Wednesday, October 19, 2016

WHY WAS GENOCIDE DECREED On The JEWS of The ESTHER GENERATION?



The major actions of the Queen Esther story is centered on the institution of Feasts and Banquets. These are usually associated with eating, drinking, entertainment, and women's beauty shows. Here, as also shown in many instances in the Bible, in human world history, as well as, in the family and personal lives of people, LIFE and DEATH are determined on Feasts and Parties. In the case of King Ahasuerus week-long banquet, it immediately resulted in the death of his Queen Vashti. And the Jews also merited the King's decree of Genocide.

 By: LOPE COLUMNA
MESSIANIC-KABBALIST PASTOR GENERAL
THE BRIDE OF CHRIST MINISTRY OF LIFE


There are 10 drinking parties or banquets that appear in the story. The first 5 drinking parties are organized by the Persians, Ahasuerus, Vashti and Haman. The remaining 5 drinking parties are initiated by the Jews. Esther organized 2 parties and the last 3 are the action of the Jews as a celebration of their Salvation.
There are many instances in the Bible, in human world history, as well as, in the family and personal lives of people, that shows that LIFE and DEATH are determined on Feasts and Parties. It's the same with the story in the Book of Esther; the serious Life or Death consequence of the Feast is told in the backdrop of hedonistic enjoyment.
That is, Human History and Experience, both Biblical and secular, show that these kinds of Feasts and Parties usually resulted in Death and Destruction. Why?

In the case of King Ahasuerus week-long banquet, it immediately resulted in the Death of his Queen Vashti. And the Jews also merited the King's decree of Genocide.
WHY WAS GENOCIDE DECREED ON THE JEWS OF ESTHER GENERATION?
Why was annihilation decreed on the Jews of that generation? Because they enjoyed the Feast of the wicked [King Achashveirosh] -- Talmud, Megillah 12a
The attendance of the Jews at King Ahasuerus banquet is not forbidden by the Laws of the Torah. Ahasuerus had instructed that no man be pressured to partake of any food or drink that did not agree with his constitution or his religious beliefs. He had even arranged for kosher food for his Jewish subjects (Esther 1:8).
  • The drinking was according to the Law, no one compelling, for so the King had commanded every Chief of his House that they should do according to every man's pleasure. (Est 1:8 MKJV)
Nevertheless, if there was something wrong in the Jewish attendance at the Feast of Ahasuerus, was this a sin so terrible that it justified Haman being given license to "annihilate the whole Jewish race in just one day"?
The REAL PROBLEM was not in the Jewish attendance of the Feast; it was that "THEY ENJOYED THE FEAST" of the Persian King, as the above-quoted Talmudic passage emphasized.

REFERENCES:
  1. Parshat Ki Tisa - Purim 5769, Mar Dror: The Kohen Gadol and Purim/Yom Kippurim, by Rabbi Ari Kahn.
  2. Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson's talks on Purim 1962 and 1967.
  3. Companion Bible
  4. The Old and New Testament
NOTE: Bible verses used in this article is based on the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). If not, the quoted translation is indicated.

Copyright 2013, 2020 © LOPE COLUMNA 

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