IMMERSED IN ESTHERA S T H E H E B R E W B I B L E W A S G R O W I N G , severalsmall books were groupedtogether and named The Five Scrolls. These five b ooks—Song of Songs,Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther—were each assigned tobe read at a different Jewish festival or special day of observance. Thelast book, Esther, was read at the festival known as Purim.After Israel’s exile in Babylon, the Jewish people made a concertedeffort to renew their commitment to God and to his instructions givenin the Law of Moses. Part of this commitment included faithfully observing the festivals and special days prescribed therein. However, inthis postexilic period the Jews began to celebrate a b rand-new festivalcalled Purim. But what is Purim? And how could a new festival be addedto those already given in the Law? The book of Esther answers thesequestions by telling the intriguing, f ast-paced story that lies behind thecelebration.The account is set in the period of the Persian Empire (550–330 bc).Some Jews have returned to the land of Israel and are trying to rebuilda Jewish society there after the Exile. But others have remained abroadand face the challenge of crafting a distinctive identity and way of lifeas God’s people while living in a foreign land.The book of Esther tells the story of two courageous exiles: a beautiful young woman named Esther and Mordecai, the devout uncle whoraised her after her parents’ deaths. At great personal risk and aidedby God’s providential intervention, Esther and Mordecai stop a plot todestroy all the Jews in the Persian Empire. They turn the weapons oftheir enemies against them and save the Jewish people.The whole Jewish community agreed that this was a deliveranceto “be remembered and kept from generation to generation andcelebrated by every family throughout the provinces and cities of theempire.” Purim became a particularly joyous festival of feasting andgift-giving, highlighting the continuing gifts of life and protection. Andso, the book of Esther explains, another festival was established to bekept “at the appointed time each year.”This book also gives us important insight into how biblical storytellingcame to function in the community of God’s people. The story of Esther143ImmerseChronicles_NLT.indd 1436/21/2017 10:01:38 AM
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