Bible Encyclopedia: Purim

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

PURIM; PUR

pur'-rim, pur (purim, "lots"; Septuagint Phrourai): The name of a Jewish festival celebrated on the 14th and 15th days of the month Adar, the final month of the Biblical year, corresponding to February-March. 1. Scripture References:

The origin of the festival is narrated in the Book of Esther, and indeed is the motive of the book, as the time, reason and manner of its celebration are given in detail (Esther 3:7; Esther 9:24). Reference also is made to it in apocryphal literature (Additions to Esther 10:10-13; 2 Maccabees 15:36) and in Josephus (Ant., XI, vi, 13). No reference is made to this feast in the New Testament, as it was celebrated locally, and is therefore not to be connected with any of the festal pilgrimages to Jerusalem. For this reason the supposition of some that the feast of John 5:1 was Purim is to be rejected, mention of it being immediately followed by the words, "And Jesus went up to Jerusalem."

2. History of Institution:

For the complete account of the institution of Purim reference must be made to the Book of Esther. Only a brief statement is possible here. Haman, son of Hammedatha the AGAGITE (q.v.; compare 1 Samuel 15:8, 32), who had been made prime minister by King Ahasuerus (Xerxes), bitterly hated the Jews, some of whom, as Mordecai, were rising to prominence in the empire. After Queen Vashti had been put away from her royal position for cause (Esther 1:9-12), a Jewess named Esther, kinswoman and adopted daughter of Mordecai, was chosen to become the royal consort. This only increased the hatred of Haman, who in his jealous fury soon began to seek an opportune day to work his hate upon Mordecai and the whole Jewish people, and therefore resorted to the casting of the lots for the auspicious time: "They cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, which is the month Adar" (3:7). Beginning with the 1st month, all the days and months were tried with unfavorable result, until the last. At Haman's request Ahasuerus caused his scribes to send into all the realm on the 13th day of the 1st month a decree that all Jews should be put to death on the 13th day of the 12th month (3:12;). As the narrative shows, the wisdom of Mordecai, Esther's heroism, and fasting and prayer availed to foil the dastardly scheme of Haman, who had already built the gallows on which his hated rival should be hanged. Haman was himself hanged on this gallows, while Mordecai was honored yet more (7:10; 8:1, 2). A second decree was issued on the 23rd day of the 3rd month that on the 13th day of the 12th month (8:9, 12), the day appointed in the first decree for their extermination, the Jews should gather together and defend themselves against their foes. On that fateful day not only did the Jews successfully resist the malice of their enemies, but the public officials also, seeing that the royal favor was with the Jews, espoused their cause. In Shushan, the royal city, a second day, the 14th, was granted the Jews for vengeance on their foes (9:11-16). In view of so great a deliverance "Mordecai wrote these things.... unto all the Jews.... to enjoin them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, as the days wherein the Jews had rest from their enemies (9:20-22).

3. Manner of Observance:

Already as early as the times of the Maccabees (2 Maccabees 15:36), the festival was observed, the 14th day being called "Mordecai's day." Josephus refers to it as continuously and widely observed down to his time: "For this cause the Jews still keep the forementioned days, and call them days of Purim" (Ant., XI, vi, 13). In succeeding centuries as the Jews have passed from one civilization or empire to another, so many causes have arisen to remind them of the persecutions of Haman as to make the festival of a triumph over such persecutions both attractive and most significant to them. Experiences in Syria, Egypt, Rome, Russia and elsewhere have not been lacking in suggestion of the original occasion of Purim. The 13th day has been observed by fasting in commemoration of Esther's prayer and fasting before she approached the king; in the evening, at the beginning of the 14th day, the Jews repair to the synagogues where the Book of Esther, one of the meghilloth, is read with interpretations, execrations bursting out at the reading of Haman's name, accompanied by noise of rattles and stamping of feet, other persecutors and foes also sometimes coming in for a share of execration. The names of Mordecai and Esther receive blessings. On the following morning of the 14th synagogue services are again held, at which, in addition to the repetition of the Esther reading, Exodus 17:8-16, which records the destruction of the Amalekites (compare Esther 3:1), is also read as the lesson from the Law, presents are given to the poor and to friends, and the rest of the day, as also the 15th, observed with feasting and rejoicing, even excesses being condoned in the exuberance of national spirit.

4. Theories of Origin:

Many attempts have been made to trace the origin of Purim in pagan or cosmic festivals, but to the present time without success, without approach even to probability. Supposed connections with nature myths, national festivals, polytheistic legends have all found advocates. The word itself has suggested the possibility of identification with words of similar form or sound in other languages. But the ease of finding such similarities for any word casts doubt upon the reliability of any identification.

(1) It has been traced to the Assyrian puru, and identified with the Assyrian New Year when officials entered upon their term of service.

(2) The Babylonian puhru, new year festival, has also been claimed as the origin of Purim; Mordecai becomes Marduk, Esther is Ishtar, while Haman, Vashti and Zeresh are Median gods.

(3) The most popular attempts at identification are in the Persian field, where bahr, "lot," is claimed as the source of Pur, or purdighan, "new year," or farwardighan, the feast of departed souls.

(4) Origin also in a Greek bacchanalian occasion has been sought.

(5) Others suggest origin in other Jewish experiences than that claimed by the Book of Esther itself, such as a captivity in Edom, or a persecution under the Ptolemies in Egypt, or the victory of Judas Maccabeus over Nicanor in 161 B.C. (1 Maccabees 7:49).

No one of all these theories has sufficient probability to secure for itself anything like general acceptance; the Book of Esther remains as the most reasonable account; the difficulties met in it are not so great as those of the explanations sought in other languages and religions.

LITERATURE.

Bible dicts., especially HDB, Encyclopedia Biblica and Jewish Encyclopedia; Paton, commentary on "Est" in ICC, particularly pp. 77-94.

Edward Mack

Strong's Hebrew

6332. Pur -- "a lot," a Jewish feast
... 6331, 6332. Pur. 6333 . "a lot," a Jewish feast. Transliteration: Pur
Phonetic Spelling: (poor) Short Definition: Purim. ... Pur, Purim. ...
/hebrew/6332.htm - 6k

Library

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath Day and Defends his Act.
... calendar has found some one to advocate its claim to be this unnamed feast, yet
the vast majority of commentators choose either the feast of Purim, which came ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxxvii jesus heals on the.htm

Appendix xv. The Location of Sychar, and the Date of Our Lord's ...
... comp. The Temple,' &c., p.295), the Feast of Trumpets, or New Year's Day,
the Day of Atonement, and the feast of Esther, or Purim. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix xv the location of.htm

The Discourse Continued: Incapacity of the Jews to Understand the ...
... of the word "feast" in this passage, and the mention of the Passover itself in John,
vi., 4, might lead us to infer that the feast of Purim was meant, which ...
/.../section 147 the discourse continued .htm

Jesus at Bethesda.
... the first of April. This fact has made most commentators think that the
feast attended was that of Purim, in early March. I do not ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/jesus at bethesda.htm

Esther
... of Haman. In memory of the deliverance, the Purim festival is celebrated
on the 14th and 15th of the month Adar. The popularity ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/esther.htm

Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther.
... Purpose. To explain the origin of the feast of Purim work of providence
for God's people. Time. ... (5) The feast of Purim, 9:17-32. ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter xi ezra nehemiah and.htm

The Feast of the Lord
... people escaped from the plot which was laid by Haman, through the wisdom of Mordecai
and Esther, they ordained the keeping of the feast of Purim, that they ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/the feast of the lord.htm

Sabbath Cure at Bethesda.
... opposition. The miracle was wrought when Jerusalem was full; although whether
at the Feast of Tabernacles, or Purim, may be doubted. ...
/.../xii sabbath cure at bethesda.htm

Of the Practice of Piety in Holy Feasting.
... the Jews was the feast of the Passover (Exodus 12:15), to remember to praise God
for their deliverance out of Egypt's bondage; or the feast of Purim (Esther 9 ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/of the practice of piety 2.htm

The Five Thousand Fed.
... The feast named in John 5:1 could hardly be that of Purim, for then he would not
have left Jerusalem before the passover, it following only about a month later ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the five thousand fed.htm

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Purim

(lots), the annual festival instituted to commemorate the preservation of the Jews in Persia from the massacre with which they were threatened through the machinations of Haman. (Esther 9:1) ... It was probably called Purim by the Jews in irony. Their great enemy Haman appears to have been very superstitious, and much given to casting lots. (Esther 3:7) They gave the name. Purim, or "Lots," to the commemorative festival because he had thrown lots to ascertain what day would be suspicious for him to carry into effect the bloody decree which the king had issued at his instance. (Esther 9:24) The festival lasted two days, and was regularly observed on the 14th and 15th of Adar. According to modern custom, as soon as the stars begin to appear, when the 14th of the month has commenced, candles are lighted up in token of rejoicing, and the people assemble in the synagogue. After a short prayer and thanksgiving, the reading of the book of Esther commences. The book is written in a peculiar manner, on a roll called "the Roll" (Megillah). When the reader comes to the name of Haman, the congregation cry out, "May his name be blotted out," or, "Let the name of the ungodly perish." When the Megillah is read through, the whole congregation exclaim, "Cursed be Haman; blessed be Mordecai; cursed be Zoresh (the wife of Haman); blessed be Esther; cursed be all idolaters; blessed be all Israelites, and blessed be Harbonah who hanged Haman." In the morning service in the synagogue, on the 14th, after the prayers, the passage is read from the law, (Exodus 17:8-16) which relates the destruction of the Amalekites, the people of Agag, (1 Samuel 15:8) the supposed ancestor of Haman. (Esther 3:1) The Megillah is then read again in the same manner. The 14th of Adar, as the very day of the deliverance of the Jews, is more solemnly kept than the 13th; but when the service in the synagogue is over, all give themselves up to merry making.

ATS Bible Dictionary

Purim

Lots, a Jewish festival instituted by Esther and Mordecai, during the reign of Ahasuerus king of Persia, in memory of the providential deliverance of the Jews from the malignant designs of Haman. The propriety of the name appears form the fact that the lot was cast in the presence of Haman for every day from the first month to the twelfth, before an auspicious day was found for destroying the Jews; and thus the superstition of Haman was made the means of giving them time to turn his devices against himself, Proverbs 16:33 Esther 3:7 9:20-32. This festival was preceded by a day of fasting, and was observed by reading the book of Esther publicly in the synagogues, and by private festivities, mutual presents, alms, plays, and selfindulgence. Some think it is alluded to in John 5:1. It is still observed by the Jews, in the month of March.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A lot, lots, a festival instituted by the Jews (Esther 9:24-32) in ironical commemoration of Haman's consultation of the Pur (a Persian word), for the purpose of ascertaining the auspicious day for executing his cruel plot against their nation. It became a national institution by the common consent of the Jews, and is observed by them to the present day, on the 14th and 15th of the month Adar, a month before the Passover.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) A Jewish festival, called also the Feast of Lots, instituted to commemorate the deliverance of the Jews from the machinations of Haman.

Thesaurus

Purim (5 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. PURIM; PUR. pur'-rim, pur (purim, "lots";
Septuagint Phrourai): The name of a Jewish festival celebrated ...
/p/purim.htm - 16k

Pur (3 Occurrences)
...PURIM; PUR. pur'-rim, pur (purim, "lots"; Septuagint Phrourai): The name
of a Jewish festival celebrated on the 14th and 15th days ...
/p/pur.htm - 15k

Feasts (45 Occurrences)
... POST-EXILIC 1. Feast of Dedication, 25th Kiclew 2. Fast of Esther, 13th 'Adhar 3.
Feast of Purim, 14th 'Adhar 4. Fast of the Fourth Month, 17th Tammuz 5. Fast ...
/f/feasts.htm - 36k

Fasts (3 Occurrences)
... POST-EXILIC 1. Feast of Dedication, 25th Kiclew 2. Fast of Esther, 13th 'Adhar 3.
Feast of Purim, 14th 'Adhar 4. Fast of the Fourth Month, 17th Tammuz 5. Fast ...
/f/fasts.htm - 21k

Mordecai (52 Occurrences)
... In memory of the signal deliverance thus wrought for them, the Jews to this day
celebrate the feast (9:26-32) of Purim (qv). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/m/mordecai.htm - 28k

Nicanor (1 Occurrence)
... The people ordained to keep this "day of great gladness" year by year-the 13th
of Adar, "the day before the day of Mordecai" (Feast of Purim). ...
/n/nicanor.htm - 14k

Confirm (39 Occurrences)
... Esther 9:29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew,
wrote with all authority to confirm this second letter of Purim. ...
/c/confirm.htm - 20k

Instructions (47 Occurrences)
... Esther 9:26 Therefore they called these days " Purim, " from the word "Pur." Therefore
because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen ...
/i/instructions.htm - 20k

Purifying (17 Occurrences)

/p/purifying.htm - 11k

Mor'decai (51 Occurrences)
... Esther 9:29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew,
wrote down all the acts of power, to confirm this second letter of Purim. ...
/m/mor'decai.htm - 20k

Bible Concordance

Purim (5 Occurrences)

Esther 9:26 Therefore they called these days " Purim, " from the word "Pur." Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and that which had come to them,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Esther 9:28 and that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memory of them perish from their seed.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Esther 9:29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority to confirm this second letter of Purim.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Esther 9:31 to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times, as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had decreed, and as they had imposed upon themselves and their descendants, in the matter of the fastings and their cry.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Esther 9:32 The commandment of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Phurim

Purim

Purim: A Feast Instituted to Commemorate the Deliverance of the Jews from the Plot of Haman

Related Terms

Pur (3 Occurrences)

Feasts (45 Occurrences)

Fasts (3 Occurrences)

Mordecai (52 Occurrences)

Nicanor (1 Occurrence)

Confirm (39 Occurrences)