PROPHECY IN ESTHER
The Book of Esther is a small book that tells the story of how the Feast of Purim came about. Because the Lord is not directly mentioned in this book, some scholars feel that it should not be included in Holy Scripture. Although not a bonafide scholar, I believe that Esther does, in fact, belong in the Bible because without this book the pattern created by the Golden Lampstand would fail. Please see http://www.luke810.com/men1.htm
The term Purim is the plural form of pur, or lots, and refers to the casting of lots to determine the date that Haman could have all the Jews in Persia killed. The overcoming of the evil intended by Haman is celebrated by the Jews each year and is called the Feast of Purim. In 2009 Purim is celebrated on March 10th and 11th.
Part of the story of Esther and the Feast of Purim involves Haman, a descendant of the king of the Amalekites, Agag, who was defeated by King Saul hundreds of years before. The failure of Saul to follow the Lord’s instructions and destroy all the Amalekites resulted in the Jews having to deal with the hatred generated over 500 years before Esther was queen. The consequence of Haman’s actions was his death and the hanging of his ten sons.
We are all familiar with the attempt in modern times to annihilate the Jewish people. The defeat of the Nazis in 1945 stopped this terrible genocide. After the war eleven Nazi leaders were tried for war crimes in Nuremberg, Germany. When the eleven were found guilty and sentenced to death, it was expected that they would be executed by electrocution. The world was surprised when it was announced that the guilty Nazis would be executed by hanging. Just before they were to be hung, Hermann Goering committed suicide by taking a cyanide pill he had hidden. That left ten defendants to be hung.
Recognizing the similarity between their position and the fate of the evil Haman, who had also attempted to annihilate the Jews, one defendant as he approached the gallows, cried out, “It’s the Feast of Purim, 1946.” Just as Haman was hung, and later his ten sons, eleven Nazis were found guilty, and ten of those were hung. Haman, his sons, and the Nazis were all guilty of attempting the genocide of the Jews.
Jewish scholars have noticed an irregularity in the Hebrew text of the Book of Esther. In chapter 9, verses 6 through 9, are listed the names of Haman’s sons. The scholars noticed that in the names of the first, seventh and tenth sons certain letters were written half the size of the other letters. Those letters are zayin, shin and tav. Hebrew letters have a numeric value just as do Roman letters, or numerals. The numeric value of these three letters is 707.
The Jewish scholars also found an indicator of the sixth millennium of the Hebrew calendar, or the years 5001-6000. By this they arrived at the Hebrew date of 5707. The equivalent of this Hebrew year on our Gregorian calendar is 1946, the year the ten Nazis were tried and executed.
I cannot verify the accuracy of the Hebrew date because I do not read Hebrew, but those that do claim it to be correct. I admit that I find it fascinating. I believe this all to be a further confirmation that our God is in control, yesterday, today and tomorrow. May His name be praised forever.