Esther: Queen of Persia

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Esther is first introduced to us in chapter 2:7 as Hadassah the adopted daughter of Mordecai.  We are told according to the NIV that she “was lovely in form and features”.  What does that mean?  These are two separate Hebrew words here that can both be translated “beautiful” and therefore emphasizing her physical beauty, however, the first can also be translated “pleasant” and the second translated “favored”.  Both definitions are very important because it points out that not only was she beautiful in form but also in character.  These second definitions are also ones repeated often in our story and so must be taken seriously.

When the edict of Xerxes went out many young women were brought to the citadel in Susa, but if you remember Esther already lived there with Mordecai.  Therefore, Esther was one of the closest and therefore first to be brought to the harem within the actual palace of the king.  She along with many others were entrusted to Hegai the eunuch in charge of the harem and the one responsible for preparing the girls to go into the king.  This was a long process that would take a year to accomplish. 

It was Esther who first caught the eye of Hegai.  She “pleased him and won his favor” and so he immediately began to put her through the purification rites and to provide her with the best food.  What is interesting about these two words her is that not only do they mean “pleasing” and “favor”, which they do and you remember these words are important, but both of these words can mean either “pleasing” or “favor” and they can also both mean “best”. 

In other words, Hegai thought Esther to be pleasing, pleasing and the best, best and so he showed her favor, favor.  I am emphasizing these words because of their importance and also to remind you that when a thought is repeated in Hebrew, either with the exact same word or not, it is done to add weight to the point.

Hegai not only began her purification, but also gave her seven maids from the king’s palace and moved her to the “best” accommodations within the harem.  This again is emphasizing what he thought of her and her chances for being the one selected.

Then we find out that she has been commanded by her father, Mordecai, not to reveal who her people are or her homeland.  The text makes it clear that she followed this command showing her to be obedient to her father and loyal to her people.  She is a young women of character and distinction.  She knows who she is and what that means. 

We also see the love her father has for her as he goes everyday to inquire of her at the harem courtyard.  These two, father and daughter, are very close and loyal to one another.  It is not until verse 15 of chapter 2 that we learn that they are actually cousins.

This part of Esther’s biography reminds me of one of my favorite Psalms, Psalm 45.  It is found it verses 10 and 11 where it says, “Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention: Forget your people and your father’s house.  Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.”  This is the Psalm of a wedding that foreshadows the great wedding in Revelation 19.  We are to forget our past focus only on our Lord, our Bridegroom.  Here Esther is to do just that, she is to focus on her potential bridegroom.  The difference is that Esther is doing it to protect herself and her people.  She is also from God’s family, Israel, and it is the king in this case who will be joining through marriage, even though he does not yet know it.  Remember, I said in an earlier post he is looking for a home for his heart.

Esther underwent her required twelve months of purification, no doubt having some religious significance within Zoroastrianism.  When it was her turn to go to Xerxes, presumably one of the first, she asked for only what Hegai suggested she take. 

It is at this point I find the statement in verse 15 quite interesting that states, “Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her.”(NIV)  I find this interesting because it seems to be out of place or at the least unexpected at this point.  We already know she has won the favor of Hegai and it is yet to speak of the favor of Xerxes so who might the text be referring to when it says “everyone”?  Possibly, Shaashgaz, the eunuch in charge of the concubines, perhaps the other young women, perhaps her maids,

I can’t help but wonder if there is another important person this may be referring to.  My thoughts go to Xerxes mother, Atossa.  Remember she is still alive at this point and I find it hard to believe she had nothing to do with the selection process of the next queen, at least in her own mind anyway.  If that is the case, this is a huge statement and not one so out of place.  Notice though we are once again hearing how Esther won the “favor” of people.

Finally, she is taken to the king in December of 479 B.C. or January of 478 B.C.  She would only return to the king if he called for her by name, until then she would remain in the part of the harem where the concubines dwelt under the protection of Shaashgaz. 

Yes, this does imply that their night together was a physical one, an intimate one and Scripture gives us no indication that it was not.  Regardless, she is now waiting to see if he will call for her again or if the rest of her life will be spent alone in the harem.

Scripture does not leave the reader to the suspense that Esther must have felt at first.  Rather, it lets us know very quickly that Xerxes loved Esther more than the others.  This love he felt for her was not purely physical, but much deeper than that; even to the point of friendship. 

They liked each other in a genuine way that makes for a strong bond and marriage.  It is obvious that he not only loved her for her beauty, but that they also enjoyed each others company as well.  Esther won the favor of Xerxes, this word “favor” can also be translated “grace”, she found grace with him.  She also won his approval, the word “approval” can also be translated “mercy”.

Therefore, with Xerxes, Esther found grace and mercy.  He was pleased with her so he made her is wife and queen by setting a crown on her head presumably at their wedding.

Xerxes then throws a banquet and calls it, “Esther’s Banquet”.  He is not showing off his own glory, but that of his Queen.  She has become a reflection of him and his glory or majesty.  He does not keep his bride hidden, but shows her off and once again the officials and nobles of the kingdom, i.e., family, are there.  He doesn’t stop there, but declares a holiday in the provinces, which would have included Israel, and lavishly gave out gifts.

The symbolism in this portion of the account is breathtaking. 

Remember in an earlier post I said that Xerxes is a type of Christ.  Well, here it is obvious and shines through with abundance. 

Yeshua our King has found his bride and paid for it all.  He paid the bridal price, He paid the cost of the wedding and the banquet.  He gives out gifts through His Holy Spirit.  He has chosen us to be blameless and holy and made us so through the sanctification or purification of the Holy Spirit.  He has made us a part of His family according to His good pleasure and will, by His grace and mercy.  He has lavishly poured out His favor or grace upon us. 

What an awesome picture of the wedding that is to come.  What a glimpse of the fulfillment of the mystery of the Bridegroom and His Bride.  It becomes so obvious doesn’t it?  Now do you see why I said this book was also prophetic?

Rejoicing in our King,

Vicky

Chanukah

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Tonight marks the beginning of this year’s celebration of Chanukah.  The word “Hanukkah” means “rededication”.  We see Jesus celebrating this festival in John 10:22 where John called it the Festival of Dedication.  So what is this festival about?

In 165 B.C. the Maccabees pushed out the Greek-Syrian forces from Jerusalem after a three year battle, a battle for religious freedom.  After regaining control of Jerusalem this priestly family along with their troops set out to cleanse the temple from the pagan worship performed by the Greeks, including sacrificing swine. 

After cleansing the temple, they wanted to rededicate it to the God of Israel.  Part of this rededication was lighting the oil burning lamp in the Holy Place where the table of shew bread and the golden altar stood.  Once lit, the lamp was to be kept burning continually.  However, they found only enough oil to last for one day.  Then God did what only God can do, a miracle.  God allowed that one day supply of oil to burn for eight days.

So what is the significance of this festival?  First we begin with the idea of dedication.  We are called to dedicate or consecrate our lives as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to our Lord.  Keep in mind that the lampstand itself represents the tree of life in the garden, the oil represents the Holy Spirit and the flame represents the eternal flame, the flame that is to be always lit, in our lives – the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Jesus said we are the light of the world and we must let that light shine.

In Ephesians 4 we are told to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  Yes, the oil represents the Holy Spirit in our lives in all He does in our lives.  They had enough oil to last one day.  In the beginning of our walk with God through forgiveness found only in the sacrifice of Jesus, God fills our lives with the Holy Spirit, this is our day one. 

However, does the Holy Spirit run out or leave us?

You see the Holy Spirit we receive upon believing in Yeshua is not an it, not a force, but a person.  He does not run out like oil for a lamp, so does He leave?  The Festival of Chanukah says no!  The oil lasted for eight days.  We must remember that there is no eighth day to any week.  So what does the eighth day represent?  It represents eternity. 

Jesus said the Holy Spirit would be with us for eternity.  If the lampstand represents the tree of life and the oil represents the Holy Spirit who is with us forever (John 14:16) then the celebration of Chanukah tells us that God gives eternal life to those who believe in the Messiah and that He will never leave them nor forsake them because His Spirit would be in them forever, even in eternity.

When Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Festival of Dedication or Chanukah in John 10 He told the Jews plainly, “The miracles I do in my Father’s house (you see He is responsible for the miracle of Chanukah) speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.”(NIV)  Here Yeshua is plainly saying that eternal life is of Him and that no one can snatch it away.  The Holy Spirit, the oil of our lives, has been given and will be there for eternity.

Chanukah is God’s story of dedication of His people and of His Holy Spirit being with us in eternity, forever sealed as His.

His Forever,

Vicky

Meet Mordecai

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Esther 2:5 In the fortress of Susa, there was a Jewish man named Mordecai son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite. 6 He had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with the other captives when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took King Jeconiah of Judah into exile. 7 Mordecai was the legal guardian of his cousin  Hadassah (that is, Esther ), because she didn’t have a father or mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was extremely good-looking. When her father and mother died, Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter.(HCSB)

Today we meet Mordecai for the first time in our account of Esther.  He is a Benjamite Jew, but that is not all.  The lineage that is given is very specific.  Two of them are names we have seen before.  Shimei was the Benjamite who cursed David as he left in the rebellion of Absalom.  At the time David told his men to leave him alone, but later told his son Solomon to deal with him.  Solomon told him he must never leave Jerusalem and that if he did he would be subject to the death penalty.  Well, as you might guess Shimei got cocky and left after a time.  Upon his return Solomon had him killed.  Shimei is probably a grandson of Kish, the father of King Saul, since the account in II Samuel says he is the son of another man.  This would have made him the nephew of Saul.  Therefore, we see that son in this passage is referring to descendant not direct father son relationships.

Jair may have been the ancestor of Mordecai that was actually taken into exile.  Why would I say this and not say that Mordecai was himself taken by Nebuchadnezzar?  Because Mordecai would have been well over 100 years old, even if he had been taken as an infant.  Mordecai’s family was taken in 596 B.C. when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took King Jeconiah or Jehoiachin of Judah captive along with many in his kingdom.  This was the same time that Ezekiel was taken captive (Daniel was taken captive earlier in 605 B.C.) and when Nebuchadnezzar made Zedekiah king of Judah. Those particular captives are also the ones Jeremiah wrote to in the letter that God recorded for us in Jeremiah 29.  At this point in our account the year is 479 B.C., which was 117 years after the exile we are discussing.  Therefore, either Mordecai is a very, very old man or he is not the one who was directly taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar.

In the years that followed the Persian conquest of Babylon in 539 B.C., the Jews and other people groups that the Babylonians had taken captive were given permission to go home.  However, many did not.  This was the case for Mordecai and Esther’s family.  Now, before we rush to find fault with them for this we must remember that in the letter Jeremiah wrote to them that we mentioned in the paragraph above told the captives to settle down and begin new lives for themselves and that is exactly what Mordecai and his family had done.  Mordecai in some capacity served the king of Persia.  Not only did he live in Susa, but he also lived in the citadel or palace fortress of Susa.  Only those who served the king would have been allowed into the citadel.

Mordecai’s name is a derivative of the Babylonian god, Marduk.  Many believe that he would have also had a Jewish name, as did Esther.  However, the book does not give that name.  This is especially interesting when one considers that fact that Xerxes is the only one of the Persian kings that also did not bear the title, king of Babylon.  The reason he did not bear this title is because he went into Babylon and had the statue of Marduk removed.  Interesting that the man who would become his number two guy in years to come would have a name that reminded everyone of the god Xerxes took away.

We may also have some external evidence for Mordecai outside of Scripture.  There was found in a cuneiform tablet from Borsippa near Babylon the mention of a man by the name of Mardukaya.  Many believe this Mardukaya is really Mordecai from the book of Esther.  The cuneiform says he was a scribe at Susa in the early reign of Xerxes.  If that is so this is incredible evidence for, not only the validity of the book itself, but also for the timing of the book.

This is the man who adopted Hadassah, Esther, as his own daughter when her parents died.  The Hebrew in this passage never refers to her has cousin or even just a relative, but from the beginning of their introduction together calls her his daughter, bat.  This speaks of the importance of this relationship between them, but also the legally binding nature of it as well.  Within the Jewish culture the relationship of parent to adopted child is so strong of a relationship that the child cannot ever be disowned or abandoned.  It is meant to last forever.

This leads us to see Mordecai very much in the role of our Heavenly Father.  We are His adopted children, grafted into the tree of Israel.  Remember Israel was cut off and when physical Israelites believe in Yeshua the Messiah they are grafted back into their tree.  Jews are branches from the cultivated tree that have been cut off until they believe in their Messiah when they are once again grafted back in.  Gentiles are wild shoots, but God in his mercy through the sacrifice of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit grafts us also into His cultivated tree and we become one.  He will never separate us from the tree again because we have all been adopted as sons.  This adoption gives us the ability to cry Abba Father and is irrevocable.  He promised He would never leave us nor forsake us.  He will never abandon us.  Mordecai’s adoption of Hadassah is a beautiful picture of the Father’s adoption of us, those who believe in Yeshua.

This upbringing for Esther stands in stark contrast to the upbringing and love that was in Xerxes’ life.

His Daughter Forever,

Vicky

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Upon Xerxes’ Return

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Esther 2:1 Some time later, when King Ahasuerus’s (Xerxes’) rage had cooled down, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what was decided against her.  2 The king’s personal attendants suggested, “Let a search be made for beautiful young women for the king.  3 Let the king appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom, so that they may assemble all the beautiful young women to the harem at the fortress of Susa.  Put them under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women, and give them the required beauty treatments. 4 Then the young woman who pleases the king will become queen instead of Vashti.”  This suggestion pleased the king, and he did accordingly.(HCSB)

Remember from earlier that we discussed that between chapters 1 and 2 the Persian Greek War, the war the movie “300” made famous once again, occurred and that Xerxes came home with his army left behind and losing.  Therefore, when it says, “some time later” the “later” it is referring to is after he came home from the war.

After Xerxes comes home we know of one major event in his life from the writings of Herodotus, the Greek historian, his affair with his daughter-in-law.  What occurred from this affair, I believe, along with the riggers of war, helped to turn Xerxes mind back to Vashti.  You see, Xerxes gave to his daughter-in-law, the wife of his eldest son, a robe that Vashti had given him.  She then took the robe and wore it in public, a royal robe of the King.  Vashti then has her mother killed (Xerxes sister-in-law and also a former lover).  This was a warning.  It appeared that the daughter-in-law was seeking to claim power for her father, Xerxes brother and general.  This act of Vashti’s may have caused Xerxes to turn his affections toward her and once again think he might be able to trust her.  I told you there was a lot of family intrigue in Xerxes’ life.  Every where he turns he is looking for someone to love and trust.  He is seeking a home for his heart.

It is at this point that Xerxes’ attendants step in and keep him from breaking his own law.  Their suggestion pleases the king.  But what was it?  Basically to collect the young pleasing virgins of the kingdom who could be a potential bride.  This collection of young women were to be brought to the eunuch, Hegai, in the palace at Susa.  Interestingly, the word for harem can also mean palace or even temple.  Considering the meaning for the treatments it is an intriguing thought to think that Esther may have been taken to a temple of Ahura Mazda for this preparation.

Yes, they were to undergo treatments.  These treatments, as we learn later in the chapter, were two sets of six month long treatments.  Here I believe the King James Bible gets it right.  It refers to these treatments as a means of purification.  They were to be purified before coming into the presence of the king.  It is here that I must begin our look at the prophetic nature of the book of Esther.  King Xerxes on some levels is a type of Christ or Messiah.  Here is one of these places.  Before we, the Bride of Christ, enter His presence we undergo a time of purification.  We call it sanctification.  We will someday enter His presence pure and blameless, without spot or wrinkle.  Again Xerxes is just a type, he by no means is a perfect representation of our Messiah.

Then Xerxes’ attendants speak of Xerxes choosing the one that pleases him, remember Xerxes’ anger toward Vashti was  hot displeasure and that he is looking for the exact opposite of her.  It would be this one that is most pleasing to him that would receive the crown of the Queen.  They have set a plan before Xerxes and it pleases him.  It would be this that sends him into the intrigues of the harem, which is also where Herodotus tells us his heart goes.  It will be there we meet Esther.

Seeking The Pure Heart,

Vicky

The Religion of the Persian Empire

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Zoroastrianism was the religion of the Persian ruling family during the time of Cyrus, Darius and Xerxes.  It was the religious perspective in which Xerxes would have been coming from when he was getting to know Esther.  As we will see in many ways, their religions were very similar.  Could that had made it easier for the two of them to relate to each other and even perhaps easier for a possible conversion of Xerxes to Judaism.  It was not until the time of Xerxes’ son, Artaxerxes, that it became the official religion of the Persian Empire.

  • Zoroaster was the prophet who brought this religion to Persia.  However, it is not clear when he lived.    Dates are given from 1600 B.C. to 500’s B.C. –  this is a large range.  Most scholars put it at about 1000 B.C. – the time of David. 

  • Their god is Ahura Mazda (meaning Wise Lord), who is:

      • Omniscient (knows everything)

      • Omnipotent (all powerful)

      • Omnipresent (is everywhere)

      • Impossible for humans to conceive

      • Unchanging

      • The Creator of life

      • The Source of all goodness and happiness

    • Does this sound familiar?  In many ways the god of Zoroastrianism sounds a lot like the one true God.

  • Zoroaster’s Vision

    • At the age of thirty, Zoroaster had a divine vision while bathing in a river during a pagan purification rite. On the bank of the river he saw a ‘Shining Being’ made of light who revealed himself as Vohu Manah (‘Good Mind’).  Vohu Manah led Zoroaster to the presence of Ahura Mazda (God) and five other radiant beings, which are called the Amesha Spentas (Holy Immortals). This was the first of a number of visions in which Zoroaster saw Ahura Mazda and his Amesha Spentas; during each vision he asked many questions. The answers given to Zoroaster are the foundations of Zoroastrian religion.

  • It is said that Zoroaster tried to convert his neighbors, in northeastern Iran, but they would not convert.  He then went on a pilgrimage going west (interesting to remember is the fact that if he went west he may very well have come into the land of Israel) and when he came back he found a king (if during the 500’s this may have been Cyrus’ family) that was willing to convert to his faith.

  • What is very interesting about Zoroaster going on pilgrimage is that from many aspects of Zoroastrianism it would almost seem a sure thing that he came into contact with Judaism given their many similarities.  However, liberal scholars like to turn it into Judaism and therefore Christianity borrowing from Zoroastrianism.  They like to claim that Zoroastrianism is the oldest of all the monotheistic religions.

  • Beliefs

      • Ahura Mazda has an adversary called Angra Mainyu (meaning ‘destructive spirit’).   Angra Mainyu is the originator of death and all that is evil in the world.  Ahura Mazda, who is perfect, abides in Heaven, whereas Angra Mainyu dwells in the depths of Hell. When a person dies they will go to Heaven or Hell depending on their deeds during their lifetime.

      • Amesha Spentas translates as ‘Holy Immortals’. Just as light rays are emanated from the sun but are not the sun, so the Amesha Spentas are emanated by God but are not God. These emanations are seen as the divine attributes of God. They helped God fashion the world and each is associated with a particular aspect of creation.  Western scholars have likened the Amesha Spentas to the Archangels in Christianity. This is not strictly correct as they also represent spiritual attainments, in other words, each Amesha Spentas brought one closer to Ahura Mazda as they attained to that Amesha Spentas’ attribute. Zoroastrians believe that man can know God through his Divine Attributes.

      • The six Amesha Spentas are:

        • Vohu Manah – Good mind and good purpose.

        • Asha Vahishta – Truth and righteousness.

        • Spenta Ameraiti – Holy devotion, serenity and loving kindness.

        • Khashathra Vairya – Power and just rule.

        • Hauravatat – Wholeness and health.

        • Ameretat – Long life and immortality.

      • Dualism in Zoroastrianism is the existence of, yet complete separation of, good and evil. This is recognized in two interconnecting ways:

        • Cosmically (opposing forces within the universe)

        • Morally (opposing forces within the mind)

Cosmic dualism

Cosmic dualism refers to the ongoing battle between Good (Ahura Mazda) and Evil (Angra Mainyu) within the universe.

It is important to understand that Angra Mainyu is not God‘s equal opposite, rather that Angra Mainyu is the destructive energy that opposes God’s creative energy. This creative energy is called Spenta Mainyu. God created a pure world through his creative energy, which Angra Mainyu continues to attack, making it impure. Aging, sickness, famine, natural disasters, death and so on are attributed to this.

With cosmic dualism we have life and death, day and night, good and evil. One cannot be understood without the other. Life is a mixture of these two opposing forces.

Moral dualism

Moral dualism refers to the opposition of good and evil in the mind of mankind. God’s gift to man was free will; therefore man has the choice to follow the path of Evil (druj – deceit) or the path of Righteousness (asha – truth). The path of Evil leads to misery and ultimately Hell. The path of Righteousness leads to peace and everlasting happiness in Heaven.

As with cosmic dualism, we have the polarity of happiness and sadness, truth and deception and so on but with an emphasis on choice. This choice is crucial as it determines whether we are the helper of Ahura Mazda or the helper of Angra Mainyu. When all of mankind chooses the former over the latter, evil will finally be defeated and Paradise on earth will be realized.

In practice, modern Zoroastrianism has a positive outlook. It teaches that Mankind is ultimately good and that this goodness will finally triumph over evil. This could be seen as a retrenchment from the faith’s original purity of dualism

Important Practices:

  • Sacred Fire –  They believe that the elements are pure and that fire represents God’s light or wisdom

  • Purification – Clean and Unclean – Sacred Bathing

  • Coming of age and the Naojote

  • Marriage

  • Festivals

  • Fatherhood – We read in Herodotus:  “Next to prowess in arms, it is regarded as the greatest proof of manly excellence to be the father of many sons. Every year, the king sends rich gifts to the man, who can show the largest number: for they hold that number is strength.”

  • Death – The dead were placed in open towers so that there flesh could be eaten by the vultures or decayed by the elements and then their bones are placed in boxes.(Jews would do the same thing with the bones of their dead.)

Scriptures –  The Avesta can be roughly split into two main sections:

  • The Avesta is the oldest and core part of the scriptures, which contains the Gathas. The Gathas are seventeen hymns thought to be composed by Zoroaster himself.

  • The Younger Avesta – commentaries to the older Avesta scriptures written in later years. It also contains myths, stories and details of ritual observances.

Much of this information is from:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/zoroastrian/ritesrituals/navjote.shtm

http://www.avesta.org/ritual/rcc.htm#chap2

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Family Harmony

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I want to focus today on what Memucan says about the women of the nobility and of the kingdom hearing of Vashti’s disobedience and the consequences.

16 Memucan said in the presence of the king and his officials, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the officials and the peoples who are in every one of King Ahasuerus’s (Xerxes) provinces. 17 For the queen’s action will become public knowledge to all the women and cause them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) ordered Queen Vashti brought before him, but she did not come.’ 18 Before this day is over, the noble women of Persia and Media who hear about the queen’s act will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in more contempt and fury….

20 The decree the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom, so all women will honor their husbands, from the least to the greatest.” 21 The king and his counselors approved the proposal, and he followed Memucan’s advice. 22 He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each ethnic group in its own language, that every man should be master of his own house and speak in the language of his own people. (HCSB)

Are these honest concerns that Memucan has?  I believe so.  He is asking Xerxes to make sure that harmony is maintained in the homes of the kingdom.  It is the understanding that the family is the basis of the society and that if the family breaks down then so does all of society.  He realizes that Xerxes’ home must change, but does not want to see that happen to the rest of the homes throughout the kingdom, especially the homes of the other nobles.

Memucan wanted to make sure that a possible revolution amongst the women was stopped before it had a real chance to take hold.  It is hard to blame him for this.  We have seen what the break down of the home has done to our own society.  It hasn’t been a pretty sight and too many kids are growing up without fathers or the attention from both parents that is needed in a young life.  Husbands and fathers are dismissed in our society as a fact of life that is no longer necessary.  This is simply not the truth.  A husband and father is necessary to a family and he needs to be respected by all within the family.

Memucan in wanting the women of the kingdom to respect their husbands.  As we studied in Ephesians this is what the man in a family needs, it is a natural need put in him by God.   We should not be alarmed that this was the major concern in this instance.  Memucan, whose wife was probably sitting right there with Vashti when she disobeyed Xerxes, is concerned that his wife and the wives of the other nobles might come home with new ideas that would make the family life more difficult and even confusing.  It had the potential of bringing great contempt and strife to the home, a lack of family harmony.

Peter in I Peter 3 puts it like this:

1 In the same way, wives submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the Christian message, they may be won over without a message by the way their wives live 2 when they observe your pure, reverent lives. 3 Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should consist of what is inside the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God’s eyes. 5 For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also beautified themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and are not frightened by anything alarming.(HCSB)

This is a perfect description of Esther and who we will see that she is as we go through our study.  She is one who with a quiet spirit, a spirit not in conflict with God or in inner turmoil, will bravely confront her husband in an alarming situation and even potentially deadly one for her.  It will be her character and her confidence in God that will win the attention of her husband.

So in the book of Esther we see the decree of Xerxes going out to every part of his kingdom.  It is important to note at this point that part of that kingdom was the land of Israel.  The decree went out and stated that the husband was to be the master of his own home.  In other words, to put it in Christian terms, that he was to be the head of his home.

The other issue in the decree is the idea of the native language of the man being the language of his home.  This may seem like a foreign concept to us today, but back in Xerxes’ day it was a real issue.  Speaking the language of the husband was another sign of respect for him and the heritage he would pass on to his children.

As for Xerxes, if you remember from his family tree, he was a Persian while Vashti was from the Median side of the family.  Two different languages would have been at issue here even in the household of the king.  In his decree Xerxes is making a stand for his heritage, his is the one that conquered Media, not the other way around.  It makes me wonder if Vashti’s response to him came back in Median instead of Persian.  Could she have been, in her own little way, claiming Median dominance over her Persian king?

This brings us to the end of chapter one in Esther.  It is important to note that between chapters 1 and 2 the Persian Greek War occurs.  When we resume in chapter 2 Xerxes has come home from a war he is losing, his men are still there.

Before we go to chapter 2, however, we will take a look at Zoroastrianism, the religion of the noble family.

In the quiet confidence of our Lord,

Vicky

Related articles

Vashti’s Fall

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In Esther 1 we find Xerxes the ruler of 127 Provinces and having a banquet for his officials, staff, military leaders, nobles and the officials of their province’s.  It is the fall of 483 B.C. and this banquet will last for 6 months in the winter palace, fortress or citadel of Susa. 

This first banquet in the chapter is believed to be more of a war council where Xerxes is planning and garnishing support for the upcoming campaign against Greece the coming year.  This strategic, planning council/banquet last until the spring of 482 B.C. and at the end of it another feast is thrown for all those within the citadel of Susa, both small and great.  At this time Vashti also gives a feast for the women of the citadel within the palace–many of them wives of the visiting men.

Both of these feasts were designed to last for seven days; excessive drinking was the norm.  They were also probably meant to celebrate the men going off to war. 

Notice that for the men’s feast we have many more details, describing the surroundings of the courtyard and the location of their feast.  The hanging linens were probably meant to block the wind and to also set up private chambers, as well as couches, where they could recline or even sleep during these days. 

At the end of these days, when he is high is spirits, Xerxes calls for Vashti to come to him in her crown.  He wishes to show her off and to probably fix her image in his own mind before leaving for war.  Vashti was either very pregnant, or had just given birth (to Artaxerxes), as well as, probably being high in spirits herself refuses his command.

This refusal sends Xerxes into a hot rage of displeasure.  Notice that word ‘displeasure’, it is very important to our study because as he looks for another he will be looking for the opposite.  As a matter of fact, both words used for Xerxes’ anger in 1:12 mean a displeasure. 

We do not have the reason for Vashti’s refusal, but suffice it to say, do not feel sorry for her.  By all accounts, she was an evil woman who worshipped the god of the underworld within the Zoroastrian religion.  Her heart leaned toward darkness and death, not one that sought what was best for her husband or his kingdom. 

We will discuss in an upcoming post the religion of the Persian Empire, Zoroastrianism, and how it fits into our story.

The men advising Xerxes are most concerned with the influence her attitude would have on the rest of the women in the kingdom. 

At this point it is important to note that his advisers are the seven who have greatest access to him, the highest ranking Persian and Median officials in the land.

In other words, his relatives.  There is really nowhere Xerxes could go to escape the family and the hold they had over him or the conspiracies that pervaded the family to replace him.  His family was everywhere. 

So he turns to the seven relatives he has allowed access to him; these are men he trusts.  It is one of them that advises him to issue a decree to depose Vashti and to give her position, which would have also included her property, to another.  She was never again to enter into the king’s presence, at least not at court.  Perhaps she could see him in other capacities, but not in any official capacity or with any position within the kingdom.

Remember it was the influence on their own wives that the nobles were concerned about.  Their wives would have been at the banquet with Vashti and again many would have been her relatives. 

This family as we saw in Xerxes’ family tree, is very intertwined.

Also keep in mind that the truly most powerful woman in the kingdom would also be at that banquet, Xerxes’ mother, Atossa, who would have still been alive. 

This behavior by Vashti, while directed toward Xerxes, could also have been directed toward Atossa in an attempt to replace her as the most powerful woman of the kingdom. 

The men wish to make sure that their wives do not get any ideas of overpowering them.  They are interested in maintaining the current level of respect and harmony in their homes, if not to also increase it.

Here we go from Xerxes’ displeasure to one of his nobles, Memucan, saying, “If it pleases the king”.  He is deliberately working to change the attitude of the king, he does not want that displeasure coming his way. 

He makes his suggestion about the decree and Vashti’s loss of the crown, but he does not stop there.  He goes on to suggest that another woman, one ‘better’ or ‘more worthy’ be put in her place. 

It would not surprise me if he already had someone in mind, perhaps his own daughter or granddaughter.  However, this suggestion would not have come as a foreign or unusual concept.  After all these men were experts in Persian/Median Law and knew the times, they knew their history. 

Remember Xerxe’s father, Darius, was also married before coming to the throne and then afterward married someone ‘more worthy’ of the position of Queen, Xerxes’ mother, Atossa.  His own family tree was all the evidence he would have needed to make such a decree and decision.

With that decision, the reign of Vashti ends within the reign of Xerxes.  She will see the light of honor again, however, under the reign of her son, Artaxerxes.

Be More Worthy,

Vicky

Feast of Trumpets

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Today was Feast of Trumpets also known as:

Teshuvah (Repentance)

Rosh HaShana (Head of the Year, Birthday of the World)

Yom Teruah (the Day of the Awakening Blast – Feast of Trumpets)

Yom HaDin (the Day of Judgment)

HaMelech (the Coronation of the Messiah)

Yom HaZikkaron (the Day of Remembrance or Memorial)

The time of Jacob’s (Ya’akov) trouble (the birthpangs of the Messiah, Chevlai shel Mashiach)

The Opening of the Gates

Kiddushin/Nesu’in (The Wedding Ceremony)

The Resurrection of the dead (Rapture, Natzal)

The Last Trump (Shofar)

Yom Hakeseh (The Hidden Day)

Be Blessed Today,

Vicky

Xerxes’ Past

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Today I want to start with the book of Esther.

The book itself was written between 470 and 430 B.C. making it one of the last Old Testament books written.  It was written either at the end of Xerxes reign or during the reign of his son Artaxerxes who ruled from 465 to 424 B.C.  It documents the only other festival given in Old Testament outside the books of Moses, the Festival of Purim.  It had been 1000 years since God gave the original seven festivals to the Israelites.  The record of Hanukkah is not found in the Old Testament although we do see it referred to in the New Testament as a festival that Jesus attended, called the feast of Dedication in John 10:22.

All we know about the life of Xerxes from the Greek Persian War on comes from two primary sources:  1) Heroddutus, the Greek historian, who wrote his histories between 431 and 425 B.C.  These writings included accounts of Xerxes part in the Greek Persian War, his affairs before he met Esther, the fact he allowed others to rule for him (in other words, he had Prime Ministers), and that after returning from the war he became involved in the intrigues of the harem;  2) The book of Esther.  We do not have any Persian sources from this time period of Xerxes life largely because his son Artaxerxes took power in a cue, a cue largely instigated by his mother and the religious leaders in the kingdom.

In the study of Esther by Beth Moore she says, “Biblical narratives commonly begin with ‘it happened’ but omit ‘in the days of’.  On the other hand, prophetic writings are often introduced as having occurred ‘in the days of King…’.  The Book of Esther unfolds, however, with the two intertwining.”  I firmly believe this is a historical account of this part of Esther and Xerxes’ life, but I also believe it is a book of prophecy.  Due to this we will approach the book from both perspectives.

We will begin with the historical background of the book.  I feel fairly confident in saying that most of us know the history and background of Esther and her people and how they came to be in Persia.  To sum it up quickly the people of Judah rebelled against God and God sent the Babylonians under Nebechanezar to defeat them and send them into exile.  After being in exile in the Babylonian lands for 70 years the Persian King, Cyrus, conquered Babylon.  He then gives the peoples who were taken in captivity by the Babylonians an opportunity to go home, this included the Jews.  However, many did not return to their homeland and stayed in the places where they had been carried off to.  This was the case for Esther’s family and her cousin Mordecai.

With that said, have you ever wondered about the other half of the story of Esther, Xerxes’ past.  His past is full on intrigue itself and one would be well served by knowing it.  The first readers of the book of Esther would have known the past of both Esther and her family and Xerxes and his family.  I would like to unfold his past for you today because I am confident that it will make this man’s life with Esther so much more clear and we will refer back to it time and time again in our study.

The history of Xerxes is the history of the Persian Empire.  Please excuse the chart, but is the easiest way for you to see the connections.

History of the Persian Empire

Kings of Persia

Achaemenes of Anshan @700 B.C.

son

Teispes of Anshan

sons

Cyrus I of Anshan                                         Ariaramnes of Persia

           son                                                                       son

   Cambyses I                                                           Arsames

           son                                                                        son

  Cyrus the Great                                                 Hystraspes

                                                                                           son

                                                                              Darius the Great

Kings of Media

Astyages (Xerxes)

             son                                                                 daughter

  Darius the Mede                                                  Mandane

   son                             daughter

Otanes                         Cassandane

Persia and Media Come Together

Cambyses I marries Mandane

son

Cyrus the Great

Becomes king in 559 B.C.

Becomes king of Media in 550 B.C. when he is crowned by his cousin Cassandane and then marries her.

Conquered Babylon in 539 B.C.

Cyrus the Great marries his First Cousin Cassandane

children

        Cambyses II             Smerdis             Atossa            Artystone

Cambyses II marries his sister Atossa – They have no children

Cambyses II is king from 530 B.C. to 522 B.C. – He dies on his way back from a campaign in Egypt.  Before he left for that campaign in Egypt he secretly killed his brother, Smerdis.  Since it was done in secret a usurper who looked a great deal like his brother, Gaumata, is able to take the throne when Cambyses dies.  To solidify his position as Smerdis, Gaumata marries Atossa (daughter of Cyrus and wife/sister of Cambyses), he also married another widow of Cambyses, Phaedymia (daughter of Otanes, Cambyses first cousin).  Gaumata feared Atossa and kept her prisoner in the harem, but Phaedymia was able to get word out to her father that Gaumata was a fake Smerdis.

The Conspiracy

Seven conspirators decide to take things into their own hands and reclaim the throne of the kingdom.  The two most powerful men of these seven were Darius, son of Hystraspes, and Otanes, son of Darius the Mede (you may recognize his name from the book of Daniel).  Darius was 28 at the time a general in the military, as well as a distant cousin of Cambyses II in the Achaemenid Dynasty line.  Otanes, being a Mede, allowed Darius to take the throne, but did get some concessions in exchange.

Darius killed Gaumata in 522 B.C. and took the throne.  Upon coming to the throne he solidifies his right to it through a series of marriages.  He was already married and a father at the time.

          1.  Atossa – Daughter of Cyrus the Great, widow/sister of Cambyses, widow of Gaumata.  She agrees to the marriage and is the most powerful woman in the kingdom.

          2.  Artystone – younger daughter of Cyrus the Great

          3.  Parmys – daughter of real Smerdis

          4.  Phaedymia – Daughter of Otanes, widow of Cambyses II and Gaumata

          5.  Daughter of Gobryas – Daughter of another co-conspirator

Therefore, Darius ends up with six wives, but only one is given the title of Queen, Atossa.

The other concession that Otanes received was not only the marriage of his daughter to Darius, but he also gets a wife.  Otanes receives in marriage a sister of Darius.  Therefore, Otanes becomes Darius’ father-in-law and brother-in-law.

             Otanes                    marries                    Darius’ Sister

                                       Their Daughter

                                              Vashti

        

           Darius                       marries                  Atossa – Queen

                                         Their Eldest Son

                                                 Xerxes

Xerxes and Vashti are first cousins through his father and second cousins through his mother (in other words, his mother, Atossa, and Vashti are also first cousins).  When Xerxes becomes king in 486 B.C. at the age of 35 he is already married to Vashti and a father.

             Xerxes                        marries                       Vashti

                                               Their Sons

                                                   Darius

                                                Hystraspes

                                               Artaxerxes I

Like I said we will be referring back to this family tree of Xerxes as we go along.  I hope it is already making some bells ring for you, but if not don’t worry we will talk about where all this fits in as we go.

Vicky

God’s Armor

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Today I want to talk about the armor of God in Ephesians 6.  Everything up to this point in Ephesians has been about unity and what that is, what that looks like and to some extent how do we do this, but beginning in the passage we are going to discuss today Paul gets down to the brass tax so to speak on how to administrate the unity of the body. Here is the passage:

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. 13 This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, therefore, with truth  like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. 18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness  the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.(HCSB)

We are to be empowered by the Lord and by His awesome power, the two words here for “vast strength” are two different words that could both be translated “power”.  Paul is trying to remind us of the power he described to us earlier in the letter when he referred to the resurrection power.  In fact, the two Greek words used here are the exact same words.  This is   power power, awesome power, resurrection power, from God Himself.  This is the only power in the universe that is capable of changing and transforming lives.  Only the resurrection power can resurrect in us what is dead in sin, yet created, created in His image, to be alive in Him. 

Not only does God equip us with His power for the task, but He also gives us the tools we need to wield that power.  To be sure this task will take the full armor of God, not just a part of it.  We are in a battle against the realm of darkness itself, not mere flesh and blood men and women, but the original liar himself and his demons.  They are crafty and we must be alert and on guard every moment so that in the end we will be left standing.

So, what is this armor?  Obviously, Paul is using the Roman armor as a template, but is that all?  If we look closely at this armor we will find its pieces referred to in the Old Testament as well.  Remember, this gospel is about the mystery that makes us one with God and each other.  The Old and New Testament are not two disconnected pieces, but two parts of a whole.  One will always refer and define the other.  The Old Testament, will define the New Testament for us and the New Testament explains much about the Old Testament that was hidden, yet right there.  God is the God and author of both.  Both of them together tell His story.  So let’s look at what the Old Testament has to say about this awesome armor. 

The first part of the armor is the belt of truth.  We see that the Messiah is clothed in the belt of righteousness in Isaiah 11 where He is judging for the poor and needy and slaying the wicked.  He will do that in righteousness, but notice the section before that when the Spirit rests on Him — the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge and the fear of the Lord — in fact the fear of the Lord would be His delight.  In following the Messiah we can only do what is right and properly discern when we are listen to the Spirit of the Lord and the fear of the Lord is our delight.  This belt holds the inner garments in place.  For us only the truth can hold our inner being in place.  He, the Messiah, is the truth.  As we follow Him and strive to live righteous lives He and His truth holds us in place to continue the fight.  We cannot fight the good fight in ignorance or falsehood.

Next, we put on the breastplate of righteousness.  You see after knowing and believing the truth and in the Truth we must put on the breastplate of righteousness to protect our hearts from deception that leads us in the paths of death, not life.  We are to strive in the fruit of the Spirit, part of which is self-control, to do the right that God calls us to do.  In addition, the Messiah not only wore a belt of righteousness that held His inner part in place (remember He is the truth – John 14:6).  He was always alert and clear minded, never distracted by His own thoughts or thoughts from the enemy.  Can you imagine your prayer life like this and how awesome that would be?

The Messiah also wore a breastplate of righteousness.  He covered His heart with doing what pleases God.  Never did He waver.  In Isaiah 59 15a-18a it says, “The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice.  He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.  He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.  According to what they have done, so will he repay wrath to his enemies and retribution to his foes.”(NIV)  In this passage we see that His own righteousness sustained Him and was His breastplate as He did  the work of salvation and He will be wearing that same breastplate when He repays wrath to His enemies. 

In Psalm 132:9 we read the statement about Israel, “May your priests be clothed in righteousness..”(NIV)  You see He is the High Priest with His breastplate in place, remember the High Priest of Israel wore a breastplate with all the jewels of the tribes of Israel on it, and we are called a royal priesthood in I Peter 2:9.  Our breastplate reflects His – our righteousness reflects His righteousness.  We will never win the battles in life without it.  We cannot do our own thing and expect Him to bless it.  We cannot follow the deceptions of our heart and expect to win the battle against the enemy, at that point we are following darkness and not the light and we will fall.

Thirdly, we put on the sandals of “readiness that comes from the gospel of peace”(NIV).  Remember the gospel of peace is the good news of oneness with God, the mystery.  We get to proclaim that to others, which is what Jesus called us to in the Great Commission.  We are to take His message to the ends of the earth.  In Isaiah 52:7(NIV) it says, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!””  That is the awesome blessing He allows us to be a part of and at the same time being a part of that is also a protection for us in the fight.  The more we proclaim it and live it the more we come to understand what He did for us and grow closer and closer to Him and farther and farther from the arrows of the enemy.

Then we see the shield of faith with which we can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the enemy that do come our way.  We must hold it up, hold it up high.  It does us no good by our side.  We can be holding the shield and still get hit if we keep it down.  We must use His strength, the strength that we spoke of earlier.  It is only with His strength that we can hold up the shield and keep it up. 

It reminds me of when Aaron and Hur held up Moses arms while Joshua and the Israelites were fighting the Amalekites.  As long as Moses’ arms were up the Israelites were winning and when they were down they were being defeated.  That is why Hur, from the tribe of Judah, and Aaron, the High Priest, held them up for him.  He did not have the strength on his own and neither do we. 

Yeshua, the lion of Judah and our High Priest, is the one who holds our arms up, He is our faith, our strength and our shield.  It is when we humble ourselves that in due time He lifts us up.  Let Him lift you up with His strength and power.  We cannot be defeated if we use His strength to hold up that shield of faith.  Hold it up, hold it up high.

After all of this is in place we can put on the helmet of salvation.  This helmet not only protects the head, but keeps the head attached to the body.  He is the head, we are the body.  Just as in our discussion of the Bridegroom and the Bride we must stay with Him and do what is best for Him and He does what is best for us.  As we have a helmet so does He.  Back to Isaiah 59 we not only see the Messiah in a breastplate of righteousness as He works salvation, but also the helmet of salvation itself.  He wants to stay connected to us and so we should want to stay connected to Him.  So make sure that helmet is on.  How can we fight the battle if we are cut off from the head.  Protect your connection to Him.  That is why the helmet and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, are spoken of together.

The word of God is one of the main things that protects that connection.  Just as the body receives its instructions from the head so the body of Christ receives our instructions from His word.  It is our offensive weapon as it was His when He met Satan in the wilderness.  We must take this weapon and defend what He has given us, what He has entrusted to us. 

The enemy wants to make us believe we are not secure, but if we know our weapon and we are attached to the head, if we hold up the shield of faith and wear the breastplate of righteousness, the sandals of readiness, and the belt of truth, then this lie cannot enter into our hearts and deceive us.  We are His and He is ours.  Just as the master promised the slave to never leave him or forsake him, to abandon him, to pay his own debt on his own, our Master has promised to never leave or forsake us either.

With all of this equipment on we are to pray in the Spirit on all occasions.  Remember the passage we mentioned in speaking about Yeshua wearing the belt of righteousness.  He had the Spirit of God on Him and so must we.  We must pray in the Spirit for the saints to be able to fight the good fight along side of us.  We are in this together.  We are not alone.  He took those who were far and those who were near and made us one nation in Jesus the Messiah.  We must stay alert to this fact and the fact that the enemy will also stay alert for any weakness in our armor.  We must not let Him find one.

Finally, Paul asked for prayer for himself.  Not to be released from his chains, but for boldness to proclaim the mystery for which he is in chains.  Would you, would I, be willing to be in chains to proclaim the mystery, nonetheless, desiring to proclaim that mystery while in those chains.  No matter our circumstances we must put on His armor in His resurrection power and pray in the Spirit.  If we do we will be more than conquerors. 

Stay strong my fellow warrior,

Vicky