A ~400 Year Old Biblical Story and Parallels to Today
The Megillah (scroll) of Esther tells the story of how Queen Esther of Persia, a woman who was hiding her Jewish identity, risks her life to prevent the genocide of her people by a wicked man named Haman. Haman plans to kill Esther's cousin Mordechai and all the Jews, because he refuses to bow down to him or anyone but God.
Convinced by her cousin Mordechai, Queen Esther reveals her Jewish identity and exposes Haman's wicked plans to king Achashverosh. (That is the king's Hebrew name. In the Septuagint Greek translation of the Book of Esther the king is referred to ArtaXerxes.)
The name Artaxerxes, of Persian origin, generally means "ruler of heroes" or "great king". It's composed of the elements arta, meaning truth or righteousness, and xerxes, meaning ruler or king.
Queen Esther's Hebrew name was Hadassah (הֲדַסָּה), which means “myrtle”. When she became queen of Persia, she was given the name Esther (אֶסְתֵּר), likely derived from the Hebrew root s-t-r (סתר), meaning “to hide or conceal,” reflecting her hidden Jewish identity.
Truth Is Revealed
After Esther reveals Haman's wicked plans, the king orders Haman and his 10 sons to be hung on the gallows (a tree) that Haman had prepared to kill Mordechai on. Queen Esther's cousin Mordechai is elevated to royal status. A Royal Decree to Fight Back
Using the Signet Ring given to him by the king, Mordechai issues a royal decree that is dispatched to all 127 provinces of Achashverosh's empire. Jews are given license to defend themselves. They are to rise up against those plotting to kill them. They do, and they kill Haman’s soldiers. The evil plans of Haman are reversed. The Jews survive. In witness to the power of God of Isreal, many Persians become believers and convert to Judaism, so it says.
This story is why Jews celebrate the holiday of Purim. The word “Purim” means “lots,” referring to the lots (dice-like objects) that Haman cast to choose the date for his planned genocide of the Jews. Those lots fell on the date the 13th of Adar. Purim is celebrated on the 14th of Adar, the day after the battle.
The Law of the Pursuer
The decree issued by Mordechai reflects the ethical imperative: to take action to prevent harm, which is a broader principle underlying the Halachic law of Din Rodef, the "law of the pursuer."
Din rodef (“law of the pursuer”) is a principle in Jewish law that allows, or even obligates, a person to stop someone actively trying to kill another—even by killing the attacker if necessary, so long as lesser means would not be effective. The law provides for self-defense, even the obligation to kill someone before they kill you or another. But it does not justify revenge!
Consider the Parallels to Today
- The battle takes place in ancient Persia, which is modern day Iran.
- Haman’s name is spelled almost exactly like Hamas, which means violence.
- The Jews fight back to prevent their own destruction.
- The tables are turned on Haman and his evil guards. They're the ones who are killed. The covenant Children of Israel survive destruction.
One More "Coincidence"
There is one more date that has an interesting correlation to today's events with Israel's war with Iran. That is the date that Mordechai issued his royal decree. That date is the 23rd of Sivan. This date falls on the 19th of June this year 2025 (5785). The 23rd of Sivan is this Thursday, which also happens to be the date of this year's Jewish Federation of Dutchess County's Gala.
Meanwhile, the world is anxious to know the fate of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is probably hid up in one the bunkers Iran built to strike Israel from. Israel also anxiously anticipates the decree of President Trump concerning the use of America's bunker buster bombs.
Conclusion
My conclusion would sound like a prediction, if I shared it. But you don't have to be prophet to recognize the amazing parallels. There are a lot of great miracles are happening there! Nes Gadol Hey Shin. But that is another holday, Hanukkah.
Notably, in Books of Maccabees, after the victorious battle against the Seleucids, Judah Maccabee declares for the ages, to "Remember the 13th of Adar." To this day that Fast of Esther is remembrance of that.
The Ayatollah will not unconditionally surrender. Especially if he is dead and his regime has been overthrown! But the Persians who take back their country may.
The irony in all of this is that it is Israel that is freeing both the Palestinians from the evil of Hamas and the Persian peoples from the terrible Iranian regime. The rise of Persian and the end of Hamas (violence) is the greatest reset in this century.
History in today is prophecy of tomorrow.
Epilogue:
Some interpretations of the war prophesied in war in Ezekiel 38 and 38 say that it will not begin until israel is secure and prosperous in the land. After the defeat of Iran, this will be the first time in the history of modern israel that this may happen.
