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What is the origin of Purim? |
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Esther
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What do we know about Purim (coming up March 9th)? |
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What is the origin of Purim? |
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Esther
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Follow this link to get some answers. I'm sure it will be helpful
www.torah.org |
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What is the origin of Purim? |
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Esther
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Also check out Esther 8-9 on how Purim got started... |
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What is the origin of Purim? |
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Esther
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On the 14th and 15th of the month Adar (March) fell the celebration of the Feast of Purim or Lots. This commemorated the deliverance of the Jews from Haman, who in B.C. 473 had plotted their extermination throughout the Persian empire (Esther 3:7, 9:15-32). In the Apocryphal book of 2 Maccabees 15:36 it is called 'Mordecai's day'. The observance of this festival was probably not at first universal, but Josephus mentions its occurrence, and it held an established position before the time of Christ. At first no special religious services were enjoined to mark it, nor was there any prohibition of labor. It was a time of feasting and joy, of the giving of presents and alms. In later times it was celebrated by a synagogue meeting on the evening of the 13th and the morning of the 14th, when the Book of Esther was read through, special prayers and thanks were offered, and the congregation pronounced curses on Haman and blessings on Esther and Mordecai. The rest of the feast was given up to good cheer and boisterous enjoyment. The 13th of Adar is also recorded as the Fast of Esther (Esther 9:31, 4:3). The celebration took place on the 11th if the 13th happened to be a Sabbath.The origin of the Purim feast is a matter of dispute. It is difficult to identify any known Persian word with pur (Esther 3:7, 9:26), which gave the festival its name. Some have supposed that the nameless feast mentioned in John 5:1 was Purim. But this is not convincing, for (a) Purim was never one of the great national solemnities which called for attendance at Jerusalem: it was observed locally and not only at the capital, (b) Christ would naturally go up for the Passover in the next month. And it is more probable that the Passover is the feast here intended.Sources: Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (Hendrickson) |
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Was Haman existence due to Saul's failur |
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Esther
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King Agag of the Amalekites was spared by Saul in 1 Samuel 15th
chapter and later killed by Samuel in that same chapter. How then
did Haman the Agagite come to exist when Saul slew all the
Amalekites and Samuel killed Agag. Please give me proof whether
historical or biblical.
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Was Haman existence due to Saul's failur |
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Esther
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Greetings Willie!
Many people have assumed that the phrase "agagite" meant that Haman was descended from King Agag. However, there is no evidence of this, other than a later statement by Josephus.
Archeologists though have found an inscription which refers to a Persian province called Agag. Thus, it seems most likely that "agagite" simply refers to someone from this province - much like someone could say of me "Tim, the Hoosier".
The inscription reads:
"Sargon, the father of Sennacherib says: 'Thirty-four districts of Media I conquered and I added them to the domain of Assyria: I imposed upon them an annual tribute of horses. The country of Agazi (Agag) I ravaged, I wasted, I burned.'"
I hope this helps!
Your Brother in Christ,
Tim Moran |
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Hiding her Heritage, Esther 2:13 |
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Esth 2:10
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In Esther, Mordecai instructs Esther to not reveal her Jewish heritage. Why? |
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Hiding her Heritage, Esther 2:13 |
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Esth 2:10
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Es 2:10
Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
I would think that it was because the Jews were mistreated at the time and he feared for her life if she let it be known. |
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Ash Wednesday, valid or not? |
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Esth 4:1
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I was talking to a friend ragarding the origin of Ash Wednesday, and that I could find no biblical teaching instructing us to "receive ashes". I grew up Catholic, however have since been born-again. Does Jesus call us to receive the ashes, and if so, where in the Bible are we instructed? |
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Ash Wednesday, valid or not? |
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Esth 4:1
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Scott
I am happy for you that your are continuing your relationship with Christ.
Regardless, of the church you are affiliated, there will be certain traditions and such, which will need to be studied by you, in order to receive its full benefit.
I wonder if you had understood this better while you were a practicing Catholic, if it would have had more meaning to you.
The Wednesday after Quinquagesima Sunday, which is the first day of the Lenten fast. The name dies cinerum (day of ashes) which it bears in the Roman Missal is found in the earliest existing copies of the Gregorian Sacramentary and probably dates from at least the eighth century.
On this day all the faithful according to ancient custom are exhorted to approach the altar before the beginning of Mass, and there the priest, dipping his thumb into ashes previously blessed, marks the forehead -- or in case of clerics upon the place of the tonsure -- of each the sign of the cross, saying the words: "Remember man that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return."
The ashes used in this ceremony are made by burning the remains of the palms blessed on the Palm Sunday of the previous year. In the blessing of the ashes four prayers are used, all of them ancient.
The ashes are sprinkled with holy water and fumigated with incense.
The celebrant himself, be he bishop or cardinal, receives, either standing or seated, the ashes from some other priest, usually the highest in dignity of those present.
In earlier ages a penitential procession often followed the rite of the distribution of the ashes, but this is not now prescribed.
There can be no doubt that the custom of distributing the ashes to all the faithful arose from a devotional imitation of the practice observed in the case of public penitents. But this devotional usage, the reception of a sacramental which is full of the symbolism of penance (cf. the cor contritum quasi cinis of the "Dies Irae") is of earlier date than was formerly supposed. It is mentioned as of general observance for both clerics and faithful in the Synod of Beneventum, 1091 (Mansi, XX, 739), but nearly a hundred years earlier than this the Anglo-Saxon homilist Ælfric assumes that it applies to all classes of men. "We read", he says,
"in the books both in the Old Law and in the New that the men who repented of their sins bestrewed themselves with ashes and clothed their bodies with sackcloth. Now let us do this little at the beginning of our Lent that we strew ashes upon our heads to signify that we ought to repent of our sins during the Lenten fast."
This information is from the Catholic Encyclopedia.
Brian
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Ash Wednesday, valid or not? |
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Esth 4:1
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Brian,
Thank you for taking the time to research this for me. I appreciate your help.
Your brother in Christ,
Scott |
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Ash Wednesday, valid or not? |
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Esth 4:1
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Scott
It's my pleasure.
Brian |
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sackcloth and ashes |
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Esth 4:3
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how were sackcloth and ashes used to with fasting in the old testament.I need book, chapter and verse. |
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sackcloth and ashes |
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Esth 4:3
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Scripture ... Est 4:1-4 (vs 3); Isa 58:5; Dan 9:3; Jon 3:5-8 (vv 5-6)...
porterlady, Here are the passgaes you want. Hope it helps. Searcher |
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THE TEST OF ESTHER |
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Esth 4:13
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THIS IS MY FAVORITE CHAPTER IN IN ESTHER THE 13THRU THE 17TH VERSE LOOK AT HOW AWESOME GOD IS AND HOW OBEDIENCE WILL ALWAYS WORK IN THE FAVOR OF THOSE THAT LOVE GOD AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE REMEMBER THAT IF YOU LOVE HIM YOU WILL KEEP HIS COMANDMENT ESTHER UNDERSTOOD THAT MORDECAI WAS THE VOICE OF GOD FOR HIS PEOPLE IN THAT LAND IN THAT DAY AND ALSO MORDECAI KNEW THAT HE ALSO NEEDED TO OBEY ESTHER BECAUSE OF HER OFFICE AND THE PLAN OF GOD THAT IS THE IMPORTANTS OF GETTING AN UNDERSTANDING AND BEING OBEDIENT. |
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THE TEST OF ESTHER |
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Esth 4:13
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God puts us in place according to His will. Remember He is the auther and finisher of our faith. Heb 12:2 |
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THE TEST OF ESTHER |
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Esth 4:13
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AMEN PUT IT IS YOUR ATTITUDE THAT WILL DETERMINED YOUR POSTURE AND YOUR POSTURE THE OUT COME OF THE PROMISE THAT RIGHT ATTITUDE IS OBEDIENCE LOOK AT ABRAHAM IN THE PLAINS AT MEM'RE IF HE HAD NOT OBEYED GOD AND WENT WHEN THE PROMISE CAME HE WOULD HAVE MISSED IT A RIGHT ATTITUDE IS GODS WILL |
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THE TEST OF ESTHER |
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Esth 4:13
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THE WORD AFTER AMEN SHOUL READ BUT I APOLOGIZE MY DEAR FRIEND |
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THE TEST OF ESTHER |
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Esth 4:13
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THE WORD AFTER AMEN SHOULD READ BUT I APOLOGIZE MY DEAR FRIEND |
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Are Christians To Be Activists? |
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Esth 4:14
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To what extent should Christians, individually or collectively as the church, be active in national and world affairs and issues -- such as political, economic, social, moral and ethical? What guidance does the Bible give us on this topic? --Hank |
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Are Christians To Be Activists? |
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Esth 4:14
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Greetings Hank!
I believe that we must be very active and as visible as the Holy Spirit will allow us to be in our dealings with society. Too many times we here of the 'failings' of national leaders or of people who are in high prestige. Would you rather that anyone but a true born again Christian should inhabit these offices of high prestige or influence? For what if God had elected some of us to attain royalty for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14)
If you look at Israel's history of Kings, you see a 'devout' king leading the nation back to God, while those kings who are full of sin lead the nation into idolatry and every evil practice.. We need Christians at the helm so that we can rest assured that our country will see a brighter tomorrow!
Yes!! Christians must be very active and visible to set the example and lead this country into a nationwide revival for God!
--Nolan |
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Are Christians To Be Activists? |
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Esth 4:14
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First, if there ever was an activist, Jesus was one. If there was wrong, He addressed the issue. He did not just tell others what to do, He did it. He mingled with and healed social outcasts. He taught compassion. But if there was hypocrisy, He confronted it. But everything He did, He did with prayer and in accordance with His Father's will. He was a one-man protester often and the only time He acted out His anger was with the money-changers in the temple, and then He took time before hand to plait the cords to chase them out (I wonder what went through His mind as he was doing the weaving?). We need to be the examples, the salt and light, first. As Nolan stated, we need Godly men in office to have prominence in working to change laws in accordance with God's Word, but we need to do our part and be active in worldly affairs by prayer and fasting. If action needs to be taken, it needs to be done in a Godly way, violence begets violence and does not show the love of Jesus.
Love in Christ-
Debbie |
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Are Christians To Be Activists? |
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Esth 4:14
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John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
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WHY WAS MOSES CHOOSEN TO FREE HIS PEOPLE |
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Esth 4:14
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WHY DID GOD CHOOSE MOSES TO RELEASE HIS PEOPLE FROM BONDAGE |
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WHY WAS MOSES CHOOSEN TO FREE HIS PEOPLE |
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Esth 4:14
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Greetings Sassybrown!
Moses was at the right time and at the right place to "be chosen by God" to fulfill this special mission- deliver them from bondage!
And, although reluctant, Moses did fullfill this God appointed mission, which ensured that he would be remembered forever in Scripture.
What has God chosen for us to do, right where we are?
Blessings to you,
Nolan |
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How many verses are there in the Bible? |
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Esth 6:1
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The Bible, as it has come to us in the King James Version, has a total of 773,692 words. Of these, 592,439 are divided into 929 chapters in the 39 books of the Old Testament; and 181,253 are in 260 chapters of the 27 books of the New Testament. The most frequently used word is "and", which occurs 46,227 times. The title
"God," which appears in all but two books, Esther and Song of Solomon, is used 4,370 times; "Lord" 1,855 times; "Jesus" 973 times; and "Christ" 556 times.
How many verses are there in the Bible? |
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How many verses are there in the Bible? |
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Esth 6:1
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Nolan, I just now finished counting :-) and there are 31,101 verses in the Bible, 23,144 in the Old Testament and 7,957 in the New Testament. The middle verse is Psalm 103:2. The shortest verse is John 11:35 with two words; the longest is Esther 8:9 with 90 words. If you memorized one verse a day, you would have the entire Bible memorized in only 85 years! (This information applies to the King James Bible; it would vary slightly in some of the modern versions). --Hank |
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How many verses are there in the Bible? |
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Esth 6:1
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Thank you, Hank, for counting every single one! Wow! Thank you for the answer, you may now rest your no doubt weary eyes and fingers! :-) Your Brother in Christ, Nolan |
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How many verses are there in the Bible? |
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Esth 6:1
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Well, Nolan, you'll have to admit that counting verses in the Bible is better than counting sheep for us night owls. And the odds are a good deal higher that we might learn more from the verses than from sheep! --Hank |
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why was no spoil taken in Esther 9 |
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Esth 9:1
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I'm studying Esther. In Esther Chapter 9 Verses 10, 15 and 16, it says that the Jews slew their enemies but did not take the spoil. It interests me that this is spoken three times. I usually pay attention when anything is repeated (from the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses a thing is established). Does anyone have any thoughts as to the significance of this? |
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