Seven Feasts in Esther

The story of Esther is one of ironic reversals, an aspect found even in the chiasm of its feasts.

The prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel both predicted a great military victory for Israel after the exile. The failure to identify a contemporary event that might fit the bill has led to passages such as Isaiah 11 and Ezekiel 38-39 being either spiritualised (not an actual physical battle) or pushed into the distant future. But if the Book of Esther is taken seriously, the events described—which took place across the entire Persian empire—are the obvious fulfillment.¹See Esther Predicted in Ezekiel

Following the decree of Cyrus that singled out God’s people for imperial favor, the miraculous destruction of their enemies was a resounding vindication of their status on earth. Moreover, this decree of divine favor from heaven completed the process of the death and resurrection of the nation as a single sequence of transformation. The events from Isaiah’s time to the rule of Mordecai and Esther follow the Bible’s Dominion pattern, and this great battle falls within the Conquest step of the cycle, evoking the conquest of the Promised Land under Joshua.²See Daniel the Destroyer. Note that the reference to plunder is that described in Isaiah 23:18. In contrast to the permission given by Haman to plunder the Jews, no plunder was taken by the Jews … Continue reading

The Book of Esther has been regarded not only with incredulity but also with suspicion. God is never mentioned, and the proceedings, despite their gravity, are presented in the form of a black comedy. The irony of Haman’s desire for exaltation culminating in him being hoisted by his own petard is obvious, but most of the humor is so subtle and so dark that it goes right over our heads.³See “Jesus’ Jokes: God’s Humor in the Bible” in Theo Magazine #3.

The Seven Feasts*

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