Pipeline Torah Gem #916 2026-03-02: Divinely Guided Destiny
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Vaughn Seward
Mar 8, 2026, 5:21:24 PMMar 8
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Divinely Guided Destiny
Alone of the Books of the Bible, the Megillah contains no mention of God name. Though religious elements are mentioned explicitly, most notably in the fast and mourning when the evil decree is known and the proclamation of the holiday when the evil decree is averted, the constantly felt mighty hand of Providence is never identified by name. Some traditional commentators feel that this is so because the Megillah was originally based on the letters of Purim (9:20, 30) that Mordecai sent to all the provinces proclaiming the Holiday. But perhaps those who consider the hidden Name a reflection of the hidden Presence are right. No longer could the Jew ascend to Jerusalem's temple to "see the Presence." The long Diaspora had begun. Providence was real, "great and feared," as the Men of the Great Assembly would proclaim again, but hidden. The first two chapters of Exodus describing the constantly increasing suffering of the Jews avoid any mention of God's name until the death of the old Pharaoh and the call of Moses. Unlike the Book of Judges which states that God delivered the Jews into the hands of their enemy, Exodus, describing the first Diaspora, is silent about the Ultimate Cause. So too does the Book of the Diaspora, the Megillah, remain silent. The sages sense only a hint. The invitation to Haman and the King, an invitation that brings the turn of fortune, is introduced with words יבא המלך והמן היום - whose initial letters spell out the name of God Adapted from Dor Le Dor, The World Jewish Bible Society, Spring 1977, Vol. V., page 114. Torah Gem Archives: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/torahtidbits
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Yiddish Corner
Eat In Good Health! - Purim feast (In Yiddish): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlpC47Q6b9A Forverts (Est Gezunterheyt!)]
Alone of the Books of the Bible, the Megillah contains no mention of God name. Though religious elements are mentioned explicitly, most notably in the fast and mourning when the evil decree is known and the proclamation of the holiday when the evil decree is averted, the constantly felt mighty hand of Providence is never identified by name. Some traditional commentators feel that this is so because the Megillah was originally based on the letters of Purim (9:20, 30) that Mordecai sent to all the provinces proclaiming the Holiday. But perhaps those who consider the hidden Name a reflection of the hidden Presence are right. No longer could the Jew ascend to Jerusalem's temple to "see the Presence." The long Diaspora had begun. Providence was real, "great and feared," as the Men of the Great Assembly would proclaim again, but hidden. The first two chapters of Exodus describing the constantly increasing suffering of the Jews avoid any mention of God's name until the death of the old Pharaoh and the call of Moses. Unlike the Book of Judges which states that God delivered the Jews into the hands of their enemy, Exodus, describing the first Diaspora, is silent about the Ultimate Cause. So too does the Book of the Diaspora, the Megillah, remain silent. The sages sense only a hint. The invitation to Haman and the King, an invitation that brings the turn of fortune, is introduced with words יבא המלך והמן היום - whose initial letters spell out the name of God Adapted from Dor Le Dor, The World Jewish Bible Society, Spring 1977, Vol. V., page 114. Torah Gem Archives: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/torahtidbits
_________________
Yiddish Corner
Eat In Good Health! - Purim feast (In Yiddish): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlpC47Q6b9A Forverts (Est Gezunterheyt!)]
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