The book of Esther tells the history of the tradition Purim, riving from the word ‘pur’ meaning ‘a lot.’ Haman, the highest official in King Antiochus’ court, planned to destroy all of the Jews in the Kingdom of Ahasuerus because a Jew named Mordecai did not obey his commands. To save their people, Mordecai and his niece Esther must come up with a plan to save the Jews in the kingdom. The tradition of Purim is to celebrate when the Jews were relieved from their enemies when King Ahasuerus agreed to get rid of Haman and bring peace. However, there are two books of Esther that tell this story, and they both tell different versions. The Hebrew book of Esther tells this story with the characters Esther, Mordecai, Haman, and King Ahasuerus, but
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When Esther becomes King Ahasuerus’ new queen, after he banishes his old wife, Queen Vashti, and by winning his favor through her beauty and holding a feast for him and Haman, she brings to his attention that her people are being mistreated and are at risk by Haman’s hand. Haman, the head of the king’s officials, is granted the most power among all of the king’s officials. Haman proceeds with whatever revenge he wishes to take upon the Jews because Esther’s uncle, Mordecai, does not obey his commands. Mordecai stays outside the palace walls, and through their messenger Hathach eunuch, he communicates with Esther that their people cannot survive without Esther’s interference. This pushes her to approach the king. Because Esther is the king’s favorite, he is willing to grant any of Esther’s wishes, even if it is to remove Haman from his position. The author of the Hebrew version gives Esther a lot of power, especially for a woman during the time period. The author places her as a courageous heroine, facing up against a frightful king, and with the help of her uncle Mordecai they are able to relieve themselves and the Jews relief from their enemies. In the end, Purim is held the fourteenth and the fifteenth of Arab and it is in honor of …show more content…
In the Hebrew version, there is no god mentioned, and it brings the main focus on humankind and what Mordecai and Esther did for the Jewish people. However, in the Greek version, the Lord is mentioned over fifty times, and is the reason why the tradition of Purim is celebrated amongst the Jews. Everything that happens is because of the Lord and his will. He fills King Ahasuerus with gentleness so that he fulfills Esther’s requests, and he sends Mordecai a dream, constructing Mordecai into a prophet. Esther and Mordecai pray to the Lord for his help, and with Mordecai the people of Israel cry out to the Lord so that they might escape the hands of their enemies. In regards to Esther and Mordecai, they work together to set their people free from Haman by resulting in the same actions. However, in the Hebrew book Esther and Mordecai are symbolic people, and in the Greek book Esther is a symbolic object while Mordecai is a prophet. They stand as symbolic people and are held in more regard in the Hebrew book because there is no one else, and no character that is held higher than them. This brings all the glory and heroic actions on Esther and Mordecai. Mordecai does help in setting the Hebrews free and also aids Esther is advising her what to ask the king, but the book emphases on the actions Esther makes and the
When Esther becomes King Ahasuerus’ new queen, after he banishes his old wife, Queen Vashti, and by winning his favor through her beauty and holding a feast for him and Haman, she brings to his attention that her people are being mistreated and are at risk by Haman’s hand. Haman, the head of the king’s officials, is granted the most power among all of the king’s officials. Haman proceeds with whatever revenge he wishes to take upon the Jews because Esther’s uncle, Mordecai, does not obey his commands. Mordecai stays outside the palace walls, and through their messenger Hathach eunuch, he communicates with Esther that their people cannot survive without Esther’s interference. This pushes her to approach the king. Because Esther is the king’s favorite, he is willing to grant any of Esther’s wishes, even if it is to remove Haman from his position. The author of the Hebrew version gives Esther a lot of power, especially for a woman during the time period. The author places her as a courageous heroine, facing up against a frightful king, and with the help of her uncle Mordecai they are able to relieve themselves and the Jews relief from their enemies. In the end, Purim is held the fourteenth and the fifteenth of Arab and it is in honor of …show more content…
In the Hebrew version, there is no god mentioned, and it brings the main focus on humankind and what Mordecai and Esther did for the Jewish people. However, in the Greek version, the Lord is mentioned over fifty times, and is the reason why the tradition of Purim is celebrated amongst the Jews. Everything that happens is because of the Lord and his will. He fills King Ahasuerus with gentleness so that he fulfills Esther’s requests, and he sends Mordecai a dream, constructing Mordecai into a prophet. Esther and Mordecai pray to the Lord for his help, and with Mordecai the people of Israel cry out to the Lord so that they might escape the hands of their enemies. In regards to Esther and Mordecai, they work together to set their people free from Haman by resulting in the same actions. However, in the Hebrew book Esther and Mordecai are symbolic people, and in the Greek book Esther is a symbolic object while Mordecai is a prophet. They stand as symbolic people and are held in more regard in the Hebrew book because there is no one else, and no character that is held higher than them. This brings all the glory and heroic actions on Esther and Mordecai. Mordecai does help in setting the Hebrews free and also aids Esther is advising her what to ask the king, but the book emphases on the actions Esther makes and the