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Tuesday 20 March 2012

Day 36: Extra bits of Esther: Addition F

Finally, the last addition to the book of Esther closes the circle. Mordecai recalls his dream, and delights to say that every detail has been fulfilled. He explains who each of the figures he dreamt about represented, and rejoices in the fact that God has saved and rescued his people from extinction. Purim is to do with the casting of lots, which to us is a way if using chance to decide something. Like tossing a coin.
But for the Jews it was different. God could influence the lots, like making a coin come down heads. So casting lots didn’t allow chance to make a decision for you, it gave an opportunity to speak. And God spoke, even though in the original test he isn’t even named. He spoke to protect his people and to thwart their enemies, and the story of Esther passed into Jewish folklore.
The last verses of the Greek version detail its provenance: it had passed through the Egyptian court as well - wherever Jews went, this story went with them.

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