd boy. He became a national hero at that young age by killing a philistine gaint by name Goliat in the combat when the Philistine rebelled against Israel. His height affront 9.6" and David killed such a big man with the help of some pebbles and a sling and surprised everybody.
Now David, the future king of Israel became a nightmare to king Saul. He became restless. He felt jealous of David and even afraid of him. He thought
David might kill him and become the king of Israel. All these things made him decide to take revenge against David and kill him and he was looking for the chance. These conditions made David to flee into the wilderness. As a hero, he gathered some discredited and disinhabited young men, to fight if necessary with anybody at any time. They were mercenaries that whoever would pay money to them, they go and fight. David gathered such type of people about 600 men and kept them always with him. They were different from the society. The nature of their job was to protect the land owners of the area and then demand their wages
Offsprings from the Tabernacle for that work. The nature of service and the remuneration they demand were uncommon in those days.
The same type of service David and his men did to the shepherds of Nabal and went to his house for the fee. David did that service sincerely and demanded the charges. His servants also said, “they were wall to us both by night and by day”. When they went to Nabal for their wages, he did not care their request and ill-treated them and talked with them scornfully. His reply to David’s men clubbed with rude arrogance of a men who would think too much of himself. We can see his arrogance when he said, "Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse?
There are many servants today leaving their masters. Shall I take my bread and meat that I have butchered and give it to men who came from I do not know where." The ten members who went to Nabal returned to David. They told everything to David. He became furious. He asked his men to be ready with their swords to attack Nabal. And Davids men were more dangerous to that kind of job.
In the meantime, some body heard the story and explained to Abigael how Nabal insulted the men of David. The servants seemed to have more confidence in her in solving the problems as she was gifted with understanding of people like
David. In this context somebody commented that Abigael was beautiful and sensitive women whereas Nabal was a cruel and mean.
So, we can conveniently compare them to the French fairy tale characters of ‘Beauty and the Beast’. It is undoubtedly more suitable to both of them. Abigael promptly collected some items for a feast to David and went to him. She used all her intelligence to convince him regarding her husband and she succeded in that.
She then predicted that David would become one day the king of Israel.
Actually David took oath to kill all the members of Nabal’s family including the servants. When he was in such temper Abigael came with humility. She knelt at his feet and appealed for mercy. She addressed him “my Lord” do not take the ill nature man Nabal as his name is he is.
It is really surprising to know the meaning of the name of Nabal. It means “fool”. We cannot say correctly whether that name was put by his parents or by his neighbours. But it is said in olden days, people took even some years to select the name for their kids. If that is true, in the case of Nabal the parents were dooming him because people were destined to live according to their name. it is quite but natural in the society that whenever we find an extraordinary person in something or other, we recollect the name and comment upon it positively or negatively.
The Beauty and the Beast
Abigael clearly explained to David that by living with the beast like Nabal, she learnt how to deal with men, matters and other diplomatic conditions and at present the issue of David. She requested him not to take revenge against his enemies. But leave that to God. She even predicted that David one day would become the ruler of Israel. And when he become the king, she said, he should not shed blood and stoop down to that level under any circumstances and added he would remember her that day how tactfully and cleverly Abigael spoke. Then David would certainly remember her and conclude God may have guided her to speak like that. And in ten days afer her meeting David, she came again as his wife.
It is said, Abigael was not only a charming and beautiful woman, but also a shrewd woman. But Nabal was an unwilling gift to Abigael for his name and character. She could survive with her shrewdness with that kind of beast peacefully. She understood the power and strength of David. Some people like
Abigael will have the gift of God to look into the problems and possibilities of others. She certified David was a good man by nature, but when he was in high temper, he would be ashamed of himself for his appearance in that temper. Her intelligent approach and tactful dealing with a man like David was praise worthy.
David was convinced by the charm and eloquence of Abigael. He simply thanked
God and because of her wise decision and intervention he stayed back from blood guilt and from angry himself. He gave assurance to Abigael that he would not do any harm either to her husband or to her servants. She returned home happily.
She wanted to tell her beast like husband what all happened when she met that powerful man, David. But he was fully in drunken state and enjoying the feast he arranged. The next day when she went to him to say his heart divided within him, he became a stone. And after ten days of this incident God struck him and Nabal died. By looking at his physical condition a modern pathologist might say
Nabal had an “Apoplicte Seizure”.
David heard the news of the death of Nabal. Then David wooved her and planned to take her as his wife and he did it. Marrying a woman immediately after the death of her husband is not common in the society. But it is common in the Middle East in those days, because woman always depends upon man for her survival.
The story of Nabal and Abigael was just like the French fairy tale” in its own way completely with despicable villain, a beautiful woman and an exciting
Offsprings from the Tabernacle hero. The story ends like the stories where in a villain wither he would be killed or rarely survive. Then the hero and the heroine just join together happily. So that will be happy ending.
But the moves taken in the present days, we can find most of them have happy ending. The tragic endings are very rare. Then we cannot imagine correctly how a beautiful woman will feel when she is put to live in bestial conditions. And what will be the mental set up of a beautiful woman who says “I kissed a frog believing he will become a prince and spent the rest of life with a frog”. One can be beautiful and happy when everything goes in her favor or his favor. If things go wrong to a beautiful woman and a young man we cannot do anything but pity such person. That kind of women and men are destined to live under such beastly or unfavorable circumstances.
For example, the people who always carry a handicapped person all their life time like a companion, is like the story of Nabal “the fool”, to Abigael the Beautiful. It can be also like the story of a sensible woman with wonderful talents but live in peculiar conditions where in her life is more miserable. And if a person wants nothing in this world but he loves and to be loved, yet who lives his life or her life in beastly conditions then that story can be a touching one and everybody will show sympathy with such persons. So we may find many beautiful women like Abigael who are destined to live with a rude and beastly man like Nabal.
In this context, let us try to understand the prayer of a theologian, "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change things I can and wisdom to know the difference." As a matter of fact no one can change the way of life. Those who are physically handicapped also cannot be changed even by the “modern medical science”.
Inspite of all that, there are certain things that can be changed in the society.
In such case we must take that kind of things with courage and try to change how far we can and live according to those things we cannot change. Most of the people have to deal with those circumstances and situations as they find them.
We must try to find as much beauty as possible and directly deal with it by keeping aside the beast. Finally the wise and beautiful Abigael puts it that the lives of people are bound in a bundle of the living under the care of the Lord (our) God (1 Sam. 25:29).
Queen Esther and the Festival of Purim
8
QUEEN ESTHER AND THE
FESTIVAL OF PURIM
This is the story of unscrupulous and evilridden enemy of helpless Jews during the reign of Persian king Xerxes or Ahasuerus. The Jews were on the brink of total distruction by the barbarious plan of a higher official under the king by name Haman. Then there was the most beautiful queen Esther who remained as a link between Haman and the Jews. But this is a real story with threatening circumstances. The source for the story is the Bible.
This is a story clubbed with terror and dismay which can never be forgotten in one's life. The story is considered to be more valued in the Bible because the young beautiful Jewish lady who later became the queen of the Persian empire and could save thousands of Jews from extermination by the master plan of Haman and the final wonderful work was done by God through the queen. She convinced her husband king Ahasuerus and saved the people of Israel.
The Israel were dragged miraculously to Babylon in three stages as captives for more than a hundred years but some remained there for seventy years. Later their reputation spread into west Persian empire, and from India to Cush, an area that ranged from moder west Pakistan to northren Ethiopia. The exiles that remained in Persian empire were somewhat comfortable under the king.
Ahasuerus ruled the empire between 485 and 465 B.C.
However, the comfortable and joyful life of Jews was shattered by terror overnight by the kings Prime Minister Haman who proclaimed death punishment on the entire Jewish population in the Persian empire. But still the Jews became courageons and had been fighting for their survival and became victorious against satanic attempt prompted Jews to celebrate the way of freedom as a festival of "Purim" and today this had been celebrated as one of the festivals of Jews.
There was threatening, hopelessness on one hand among the people and the pagan king with too much liesure time at his disposal on the other. In such
Offsprings from the Tabernacle circumstances the large empire was devided into 121 provinces. The king reigned his empire peacefull for three years. Then he desired to invite all the princes and other important persons in his kingdom to show them his riches. In the party he wanted to invite his beautiful wife Vashti to show her to all the princes in order to get their appreciation. The show continued for 180 days and after that he extended it for another week and arranged a feast.
So, the king in a festive mood, from his outrageous consumption of wine proclaimed an order that queen Vashti shoul present herself before the assembly so that all would see her beauty and compliment her. the king sent messages again and again but queen Vashti refused to come. The king then thought about this issue seriously and came to a decision. He wanted to depose the queen Vashti and look for another woman, to be the queen of Persian empire, so that her action and behaviour should not be an example to other women in the kingdom.
It was actually a domestic affair as it is concerned to the kings family. But it was made potitical issue because he was the king of the large empire. Finally the queen was abandoned and he wished to look for a woman, submissive one unlike the queen Vashti. So he gave a proclamation inviting beautiful women from all over his kingdom. It was well planned by the king with the consultation of some other officials.
At this momorable occasion we are introduced to Mordecai a Jewish man, an honest gateman at the kings palace. He was the descendent of Benjamine who was taken captive from Jerusalem. He had a cousin by name Hadassah or Esther whom he had brought up as his daughter, because she lost her parents. She grew physically and looked more beautiful and even in the Bible, it is said "she is fair and beautiful". Now Mordecai wanted to bring Esther also as one of the contestants for the queenship.
Mordecai told her not to expose her identity as a Jewish woman because all the other women that come for that purpose must be only heathens. After she entered the royal campus, she was given, beauty treatment for one year, then all women were taken to the royal palace for selection. It was God's providence that He will do always good to His people. Accordingly, Esther was chosen as the queen of Persian empire. With the remarkable change of stiff-necked Vashti has to leave the royal palace and Esther was to stay there as a Jewish woman.
The anonymity that the Jews had experienced all those days in exile and after that, until that time had been shattered the moment the Jewish woman Esther became the queen of the Persian empire with her crown.
Queen Esther and the Festival of Purim
Mordecai the gateman of the royal palace once saved the life of the king.
While he was in his duty at the gate he overheard a conspiracy by dissident officers and even to kill the king. Mordecai informed about this plot to the queen and she told the same to the king. At that time the king did not give any gift to Mordecai for saving his life.
It seemed the hand of Haman was also there in that plot. So, this incident made Mordecainot to care and bow to Haman in respect. But he thought
Mordecai was insulting him by not respecting by saluting him. So somehow, Haman had in his mind to destroy him and finally the entire Jewish race in that kingdom. And he wanted to do that at the earliest and that was the 12th month in the Jewish calendar, Adar. But Haman informed the king that there was a race in his kingdom who did not care and respect the laws of the king. But the king without making further enquiry or looking into the details of the report, gave
Haman permission to whatever he wanted. The king did not know that there was an imprtant race among his people that Haman wanted to extinguish and his wife
Esther was from that race only.
Haman could buy the honour of the king, but he could not understand he sold away his own soul in turn. The king gave his ring in appreciation to Haman by which he boasted up his image, especially in taking revenge against her people and herself. Haman already got the permission from the king to eliminate the Jews the God's people. He wanted to make use of the decree, this time and as a matter of fact, he did not realize he would pay a heavy pricefor taking revenge against God's people.
The terror created by Haman was lingering in the minds of Jews. They were afraid of the situation and there was murmering among themselves. There was fasting, mourning and Mordecai was one of the mourners. Queen Esther came to know about the suffering of her people and decided to help them by approaching the kig personally at a proper time. But she could not meet him for 30 days. There was a rule that nobody can meet the king withou prior permission and if anybody did so, the punishment would be death. She symapathized her people and wanted to help them at any cost.
Mordecai realized that only through queen Esther Jews problems could be solved. So he met her and explained everything. Now she wished to approach the king at the earliest without caring for the consequences and even her life. She sent a message to her fellow Jews to be on fast for three days before she approach the king. Prior to that, she wished to know the mood of the king. At one stage she thought the king would have invited her to his chamber happily.
Offsprings from the Tabernacle
So she planned in some other way. She wanted to invite both Haman and the king her husband to dinner and then explain to the king the reason of her invitation. She at last met the king which surprised him. The king was happy to see her and thought she must have come with some wish. Her presence made him so excited that he was ready even to give half of his kingdom so happity if she wished for it. But she did not want to do it. Queen Esther at last became bold enough and told the king "If I have favour in the sight of the king". the seemed to have granted her favour already by his looks. God seemd to have guided her to save her people who were in danger. God saved them when they wer in great danger of elimination. She also said "I and my people are sold as bondmen and women by the people of his country.
But Haman was unhappy because Mordecai was disrespecting him by not saluting him. He went home and discussed the issue with his friends. After hearing the story, the friends advised him to prepare a gallows at the hight of 50 cubits to hang Mordecai and then speak to the king. As per their advise Mordecai would be hanged the next day. Haman was happy with the suggestion of his friends but poor fellow, he could not understand that the queen had already made the necessary arrangements for the safety of her people
Haman also planned inknowingly to kill Mordecai one the same night by hanging. At that time the king had also some problem in his mind and he was much disturbed. He experienced a case of 'insomnia' an case of sleeplessness.
Many would have this kind of experience when their minds are filled with many thoughts. The king was seriously thinking about the honesty of the gateman
Mordecai and his reporting of the foiled assasication attempt on the king. But the king did not give any gift to him at that time for saving his life. Just at that time
Haman came to speak with the king about the hanging of Mordecai.
But the king summoned Haman and asked him what should be done unto the man whom the king delighted to honour. And Haman foolishly thought the king was referring to him only, and replied he must be given maximum reward an honour. The reward included dressing of the man with royal costumes and riding on the kings horse and a herald before him.
On hearing this the king ordered him to made necessary arrangements to honour Mordecai and Haman must go before him proclaiming his heroic activities. So the exiled Jews had been totally saved from their helplessness to hopefulness. Just a day before Haman was at the highest position and Mordecai
Queen Esther and the Festival of Purim was an ordinary gateman and a doomed one. Now the tables turned and the king exalted him and the days of Haman was counted.
Haman went home at last in disturbed condition but immediately he was called back to attend a dinner party by the queen herself in honour of the king and Haman. The king was still in a generous mood to grant the queen even half of the kingdom if she desired. The queen sieged the opportunity and put forth her dramatic petition by saying, "If Ifind favour, in thy sight O king, and if it pleases the king let my life be given me at my position and my people at my request"
These words from the mouth of the queen surprised the king.
The king could not understand what she was talking about. And he guessed somebody must be threatening her life or troubling her and her people. The king became furious what it must have been where he was, what business he had to make his wife unhappy and restless. Those were a flood of questions by the king within himself.
In such circumstances anybody would have guessed what must be going on in the tortured mind of Haman. This incident made the king to understand two things. One is that the queen was a Jewish lady. The second point was that Haman wanted to destroy all the Jews in his empire. Whatever might be the plan of Haman, he was afraid of the king and the queen. Just at that time the king left the chamber abruptly and went into the palace garden. Haman seized the chance and went to the queen and begged for her mercy while she was leaning to the couch.
Then the king reentered the room all of a sudden and looked at the queen. It appeared to him that Haman was molesting the queen. So he immediately ordered for the hanging of Haman on the same gallows he prepared for Mordecai. Haman was finally executed and the triumph of Jews started.
Though the king was absolute monarch he had no power to withdraw or to cancel the decree that he gave already for the destruction and elimination of the Jews in his kingdom. So the king asked Mordecai to prepare another decree by which the Jews could be saved and stamped it with his own ring. Then the king encouraged the Jews to gather themselves and stand united to face any untoward condition from the enemies who were trying to expoit and destroy them in that kingdom.
There was a dramatic change among the Jews. The people who were supposed to be conquered, became the conquerers of their enemies. It was really a rare and most unexpected moment in the history of Judaism and everything
Offsprings from the Tabernacle went in their favour. They attacked all pagans that tried to suppress them. In the royal palace along the Jews killed 500 enemies and all over the Persian empire, they killed 75,000 menwhom they thought to be their enemies all these days. It was a strange and appreciating that many pagans who were afriad of Jews for their power converted themselves into Judaism forever because of Mordecai and queen Esther. The king finally asked the queen if she had any more petitions. She requested him to kill the 10 sons of Haman.
The king gave full support to the Jews to defend themselves from any danger.
Now the Jews possessed a great power which was not their own but it was supernatural or divine power that made them unrivalled and non could stand before them.
The decree regarding the elimination of Jews was cancelled. There was complete transition among the exiles to celebrate their success and Mordecai called for Adah 14th & 15th February for fasting and exchange of gifts. the Jews to the king were any other captives. They were the strange people with strange habits and strange speeches. Their peaceful living depended upon other people's behaviour. They also provided unexpected blessing to the king and the stability of the kingdom.
Since then Mordecai became their new hero who worked upon as a man of authority and achievements. And all acts of the king an Modecai, their power and might, the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai and how the king elevated him to the highest position -all these things were written in the book of chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia. Mordecai was originally an ordinary employee, a gatemanof the royal palace, loitering around the kings palace was promoted to the rank of secondin command and a trustworthy advisor to the king. He never used his power or position for his personal use, but for the benefit of the people only.
A holiday was born to the Jews as they achieved a total victory over their enemies. And that holiday they celebrated as "Purim". It was in honour of their triumph. this important holiday was born to them about 2,500 years go. It is still officially celebrated in the US and Europe and South America. the traditional date for this Purim festival is Adar 14th February) but for the people living in Jerusalem it was 15th because Shushan needed one day extra to desroy its enemies. Recently that festival was commemorated on 20th February by most of the Jews all over the world andon 27th February by the Jews in Jerusalem.
Queen Esther and the Festival of Purim
The Purim is most important and most precious to Jews. It is a family function, even a community affair with parties, enacting of plays and exchange of gifts, food packets etc., On the morning of Purim the 'Migdah' or 'Scroll' of Esther would be read, in the synagogues, children sometimes even elders would go to the synagogues in costumes and some times in the dress of one of characters in Purim like Esther, Mordecai, Haman, and even the king Ahasuerus. Later in the city food packets would be distributed or sent to the relatives, and also donations were collected for some purpose.
The Jews really appreciated the importance of this Purim. They observe fasting in honour of the queen Esther. And some Jews in momory of queen who assured them about Sushan observe fast and pray for three days as she did.
If we carefully study the book of Esther, it is the only book in the Bible where we don't find the name of God even once and also about His laws, the sacrifices and offerings. But only fasting is mentioned. As for the information the write seems to have discribed the lifstyle of the Jews during the Persian rulers. they lived a secular life away from God according to Gods plan and will. Esther and Mordecai also did not have spiritual experiences. tha does not mean God was not with them. He was with them, there at the back of the events connected to Esther. The Lord was there always behind the scenes and that is called 'hesterpanism' which means 'the hidden face of God.'
According to historical evidences the book of Esther is written about 465
B.C. when majarity of the Jews were already in exile for about 120 years. With that incident they must have forgotten God. But God did not forget them, when the threat of elimination came God save them because of His promise earlier.
"But fear not those O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed. O Israel for behold I will save thee from affar off, an thy seed from the land of their capitvity"
There is something to learn from the Book of Esther. Though man is said to be incharge of his own destiny, it is God who really controls the fate of man and nations. It is the God who engineered the 1.The disposing of Vashti and making of Esther as queen of Persian empire.
2.Rise of Mordecai and utter downfall of Haman and his death.
3.the total destruction of Israel's enemies and the survival of the Jewish people and the birth of the festival of Purim.
So, God is there at every stage of his chasen people Israel. Likewise, He is there at every stage of the people who worship and rever Him as their saviour
Offsprings from the Tabernacle