Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;
Because Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite, who was an enemy of all Jewish people, had made a plan to destroy them. He had cast lots (called 'Pur') to decide when to wipe them out and kill them all.
This verse explains why the Jewish people celebrate Purim - because Haman had plotted their complete destruction by casting lots to choose the date for their massacre.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of the explanation for why the festival of Purim was established. Haman was the chief minister under King Xerxes of Persia who developed a genocidal plot against the Jewish people living throughout the Persian Empire around 473 BC. The word 'Pur' means 'lot' in Persian, and Haman cast these lots like dice to determine the most auspicious date to carry out his plan to exterminate all Jews.
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