Esther 9:20-32

THE FEAST OF PURIM, Esther 9:20-32.

So signal a deliverance, so marvellous a display of divine providence in behalf of the Jews as that delineated in this book, should be commemorated by an annual festival. This the sagacious Mordecai was not slow to see, and without delay he proceeded, in conjunction with Esther, to establish a new festival in Israel. To this measure, says the Talmud, eighty-five Jewish elders were opposed, but the queen and the prime minister of Persia had too much power and influence with the people to be successfully opposed in establishing a festival of so much interest. The order and forms of its ancient observance are not recorded. On the modern custom, see note at the end of this chapter.