The Jewish Synagogue, Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIV.
Of their Feaſt of Purim.
THe word Purim is a Perſian word, and is rendred by the Hebrews Goral, which ſignifies a lot. This Feaſt therefore took its name from that plot and wicked device of Haman the Agagite,Eſther 3. who in the monethmonth Niſan in the twelfth year of Ahaſuerus caſt Pur, that is a lot, whereby all the Jews, both young and old, children and women in all the Kings Provinces ſhould be deſtroyed and rooted out in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth monethmonth, which is the monethmonth Adar or February; which decree was written in the name of the King, and ſealed with his Ring.
The end of this conſpiracy fell far contrary to Hamans intent. For Haman was hanged upon a pair of Gallows fifty foot high, and the King granted the Jews in what Cities ſoever they were to gather themſelves together,Eſther 8. and to stand for their life, to root out, ſlay, and deſtroy, all them that vexed them. So that ſtrengthened by the Kings Letter Patents, they put their adverſaries to death. In Shuſhan the Palace they ſlew five hundred men, and the ten ſons of Haman; and the Jews that were in the Provinces of King Ahaſucrus ſlew of them that hated them ſeventy five thouſand men, upon the thirteenth day of the monethmonth Adar, and reſted upon the fourteenth and fifteenth thereof. Wherefore it is inſtituted and ordained, that upon the fourteenth and the fifteenth day of the ſaid monethmonth every yeer ſhould a Feaſt be kept by the Jews in all quarters, in remembrance of this great deliverance throughout their generations by an ordinance for ever. Wherein they reſted from their enemies, in the monethmonth which turned unto them from ſorrow to joy, from mourning to a joyful day: as we may read in the ninth Chapter of the book of Eſther.
Theſe two dayes are celebrated at this day by the Jews imitation of their anceſtors, but in that manner, that they rather deſerve the name of the dayes of profanation and drunkenneſſe, then of joy and gladneſſe.
Although upon theſe dayes working is not prohibited by the text of Scripture:yet the Jewes at this day reſt from all manner of labour,Tract. M…gilah. writing and affirming in the Talmud, that he will never thrive or proſper that does any work upon them. For there it is recorded, that upon a certain time that a man being ſowing line-seed upon one of theſe dayes, a certain Rabbine coming by and ſeeing him, began to reprove and curſe him. Whereupon it came to paſſe, that the ſeed never came to growth, nor did ever peep out of the ground.
In the firſt place therefore the women are enjoyned in a more peculiar manner to ſanctifie and celebrate this Feſtival, becauſe this deliverance was wrought by the hands of Queen Eſther. The night being come, they light the Lamps of joy in the Synagogue, and the Chaſan or the Miniſter expounding the book of Eſther, reads it from end to end: whereat the women and children ought to be preſent, and give diligent attention; and they have a cuſtome that the little ones so often as Haman is named, keep a vile ſtir and a tumultuous noiſe in the terrible and forcible explosion thereof. In former times they were wont to provide themſelves two ſtones,Orach chajim, nu. 690. Sect. 16. upon one of which the name of Ham… was written. Theſe they did beat one againſt the other, until the name was quite demoliſhed and worn out; which when they perceved, they preſently cried aloud, Let his name be blotted out. The name of the wicked ſhall rot; Accurſed be Haman; Bleſſed be M …rdecai; Curſed be Zereſh the wife of Haman; Bleſſed be Eſther the wife Ah…suerus. Cursed be all they that worship idols or the hoſt of heaven. Bleſſed be all the people of Iſnael. When the Lecturer comes to that place where mention is made of the ten ſons of Hamau, he is bound to read it with one breath, for they write, that all theſe ſons of Haman periſhed in the twinkling of an eye, and their ſouls in a very moment took their farewel of their beloved lodging the body. They celebrate this Feaſt in a very voluptuous manner, ſouſing their guts in wine and beer, because Eſther the Queen found favour and grace in the eyes of King Abaſuerus when he ſate at her banquet, and obtained pardon for the Jews, and a grant that they might ſtand for their lives. And hence it comes to paſs, that for the ſpace of theſe two dayes, they buſie themſelves with no other things then eating and drinking, ſmelling, and bibbing, dancing, and piping, ſinging, and roaring, ieaſting, and ſporting, riming, and ſcoffing, the women putting on mens apparrell and the men clothing themſelves in womens attire, which although it be expreſly forbid in the law of Moſes, yet they make there one exception,Orach: chajim num: 615. ſaying, that it is lawful and no offence to practiſe it upon this day, and this occaſion: ſeeing it is done by them only for worldly joy and recreation, Rabbi Iſaac …irna in this Minhagim hath left in record to poſterity,De rit: Jud: p. 61. that it is commanded as a work of great excellency, to make merry as upon theſe dayes, to goe a whoring, to drink and be drunke, yea in that meaſure, that he cannot make any difference between Mordecai the bleſſed, and Haman the accurſed. that is to ſay, untill he be ſo beſotted with the ale tappe, that he cannot for his heart declare how many letters be contained in any of theſe words, yea moreover, any one is permitted at this time to poure in ſtrong drink, until he knowes not how many fingers he hath on either hand. Which precept indeed is moſt diligently observed and kept, according to the very rigour thereof by the Jews at this day, and that chiefly by the beggerly crew, to whom the richer ſort ſend gifts and preſents in a far greater meaſure then they do at other times, to the end that one may not mock another for being drunk, bein commanded and ſtrictly prohibited to ſend away their meat and drink to any other end and purpoſe. With theſe Bacchanal rites, drunken fits, and beſotting beaſtlineſs, they put an end to their annual feaſts. For this of Purim is the laſt feſtival in the year, having no more until the feaſt of the paſſover. If the Prophet Iſaiah were alive at this day, or ſhould riſe from the dead, truly and really might he take occaſion, and that both forcible and urgent to cry out, Woe and claſs unto them that riſe up early to follow drunkenneſſ, and to them that continue until the night, till the wine do inflame them.