The Firewall

Esther 10

Esther 10

Chapter Ten, in which it all ends.  After nine action-packed chapters, the book of Esther comes to a close with three verses.  The focus of this chapter is the high rank to which Mordecai rose in King Xerxes' empire.  Over the course of this book, Mordecai has gone from unknown Jewish man, to the King's rescuer, to having a death warrant signed against him, to "second in rank to King Xerxes" (v 3).  Not a bad journey!

And so ends the book of Esther.  I can't help but imagine what a great movie this would make if someone would treat the story with the proper respect; and if someone would put some real money behind it.  Anybody out there have several million dollars lying around…  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

Esther 9

Esther 9

Chapter Nine, in which the Jewish people have the revenge that only a history of persecution could necessitate.  On the day in which Haman's edict was supposed to go into effect, the new edict (overturning the old one) goes into effect, and the Jews are allowed to defend themselves against anyone who comes against them.  Presumably, there are still some people who intended to enforce Haman's edict.  However, the Jews didn't stop with them, as they killed many others, most likely including those who might potentially rise up against them.  Their fury at their history of persecution was finally being given an outlet, and even the King was impressed.  Upon hearing the number of people killed just in his own city, the King asked Esther if there was anything else she would ask of him.  Her request was for the King to extend his edict to the following day, extending it across both the thirteenth and fourteenth of Adar.  She also requested that the ten sons of Haman being hanged, and since they were already dead, this could only have been to warn others.  It is important to note that specific mention is made of the Jews not taking the property of those they killed, even though the King's edict allowed it.  The killing here was not for personal gain, as there was an ancient Hebrew law that stated that personal gain was not to be at the expense of an enemy in a holy war.  This was considered a holy war by the Jews.

The remainder of this chapter is devoted to the establishment of the celebration of Purim.  This celebration is still carried out today and apparently is quite boisterous!  A quick web search will show you what I mean. 

Nine chapters down; one to go!  Tune in tomorrow for the exciting conclusion of the book of Esther.  In actuality, it's not that exciting, but it is the conclusion!  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

Esther 8

Esther 8

Chapter Eight, in which the Jewish people are saved!  After the hanging of Haman, King Xerxes gives his estate to Esther, who leaves it to Mordecai to oversee.  Now comes the time for Esther to ask the King to rescind the order to kill the Jews.  Perhaps overlooked here and in the last chapter is that Esther uses the term "my people" when making this request of the King.  Finally, she identifies herself as Jewish.  Despite her withholding this information from him, King Xerxes agrees to rescind the order and instructs Mordecai to write a new order and seal it with the King's signet ring.  The new order declares that the Jewish people throughout the kingdom had the right to gather together and to defend themselves if attacked.  This order is sent out to every province in the kingdom, and is accompanied by joy and celebration by the Jews.  In addition, many people became Jews, probably because of the apparent protection that God offered them.

It is worth noting that the new edict went into effect the same day that Haman's edict was to become law.  Victory for the Jewish people!  We've still two chapters to go, and like any good story, there is plenty of wrapping up to do.  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

Esther 7

Esther 7

Chapter Seven, in which Haman gets his comeuppance.  We begin at Esther's second banquet, with the King asking Esther for her request.  She finally asks him to spare her people, "forgetting" to mention that she is Jewish.  The King agrees, and then asks Esther who is doing this to her people.  When he finds out that it is Haman, King Xerxes storms out, leaving Haman to beg Esther for his life.  When the King returns, he sees Haman in what appears to be a compromising position with his wife; as if Haman wasn't in enough trouble already!  Immediately, Haman is taken off to be executed.  Helpfully, one of the King's men suggests they use the gallows that Haman had built to hang Mordecai.

What a twist!  But the King still hasn't quite answered Esther's request, tune in Monday…  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

Esther 6

Esther 6

Chapter Six, in which justice begins to be served.  During the night between Esther's banquets, King Xerxes is finding it hard to sleep, and so he has some of his history read to him.  In this history is the story of how Mordecai thwarted the plan to assassinate him is read to the King.  Finding out that Mordecai was not rewarded for this deed, the King asked Haman (who was there to ask for permission to hang Mordecai) for a suitable reward.  Haman, thinking that the reward was for him, suggests a very public display of the King's gratitude.  The King likes the idea and has Haman gather the required robe and horse, and then give them to Mordecai!  And get this, not only is this reward not for Haman, but he has to lead Mordecai through the city and tell everyone of the King's gratitude towards Mordecai.  Needless to say, this doesn't sit well with Haman, who does what the King asks of him, but then goes home and complains to his family.  However, instead of a sympathetic ear, they tell Haman that he is doomed for daring to go up against Mordecai, because he is a Jew.  Even the non-Jewish people are beginning to see that God is looking out for His people.  While he is talking with his family, the king's men come to escort Haman to Esther's banquet.

Everything was going so well for Haman, and now it seems to be going rapidly downhill!  In all of this Haman humiliation, our author has kept us waiting to see if Esther asks the King to save the Jewish people.  Will she ask tomorrow?  How will Haman deal with his humiliation?  Tune in tomorrow to find out…  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

Esther 5

Esther 5

Chapter Five, in which Esther approaches the King.  After three days of fasting, Esther goes in to talk to the King.  Since she was not summoned, this could end in her death.  Fortunately (well, not really, since we know God is in control), the King looks favorably on Esther and tells her that he will grant her anything she asks, up to half of his kingdom.  Instead of directly asking him to call off the genocide, she asks him to come (with Haman) to a banquet that she has prepared.  I've not yet read of an Old Testament King who turned down a banquet offered by a pretty woman, so of course King Xerxes agrees.  At this banquet, he again offers Esther anything she asks for, and again she invites the King and Haman to a banquet (held the next day).  The King agrees.  Haman goes home in a good mood (as would be expected after being invited to two banquets by the Queen herself), until he sees Mordecai.  As we remember from Chapter Three, Mordecai's refusal to bow down to Haman causes Haman to order the genocide of the Jewish people.  When he arrives home, Haman alternately brags to his family about the banquets and complains to them about Mordecai.  They then offer him a solution: have a gallows built, and then have Mordecai hanged before the banquet.  Mordecai agrees and the gallows is built.

Whether or not the gallows is truly seventy-five feet tall or not, this could throw a kink in Esther's plan.  Tune in tomorrow to find out Mordecai's fate…  Is it me, or would this book make a great movie?  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

Esther 4

Esther 4

Chapter Four, in which Esther makes her choice.  Mordecai learns of the planned genocide and responds with the rest of the Jewish people by wearing sackcloth and ashes, and wailing loudly in the streets.  Esther hears that her cousin Mordecai is in mourning and sends her servant to find out why.  Mordecai tells the servant everything that has happened and asks him to tell Esther to ask the King to spare the Jewish people.  Through the same servant, Esther tells Mordecai that under the penalty of death, no one can approach the King without first being summoned.  Mordecai then hints that her heritage will be found out, and that someone else will save the Jews, but not Esther.  He then suggests that possibly she was put into the position of Queen (by God, he implies) just for this purpose: to save the Jewish people from genocide.  This convinces Esther to risk her life by approaching the King with the request to call off the killing.  She then asks Mordecai to fast for three days with her and her servants, before she goes in to talk to the King.

Does the King allow Esther to speak, or does he have her executed?  If she's allowed to speak, will he listen to her plea?  Tune in tomorrow…  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

Esther 3

Esther 3

Chapter Three, in which Mordecai goes from saving the King's life to potential genocide victim.  King Xerxes promotes a man named Haman to one of the highest positions in the kingdom, and everyone was expected to bow down to Haman.  However, Mordecai is Jewish, and won't bow down to anyone other than God.  This obviously upsets Haman, and after finding out that Mordecai is Jewish, Haman decides to ask the King to have all of the Jews in the kingdom killed.  Not only does Haman ask the King, he offers to cover the costs of the genocide.  The King responds to Haman's request with: "Keep the money, and do with the people as you please."  An official decree is written up (after they cast lots to determine the day of the killing) and distributed throughout the kingdom.

Since Esther has not told anyone she is Jewish, she is safe.  But will she stand by and allow her husband to go through with this genocide?  Tune in tomorrow, as the plot continues to thicken.  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

Esther 2

Esther 2

Chapter Two, in which our story really gets going: Queen Vashti has been deposed and now King Xerxes is looking for her replacement among his people.  A Jewish man named Mordecai has adopted his cousin Esther and raised her as his own daughter.  Esther is an attractive young lady and is selected to "audition" for the job of Queen.  The only problem is, Esther is Jewish and Xerxes is not, and it's against Jewish Law for her to marry a man who is not a Jew.  Mordecai devises a clever scheme to get around this: don't ask, don't tell.  He tells Esther not to tell anyone of her family or national heritage.  This is one of the problems people have with this book, the plot is set in motion by a lie; if Esther was known to be Jewish she would not have had a chance to be Queen.  However, we'll see that God will use whatever is at His disposal to do His work.

The King chooses Esther to be his Queen, and a holiday was declared to celebrate.  All the time, Mordecai was hanging around the palace in order to keep an eye on Esther.  While hanging around the palace gates, he discovers a plot to assassinate the King.  Mordecai tells Esther, who in turn tells her husband, the King.  The plot is averted and Mordecai gets the credit.  Do riches and reward await Mordecai?  Tune in Monday to find out…

I apologize (sort-of) for the tone of the Esther blogs.  After reading the theologically heavy letters in the New Testament, we basically have a story here.  And as the source material takes a darker tone in the coming days, the commentary will reflect that.  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

Esther 1

Esther 1

The king gets drunk and decides to show off his wife, the queen refuses to come and loses her position as queen, but not before a law is made that sets men as the rulers of their household.  Our story is set.

I'm sorry if this post is short, but there's not much else to say!  The story gets very interesting quickly; tune in tomorrow when the action really starts.  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net