Biblion Bible Commentary
Read the introduction to Esther · About this commentary
From Sorrow to Gladness
Esther 9:20-32
20 Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus, both near and far, · WEB
A festival is established by letter rather than by command from heaven, and its name is taken from the enemy's dice.
Mordecai wrote these things, and the establishment of Purim is described as correspondence — letters to all the provinces, near and far, enjoining an annual observance.
What is being commemorated is stated in verse 22 with a phrase that could stand as the book's title: the month which was turned to them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a holiday. Turned is the operative word, and the book has used the same idea of the day itself Esther 9:1.
The observance has four parts, and the last two are the notable ones: feasting, gladness, sending presents of food to one another, and gifts to the needy. A deliverance festival with charity written into its founding charter.
Verse 23 records that the Jews accepted the custom — the festival is adopted rather than imposed, which is unusual among the appointed times of Scripture. No command from Sinai stands behind it, no sacrifice is prescribed, and no priest has a role.
And verse 26 gives the name's origin, which is the book's final irony. They called these days Purim, from the word Pur — from the lot Haman cast to choose a date for extermination Esther 3:7. The festival is named after his dice. The one thing in the story that was decided by pure chance supplies the name for the celebration of its failure.
Verses 29 to 32 add a second letter with both names on it, Esther's and Mordecai's, and note that her commandment was written in the book. The queen who once could not enter a room uninvited now issues decrees that are archived.
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