The Book of Esther is the story of unmerited reward and unrewarded merit. It tells why the Jews celebrate Purim. Purim is the Hebrew word for “lots”. Lots were cast by Haman to determine the date for the destruction of the Jews. Esther is divided into two parts. Each half contains five chapters and forms a Torah design. You may recall that the Torah is the first five books in the Bible. These five books establish themes found throughout God’s Word.
1 - Genesis - Beginning and the sin of man
2 - Exodus - Deliverance and redemption
3 - Leviticus - Sanctification (or setting apart)
4 - Numbers - The wilderness march
5 - Deuteronomy - Summation and the establishment of the kingdom

The first Torah design deals with Haman, the Amalekites and sin.
Chapter one - Queen Vashti rebels against the king. Sin is rebellion.
Chapter two - Mordecai saves (delivers) the life of the king.
Chapter three - Haman sets the Jews apart for extinction.
Chapter four - The Jews, alone with no help, mourn their situation.
Chapter five - Haman plans the summation, the destruction of Mordecai.

The second Torah design follows the triumph of the Jews and righteousness.
Chapter six - The beginning of good for the Jews. Mordecai is honored.
Chapter seven - The king saves (delivers) Mordecai. Haman is hanged.
Chapter eight - The king sets the Jews apart for survival and honor.
Chapter nine - The Amalekites, alone with no help, mourn their dead.
Chapter ten - Mordecai is established as second in command in the kingdom.

The differences between the Jews and the Amalekites go back to the time of the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt. The Amalekites attacked them then and the Lord swore to blot out their memory. In First Samuel 15 the Lord instructed King Saul to totally destroy the Amalekites and everything they had. Saul disobeyed the Lord, spared King Agag and brought back plunder, in the form of the finer sheep and cattle.

The Lord’s purpose was not fulfilled by Saul and that purpose fell to the Jews living in the kingdom of Persia. The author of the Book of Esther makes it very clear that the Jews took no plunder in this event, even though the king’s edict allowed them to do so. The Jews, who were slated for destruction on Adar 13, defeated their enemies, the Amalekites on the same day. The following two days were a time of celebration. The Jews celebrate Purim on these days every year. Purim falls on March 9th and 10th in 2001.