SERIES O --- RETURN TO THE LAND --- LESSON 19

HAMAN’S HUMILIATION

QUEEN ESTHER’S BANQUETS

From Esther 5-6

Three days later Queen Esther dressed in her royal robes and went to the inner court of the king’s palace, facing the royal hall where the king was sitting upon his throne. When the king saw Esther standing in the court, he was delighted with her and held out his golden sceptre to her. Esther came forward and touched the tip of the sceptre. [What is on your mind, Queen Esther?] the king asked. [I will give you whatever you wish, even half of my kingdom.] [If it please you, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for you,] Esther answered. [Bring Haman at once,] the king ordered. [We will do as Queen Esther desires.] When Haman was found, he and the king went to the banquet Esther had prepared. While they drank wine at the banquet, the king asked Esther a second time, [What is it that you want? I will give it to you, even though it is half of my kingdom.] [My desire is that you and Haman will come to another banquet which I shall prepare for you tomorrow,] Esther answered. [At that time, I will tell you what is on my mind.] Haman was very happy as he left the banquet that day, but he was filled with anger as he passed through the royal gate and saw that Mordecai again refused to bow before him. However, he controlled himself and went on home. Then Haman sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh. He told them of the glory of his riches, how many sons he had, how the king had honoured him and even promoted him above all the princes of the kingdom until he was the greatest man of all except the king himself. [Furthermore,] he boasted, [Queen Esther today invited me to her banquet and I was the only person invited other than the king. She has also invited me to another banquet with the king tomorrow. But I am still not satisfied as long as Mordecai the Jew sits by the royal gate.] At this Zeresh and Haman’s friends suggested, [Have gallows built seventy-five feet high, and in the morning ask the king to let you hang Mordecai on it. With him out of the way, you can really enjoy the banquet.] The idea pleased Haman, so he ordered the gallows to be built that same night. But during the night the king could not sleep well, so he commanded that the book of records be brought and read to him. It happened that the records read that night included the incident where Mordecai had reported the plot against the king’s life by Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who were doorkeepers. [What honour or reward have we given Mordecai for this?] the king inquired. [Nothing has been done for him,] the officials replied. [Who is in the outer court?] the king asked. [Haman,] the officials answered. [Bring him here,] said the king. The officials brought Haman in to see the king. [What should I do to honour someone who has pleased me?] the king asked Haman. Haman thought, [Who would the king want to honour more than me?] He answered, [For the man you wish to honour, have royal robes which you have worn brought forth, and a horse on which you ride, and put on his head the royal crown. Let one of your most noble princes dress this man and lead him on horseback through the streets proclaiming, ‘In this way the king honours those who please him.’] Then the king said to Haman, [Hurry, take the robes and the horse, and do exactly what you have said to Mordecai the Jew who sits by the royal gate.] Haman got the robes and the horse, and after dressing Mordecai, he led him through the streets of the city, proclaiming, [This is the way the king honours someone who pleases him.] When the honours were finished, Mordecai returned to the royal gate. But Haman went home to mourn with his head covered. He told his wife Zeresh and his friends what had happened. Then his wise counsellors and his wife told him, [If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is a Jew, you will not do what you have plotted to do, but will fail.] While they were talking about these things, the king’s eunuch arrived and quickly escorted Haman to Queen Esther’s banquet.

COMMENTARY

AN AUDIENCE WITH THE PERSIAN KING

Anyone who approached the king without an appointment -- as Esther did -- risked arrest and torture or instant death. The visitor was safe only when the king held out his sceptre to indicate that he accepted the intrusion. A person wanting to see the king made an appointment through his scribes and secretaries. On the day he was to visit the king, he was checked over by guards at the entrance, inside the palace, and even in the throne room itself. High-ranking people usually bowed or knelt on one knee before the king. Lower ranking visitors, or a noble with a particularly urgent request, fell on the ground before the throne, prostrating themselves. The purpose of the visit was stated quickly, if necessary, the king consulted with his advisers, the request was answered, and the visitor was then to leave. The king was believed descended from gods, and his person was thought sacred. His coronation day was considered his birthday as he was {reborn} as king and given a new throne name. From that time on, he ate behind a gold mesh curtain to shield himself from the sight of others. He alone had the power to decree life or death. At his death, family and servants mourned so greatly at the loss of his {personal fire} that they sometimes maimed themselves or committed suicide.

And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”
Acts 3:4

Habitual, outsourced charity becomes impersonal, faceless. Charity should be personal and local, as much as possible. Of course, in a big city that's not always possible.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of Elohim, to those believing in His Name,
John 1:12 TS2009

Let’s start prepping for Shabbat!

Good morning and happy Friday! I've been reading a book, which has had me in goosebumps this week, because it records testimony of the life of Yeshua from the first century. I can't stop thinking about who He is and what He has done! https://archive.aweber.com/awlist6425868/5E6Yk

On this date in history, 05/12/1975: Using boats abandoned by the U.S. Navy during the withdrawal from Vietnam, Khmer Rouge hijack container vessel SS Mayaguez. The crew and ship would be rescued by United States armed forces, but at the cost of transport helicopter and 41 servicemen. #otd #tdih #vietnamwar

Double portion, double comics!

https://thestraightandnarrow.cfw.me/comics/622

https://thestraightandnarrow.cfw.me/comics/623

#bible #bibleverse #torahobservant #torahportion #shabbatshalom #christian #messianic #messianicjudiasm #hebrewroots #webcomic #webcomicseries #cartoon

The word most often translated as Hypocrite is Strong’s # H2611 and is defined as profane and irreligious. Some translations use the word godless instead. Hypocrisy today is defined as — the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform.

"All that do such things are abomination unto Yahweh"

De 18