the Fourth Week of Advent
Click here to join the effort!
Bible Dictionaries
Purim
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
or Lots, a Jewish festival instituted by Esther and Mordecai, during the reign of Ahasuerus king of Persia, in memory of the providential deliverance of the Jews from the malignant designs of Haman. The propriety of the name appears form the fact that the lot was cast in the presence of Haman for every day from the first month to the twelfth, before an auspicious day was found for destroying the Jews; and thus the superstition of Haman was made the means of giving them time to turn his devices against himself, Proverbs 16:33 Esther 3:7 9:20-32 . This festival was preceded by a day of fasting, and was observed by reading the book of Esther publicly in the synagogues, and by private festivities, mutual presents, alms, plays, and selfindulgence. Some think it is alluded to in John 5:1 . It is still observed by the Jews, in the month of March.
These files are public domain and are a derivative of the topics are from American Tract Society Bible Dictionary published in 1859.
Rand, W. W. Entry for 'Purim'. American Tract Society Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ats/p/purim.html. 1859.
