Purim (/ˈpʊərɪm/; Hebrew: פּוּרִים Pûrîm “lots,” from the word פור pur, related to Akkadian: pūru) is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman, who was planning to kill all the Jews. This took place in the ancient Persian Empire. The story is recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther (מגילת אסתר Megillat Ester in Hebrew).
According to the Book of Esther, Haman, royal vizier to King Ahasuerus/Achashverosh (presumed to be Artaxerxes I of Persia, “Artakhsher” in Old Persian ), planned to kill all the Jews in the empire, but his plans were foiled by Mordecai and his cousin and adopted daughter Esther, who had risen to become Queen of Persia. The day of deliverance became a day of feasting and rejoicing.
Based on the conclusions of the Scroll of Esther (Esther 9:22): “[...] that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.” Purim is therefore celebrated among Jews by:
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Author: Wikipedia
Keywords: Purim, Feast of Lots, Esther, Mordecai, Esther Mordecai, Haman, wicked Haman, Ahasuerus, King Ahasuerus, holocaust, genocide, casting of lots, Mardocheus
Bible reference(s): Est 9:18-19, Est 9:26-28, Esther 9:31-32
Source: This article uses material from the Wikipedia article “Purim,” which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
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