22
Mordecai told the Jews to celebrate the time when they got rest from their enemies. That was the month when their sadness was turned into joy. It was when their sobbing turned into a day for celebrating. He wrote the letters to celebrate those days as times of joy. He wanted the people to enjoy good food. He told them to give presents of food to one another. He also wanted them to give gifts to those who were poor.
Reference
Hebrew: Mordᵉkay
Mordecai, an Israelite
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Hebrew: châgag
properly, to move in acircle, i.e. (specifically) to march in asacred procession, to observe afestival; by implication, to be giddy
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Hebrew: môneh
properly, something weighed out, i.e. (figuratively) a portion of time, i.e. an instance
Greek: ἐπάν (epán)
a particle of indefinite contemporaneousness; whenever, as soon as
Greek: σαββατισμός (sabbatismós)
a "sabbatism", i.e. (figuratively) the repose of Christianity (as a type of heaven)
Hebrew: margôwaʻ
a resting place
Greek: ἐγγύς (engýs)
near
Hebrew: zôw
this or that
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: μήν (mḗn)
a month
Hebrew: yerach
a lunation, i.e. month
Greek: ἐπάν (epán)
a particle of indefinite contemporaneousness; whenever, as soon as
Hebrew: gîylâh
joy
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Greek: ἐπάν (epán)
a particle of indefinite contemporaneousness; whenever, as soon as
Hebrew: ʼechâd
properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
Greek: ὥρα (hṓra)
an "hour" (literally or figuratively)
Greek: ἀντί (antí)
opposite, i.e. instead or because of (rarely in addition to)
Hebrew: bᵉmôw
in, with, by, etc.
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Hebrew: châgag
properly, to move in acircle, i.e. (specifically) to march in asacred procession, to observe afestival; by implication, to be giddy
Greek: καθά (kathá)
according to which things, i.e. just as
Hebrew: tachath
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc.
Hebrew: gîylâh
joy
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: δῆμος (dēmos)
the public (as bound together socially)
Hebrew: ʻam
{a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock}
Greek: βίος (bíos)
life, i.e. (literally) the present state of existence; by implication, the means of livelihood
Hebrew: rᵉkûwsh
property (as gathered)
Greek: διατροφή (diatrophḗ)
nourishment
Hebrew: bûwl
produce (of the earth, etc.)
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: χορηγέω (chorēgéō)
to be a dance-leader, i.e. (generally) to furnish
Hebrew: shillûwach
(only in plural) a dismissal, i.e. (of a wife) divorce (especially the document); also (of a daughter) dower
Greek: διατροφή (diatrophḗ)
nourishment
Hebrew: bûwl
produce (of the earth, etc.)
Greek: εἰρήνη (eirḗnē)
peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity
Hebrew: ʼalmônîy
some one (i.e. so and so, without giving the name of the person or place)
Hebrew: ʼâch
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father))
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: δή (dḗ)
a particle of emphasis or explicitness; now, then, etc.
Hebrew: ʼôw
desire (and so probably in Proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
Greek: χορηγέω (chorēgéō)
to be a dance-leader, i.e. (generally) to furnish
Hebrew: nêdeh
a bounty (for prostitution)
Greek: πένης (pénēs)
starving, i.e. indigent
Hebrew: chêlᵉkâʼ
a wretch, i.e. unfortunate
Verse Explanation
The celebration was to remember the time when the Jews' sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. They were instructed to feast, rejoice, send gifts to one another, and give gifts to the poor.
History
c. 474 BC. Purim developed as a festival emphasizing celebration, generosity, and communal remembrance.