The Troubled Land and the Festival of Purim

Netivyah International

Purim is the biblical festival that celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from a government plot to annihilate them in ancient Persia. It falls on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar, which usually lands in late February or March. The events are recorded in the Book of Esther. You can read a comprehensive overview in our guide, All about Purim.

But Purim is not just a story from antiquity. For the Jewish people living in Israel today, the themes of this festival play out in real time. Trouble is nothing new to the Holy Land.

Elhanan ben-Avraham, a guest writer for Netivyah’s Teaching From Zion magazine, observes that Jerusalem itself is the historical epicenter of trouble. The city has been invaded, razed, and rebuilt countless times. It does not sit on a major trade route. It has little water. It contains no great natural resources worth fighting over. Yet it is the place where all the major ideological conflicts of the world converge.

A History of Conflict in the Land

Though holiday cards often show sweet and peaceful images of the birth of Yeshua (Jesus), he was born into a deeply troubled time. The land was under a brutal Roman military occupation. Crucifixions were common Roman displays of terror on the roads leading to the Holy City. The Jewish people of the first century lived under the constant shadow of an empire that demanded absolute submission.

Before the Romans, there was the merciless invasion by the Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar, which the prophets of the Tanakh describe in vivid detail. After the time of Yeshua, the Romans entirely destroyed Jerusalem and the Second Temple. Then came the Muslim conquests in the seventh century. The Middle Ages brought the Crusaders, who slaughtered their way through the land in the name of religion.

In the twentieth century, the British captured the land under General Allenby. The modern State of Israel was met with war the very day it was established in 1948. Since then, the nation has fought multiple defensive wars just to survive.

Today, the Land of Israel remains surrounded by trouble. There are incessant threats from groups and nations that want to destroy the one Jewish state on the planet. The immediate neighbors often reject compromise, and organizations like Hamas state the destruction of Israel as their primary goal. But as Elhanan ben-Avraham points out, the real concern for Israel today often points back to the East. It points to Iran, which is ancient Persia.

The First Haman and the Book of Esther

This brings us directly to the festival of Purim. The Jewish people are intimately familiar with the threat of annihilation. The Book of Esther tells the story of Haman, a high-ranking official in the Persian Empire. Haman was an Agagite, a descendant of Amalek, the ancient enemy of Israel.

Haman manipulated the Persian King Ahasuerus into signing a decree to exterminate every Jewish man, woman, and child on the 13th of Adar. You can explore the details of this political intrigue in our Esther Bible Study Guide: A 10-part Meaningful Study on Faith and Obedience.

Through the courage of two Jewish people, Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai, the plot was exposed. The Jewish people were granted the right to defend themselves. The plan was defeated, and the wicked Haman was hanged on the very gallows he had built for Mordechai. The relieved Jewish people rejoiced at their deliverance, and they established the 14th of Adar as a day of feasting and gladness.

Modern Hamans in a Troubled World

As the Jewish people read the scroll of Esther each year, they recognize that the spirit of Haman did not die in ancient Persia. Elhanan ben-Avraham recalls the Gulf War in 1991. Saddam Hussein attempted to terrorize Israel by raining down Scud missiles on civilian populations. Saddam viewed himself as a modern Nebuchadnezzar, rebuilding Babylon and threatening the Jewish people.

By a striking divine coincidence, the Gulf War effectively ended right on the festival of Purim. Saddam Hussein eventually met a fate remarkably similar to the ancient kings who opposed God. He was captured hiding in a hole in the ground and was later hanged in Babylon.

Today, leaders in modern Persia (Iran) openly state their desire to wipe Israel off the map. They seek nuclear weapons to accomplish what Haman attempted with swords. But this is not a surprise to those who read the Scriptures. Long ago, the prophet Daniel wrote of visions predicting the central role of Persia in the events of the latter days. If you want to understand more about these prophetic patterns, you can read Purim, Persia, and the Promises of God.

How Purim is Observed in Jewish Practice

Despite the heavy history, Purim is the most joyful day on the Jewish calendar. The rabbis teach that when the month of Adar begins, joy increases. It is a commanded celebration of survival.

The centerpiece of the festival is the reading of the Megillah, the Scroll of Esther, in the synagogue. During the reading, every time the name of Haman is spoken, the entire congregation erupts in noise. People stomp their feet, shout, and spin wooden noisemakers called graggers. This fulfills the biblical command in Deuteronomy 25:19 to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. We literally drown out his name.

But Purim is not just about remembering the enemy. It is about caring for the community. Esther 9:22 commands the Jewish people to observe the days as "days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor."

These two commands are taken very seriously today. The giving of food is called Mishloach Manot. Friends and neighbors prepare baskets of fruit, wine, and pastries, particularly the triangular cookies called Hamantaschen (Haman's ears or Haman's pockets). You can learn more about this beautiful practice in Mishloach Manot: A Purim Tradition of Giving and Joy.

The second command, Matanot LaEvyonim, requires giving charity to at least two people in need on the day of Purim. This ensures that everyone has enough to celebrate the feast. Joy is not complete unless it is shared with those who are struggling.

What Purim Means for Followers of Yeshua

Why should a Christian observe or care about a Jewish festival from the Persian exile? The answer lies in the character of God.

First, Purim stands as a clear record of God's faithfulness. Joseph Shulam often points out that the Book of Esther is the only book in the Bible where the name of God is not explicitly mentioned. Yet, His fingerprints are on every single page. God works behind the scenes, arranging the insomniac night of a king and the bravery of a young woman to save His people.

If Haman had succeeded in wiping out the Jewish people, the Messiah could not have been born. The preservation of the Jewish people in Persia was directly tied to the salvation of the entire world through Yeshua.

Second, Purim reminds disciples of Yeshua that God keeps His covenant. When you look at the troubled land of Israel today, surrounded by enemies who wish to destroy her, you are watching the Purim story continue. God did not abandon His people in Persia, and He does not abandon them today.

Believers in Yeshua can take deep comfort in this. The God who preserves Israel is the same God who holds your life in His hands. When He seems hidden, He is still working. He is the author of life, and He does not leave His people to the mercy of their enemies.

A Simple Way to Mark Purim at Home

You do not need to be Jewish to draw spiritual lessons from Purim. You can easily mark this festival at home with your family.

Read the Story Aloud Gather your family and read the Book of Esther. If the whole book is too long for young children, read chapters 3, 4, and 8. Talk about how God placed Esther in the palace for a specific purpose.

Make Some Noise Give your children pots, pans, or wooden spoons. Tell them that every time you read the name "Haman," they must make as much noise as possible to blot out his name. When you read the name "Mordechai," have everyone cheer. This keeps children engaged and teaches them that evil will be silenced.

Give Gifts of Food Take part in the tradition of Mishloach Manot. Bake some cookies or put together small baskets of fruit and treats. Deliver them to your neighbors or to friends in your congregation. It is a tangible way to spread joy.

Give to the Vulnerable Honor the command to give to the poor. Choose a ministry, a local shelter, or a family in need, and make a special donation on Purim.

The Jewish people of the troubled land continue to prepare in the face of a vast array of enemies. But as we look at the hills of Jerusalem, we also see the abundant rains blessing the land, making it fertile again. We watch as the land is restored. We lift our faces to the heavens and to our King for comfort, strength, and deliverance.

Tonight, open your Bible to Esther chapter 4. Read the conversation between Mordechai and Esther, and ask yourself where God might be calling you to speak up for such a time as this.

Questions people ask

What is the biblical feast of Purim?

Purim is a Jewish festival commemorating the survival of the Jewish people from a plot to destroy them in ancient Persia. The story is recorded in the Book of Esther.

When is Purim celebrated?

Purim is celebrated on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar. On the Gregorian calendar, this usually falls in late February or March.

Do followers of Yeshua celebrate Purim?

Many followers of Yeshua observe Purim to remember God's faithfulness to His covenant. Without the deliverance of the Jewish people in Persia, the Messiah could not have been born.

How do you celebrate Purim at home?

Families celebrate by reading the Book of Esther aloud, making noise to blot out the villain Haman's name, giving gifts of food to friends, and giving charity to the poor.