Introduction

This teaching is focused on equipping the Church so that it knows how to pray and bless Israel. You have been called to such a time as this! (Esther 4:14)

Purim is the feast that celebrates the miracle of God’s deliverance for the Jewish people in Persia in the reign of Achashverosh (Ahasuerus) between the years 485 and 465 B.C. These events are reported in the biblical book of Esther.

Summary

• The Name of the Feast and Its Meaning
• When do we celebrate?
• How do we celebrate?
• Why do we celebrate?
• What Do We Celebrate?
• Historical and Political Context
• Exile and Aliyah
• The Prophet Jabotinsky
• Queen Esther Typifying the Intercessory Bride
• Mordechai’s Fear
• Banquets and Change of Government
• Amalek on Hitler and Jewish Identity
• Purim 1946 – Queen Esther’s prophecy
• Persia is the Iran of today

• The Name of the Feast and Its Meaning

Purim (פּוּרִים)

The Hebrew term Purim is the plural of “pur” which means lot, (lottery, casting lots). Pur and Purim appear 7 times in the book of Esther.

Esther 9:26a

‘So they called these days Purim, after the name Pur.

Esther 3:7

‘In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot), before Haman to determine the day and the month, until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.’

Esther 9:24

‘because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to annihilate them, and had cast Pur (that is, the lot), to consume them and destroy them; ‘

The enemy was playing sorcery against our people. Our enemies use the spiritual powers of darkness to attack us. We can see this, in the story of Balak and Balaam:

Numbers 22:1-6

Then the children of Israel moved, and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan across from Jericho. Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel. So Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this company will lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. Then he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying: “Look, a people has come from Egypt. See, they cover the face of the earth, and are settling next to me! Therefore please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

The enemy was afraid of our people (actually of the God of Israel) and therefore needed the forces of darkness to overcome us.

When we look at what Hamas did on October 7, 2023, we wonder if they were men or demons, killing, dismembering, and burning babies. In addition to believing in a religion of death, they used heavy drugs, which opened portals to demons.  The war we are experiencing today in Israel needs to be won first in the spiritual world, because we are dealing with principalities, powers, and rulers of this world. Besides that, our enemies use lying propaganda.

In light of this, we will make a prophetic statement:

Isaiah 28:15-18

Because you (HAMAS) have said, “We have made a covenant with death, And with Sheol we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, It will not come to us, For we have made lies our refuge, And under falsehood we have hidden ourselves.” A Cornerstone in Zion

Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily. Also I will make justice the measuring line, And righteousness the plummet; The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters will overflow the hiding place. Your covenant with death will be annulled, And your agreement with Sheol will not stand; When the overflowing scourge passes through, Then you will be trampled down by it.

• When do we celebrate?

Esther 9:16-18

The remainder of the Jews in the king’s provinces gathered together and protected their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of their enemies; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder. This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. And on the fourteenth of the month they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness. But the Jews who were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day, as well as on the fourteenth; and on the fifteenth of the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

• Adar 13 – Taanit Esther (Esther’s Fast) – Jewish people defended themselves and defeated their enemies
• 14 of Adar – rested; Jews of Shushan (Shushan) fought
• 15th of Adar – Shushan Purim – (Jerusalem only) Jews of Shushan rested

This year – Esther’s fast will be from dawn to sunset on March 13th. Purim will be celebrated from sunset on March 13 to sunset on March 14. In Jerusalem it will also be celebrated on March 15 (Shushan Purim).

• How do we celebrate?

Esther 9:22

‘as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor. ‘

– fasting on the 13th of Adar

– reading of Megilat (roll of) Esther. While reading, whenever we mention Haman’s name, we make noise to erase his name!

– Mishloach Manot – sending baskets of food and gifts to the needy people, as a sign of joy, sharing in the freedom provided by the GOD who does not leave the throne!

– use of costumes – masks are removed at the end, to reveal who is who, as happened in the story with Haman.

– eating the pastry called oznei Haman (Haman’s ears).

• Why do we celebrate?

Esther 9:27-28

‘the Jews established and imposed it upon themselves and their descendants and all who would join them, that without fail they should celebrate these two days every year, according to the written instructions and according to the prescribed time, that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, and that the memory of them should not perish among their descendants.’

1. To remember, and teach our children:

God always commands us to minister to the next generation, teaching them at all times:

Psalm 78:1-7

Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments;

  2. To inform the world, educate the world

At universities today, we hear terrible lies that have deceived our children:

“Holocaust did not exist….”

“The land of Israel belongs to the Palestinian people. The Jews colonized them”

    3. To prophesy about the present and future

As we taught on the holiday of Hanukkah, there was Antiochus, here it was Haman, later there was Hitler, all of whom are types of anti-Messiahs. We need to learn how our people resisted, the remnants, how they remained in these times of difficulty and prepare ourselves for what is to come. This is also for the Church, not just for Israel.

• What Do We Celebrate?

1. The victory against Amalek: The victory against the anti-Semitic spirit (against Semites – descendants of Noah’s son)

Haman the Agagite

Esther 3:1

‘After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. ‘

Agagite is a descendant of King Agag who appears in 1 Samuel 15:7-8a:

‘And Saul attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt. He also took Agag king of the Amalekites…

Haman was a descendant of Amalek. Let’s see what God says about Amalek:

Exodus 17:14-16

‘Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and called its name, The- Lord -Is-My-Banner; for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”’

The next biblical passage about Amalek was read in synagogues around the world on Shabbat Zachor, the Sabbath of Remembrance, the Sabbath that precedes the Feast of Purim:

Deuteronomy 25:17-19

‘“Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God. Therefore, it shall be, when the Lord your God has given, you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget.’

That is why this feast is so timely and important to be remembered not only by Israel and the Jews but also by the Church in the nations. The spirit of Amalek was in Haman and also in the Nazis. Today it is present through the Islamic religion, in the terrorists who attack Israel on a daily basis.

“In the last two years, there has been a dramatic increase in the scope of terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria.”

It is important to call the region known as the West Bank as “Judea and Samaria”. This is the name that God gives to these regions, where many biblical events were consummated:

• Judean Desert – Ministry of John the Baptist and Temptation of Yeshua
• Hebron — burial place of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their wives. Later, David established his kingdom there.
• Shiloh — resting place of the Tabernacle for 369 years (Eli and Samuel)
• Shechem— Joseph’s burial place on a piece of land purchased by Jacob.
• Bethel —the traditional site of Jacob’s dream.

(among others…)

According to data from the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), 6,828 terrorist attacks were carried out in 2024 (an average of 18 per day) (including throwing stones and Molotov cocktails), double the number of attacks in 2023, with 3,436 attacks.

(https://www.inss.org.il/publication/terror-2023-2024/)

Are we fulfilling God’s command today and blotting out the remembrance of Amalek from under the heavens? Or are we sparing Agag as Saul did?

1 Samuel 15:2-3,9

‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”’

‘But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.’

The Church needs to understand this so that it can pray wisely!

2. The Turnaround

ונהפוך הוא  – Ve Naafoch hu – And this was reversed! The opposite of what was expected happened

The turnaround happens a few times on the book of Esther:

    A) Haman thinks he will be honored by the king but ends up being humiliated

Esther 6:6-10

So Haman came in, and the king asked him, “What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?” Now Haman thought in his heart, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” And Haman answered the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head. Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!’ ”Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king’s gate! Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken.”

The enemy was put to shame! We have to pray that this will happen to our enemies today and that they will no longer prepare the stage of Satan in Gaza, as Hamas has done, bringing humiliation upon our people!

   B)  Haman is hanged on the gallows that he himself prepared

Esther 7:9-10

‘Now Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, “Look! The gallows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good on the king’s behalf, is standing at the house of Haman.” Then the king said, “Hang him on it!” So, they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath subsided.’

Our King’s wrath must also be subsided through the vengeance on Amalek!

Nahum 1.2

‘God is jealous, and the Lord avenges; The Lord avenges and is furious. The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies;’

The war, is not ultimately against Israel, it is against the Lord and His Anointed One (Yeshua):

Psalm 2:1-5

Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure.

   C) Those who came to destroy the Jews were destroyed

Esther 9:1

‘Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, the time came for the king’s command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them. ‘

Esther 8:10-11

‘And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, sealed it with the king’s signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses bred from swift steeds. By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and protect their lives—to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions, ‘

Even today the King of Kings gives us the right to defense, through the attack and destruction of those who try to destroy us. There is no one who can cancel the decree sealed by the ring of the King of Israel!

There is no leader, people, nation, UN or (Hague Tribunal – International War Crimes Tribunal that issued an arrest warrant for our Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) who can stop the decree (“I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven!“)

• Historical and Political Context

607 BC – King Nebuchadnezzar – Siege of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile begins (Jeremiah 52:4-5)

586 BC – First Temple destroyed (2 Kings 25)

537 BC – Persian king Cyrus conquers the Babylonian Empire and issues a decree for the return of the Jewish people to Israel and the rebuilding of the Temple.  About 50,000 Jews set out on the First Return (Aliyah – ascent) to the Land of Israel, led by Zerubbabel, a descendant of the House of David, Yoshua, Zechariah, and others. The construction of the 2nd Temple begins.

522-486 BC – Darius I – divides the empire into provinces – Shushan is the capital.