Esther 9:20-22 Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually, because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
This is the decree for the celebration of the holiday Purim. The celebration is to take place in the Hebrew month of Adar on the 14th and 15th day. In the Gregorian year of 2022, that starts on sundown Wednesday, March 16th and ends the next day on Thursday, March 17th. Scripture tells us the holiday is to be celebrated annually.
The setting of the story is in the book of Esther. The author of the book is unknown. Celebration of Purim is not part of the Mosaic Law. The events of the story took place from 483-473 BC. God’s name is never mentioned in the book. The location is Susa of the Persian Empire. This is modern day Iran.
Esther 3:1-2 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him. And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage.
Haman was the prime minister for King Ahasuerus. He answered to only the king. Haman was a very powerful political figure and officer. He was the right hand man to the king. Haman clearly lorded his clout over others as he demanded others bow down and pay homage to him at the gate. This action was mandated by Ahasuerus. Haman was on a serious power trip.
Haman was a source of evil. His name means tumult or noise. Haman came by his attitude honestly. His father was Hammedatha, which is translated as “The Medatha” or “The Double” (A Dictionary of the Bible: Aaron Juttah). At any rate, Haman’s father was important enough to have a definitive article as part of his identity… like father, like son.
Esther 3:9 “If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king’s business, that they may put it into the king’s treasuries.” -Haman
Not only was Haman a power hungry, blood thirsty leader, he was exceptionally wealthy. His anger and resentment towards Mordecai and the Jews were so intense, he was willing to part with 10,000 talents of silver. Despite being second in command of the Persian Empire, he would pay blood money to make this happen. Haman was dedicated to killing off a race of people for being disrespected as he saw it.
Measurements from https://www.learnreligions.com/what-is-a-talent-700699
10,000 talents of silver… 1 talent is equal to roughly 75 pounds.
10,000 X 75 = 750,000 pounds of silver!
At today’s silver prices, 1 ounce = $25
1 pound = 16 ounces X $25 = $400/pound of silver.
750,000 pounds X $400/pound = $300,000,000
~
This level of hate still emanates from what is modern day Iran. Modern day Iranian leaders, like Haman, are looking to wipe Israel from the map and eradicate its people. Haman was willing to pay to eliminate the Jewish people. Unlike the past, the world is giving Iran resources to achieve their goal.
March 12, 2022: The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired ballistic missiles into Erbil, Iraq against the “strategic center of the Zionist regime’s conspiracies and wickedness”.
“If the Zionists want to respond to the attack on the Mossad headquarters in Erbil, it will face a harsh response”. -IRGC
Iranian intelligence reports they have broken up “spy (Mossad) network that recruited hooligans to do sabotage operations inside Iran”.
“By God! Israel Will Not See Next 25Years!” -Ayatollah Khamenei
~
Despite current attitudes, the Biden Administration continues to give Iran concessions in negotiations in Vienna with regard to the Nuclear Agreement. Iran is sure to gain economic freedoms which will likely result in billions of dollars in revenue and gifts.
Here is what Iran does with their resources.
