“Mum, why do we celebrate this festival yearly?”
“Hmm! My son, this festival is unlike other festivals; it’s a festival that walks us down memory lane to freedom.”
“Really? What about it?”
“Join me in the kitchen to do the dishes as I narrate how it came about.”

***********
A long time ago, our ancestors were captured and led into captivity by a powerful wicked king. History has it that while the strong and energetic children, young adults and couples were captured, some old folks were left behind in order not to wipe us out. Years later, after the wicked king and other wicked kings like him had died, a kindhearted king arose. That newly crowned king supported our then-leaders in gaining our freedom. However, while many were happy to come back home, few who were born, reared and had intermarried stayed back. Of these few people is an uncle, called Iacedrom and his cousin, Rethse.

Iacedorm was privileged to work in the king’s chamber. As such, he had access to the latest information in the kingdom. One day, he heard that the king was organizing a beauty pageant for the virgins in the kingdom. This contest was a rare one; it was organized so that he could find a wife who will respect and honour him, publicly. On earshot, he encouraged his cousin to apply. To win this contest, you must be beautiful and brainy. You know that compliment, beauty plus brain; they were the essential qualifications. Fortunately, his cousin won the contest.

Meanwhile, their identity was kept from people. This was possible because by then, it was difficult to distinguish our people from the natives. Moreover, I guess if they had revealed their identity, she may not have won the contest. Anyway, she became the queen whom the king adored a lot. But if the king doesn’t summon her to his chamber after some days, whatever request she makes from him will fall on deaf ears. If she trespassed, she might die like a chicken. It was that serious.

When she became queen, she set in motion our celebration of this feast. This was possible through the subtle help of one of the officials her uncle worked with. His name is Namah. Fortunately for this man, he was promoted and became, like a second-in-command in the kingdom. For that reason, everyone accorded him similar respect given to the king. Like I have once told you, power intoxicates. Namah got intoxicated with power, found out about the identity of Iacedrom and vowed to punish him and his people because he had refused to accord him the respect he expected.

Little did Namah know that he was plotting his death. Rehtse became helpless when the news about the plot and threat to her people got within her hearing. Moreso, the king had not called for her for some days. Remember, if the king doesn’t summon her for some days, whatever action she takes to meet him will be to her detriment. Despite knowing this, Rehtse prayed and risked her life, approached the king and invited him to a feast she organized. She implored him to bring along with him his vice president.

Namah felt so privileged to attend the feast with the king. If only he had known that it was a feast of calamity for him. While they dined, Rethse made her identity known. This ended up as tragic news to both guests. To the king, his decree cannot be reversed nor annulled. It’s an abomination. Unknowingly, he had consented to the destruction of his dear wife’s people. In other words, he may lose his dear wife. To Namah, he became terrified; his life was in danger.

The king got up from the table sadly on hearing that. After he had left, Namah stayed back to beg for his life from the queen. It was so unfortunate to see him who had plotted the death of a group of people beg for his own life.

While he was begging for his life, he fell on the couch with the queen. Just then, the king came in. The king became furious and asked if he wanted to force himself on the queen.

Sadly for Namah, the king didn’t pronounce his death sentence. One of the guards did the suggestion – suggested that he should be hanged on the gallop he had fashioned for Iacedrom- while the king consented, immediately.

Namah had been cleared out of the way but one thing still remained. The king’s decree cannot be inverted. In other words, our people were not free from the plot. However, the king gave his consent to destroy as many that would attempt attack them. It was a survival of the fittest. It was a state of you either defend yourself from your adversaries or your adversaries waste you like a chicken.

On the day of hatching the evil plot of the dead Namah, Rehtse, Iacedrom and our forefathers defended themselves and defeated their enemies. Meanwhile, Namah’s position could not be left empty. As such, Iacedrom was promoted to that position not because he was Rethse’s uncle only but also because he has once saved the king from assassinators.


*******
“So my son, that’s how the festival came about. What do you think are the moral lessons from the story?”
“Mum, the journey was not easy. I learnt from the story that, one, my background shouldn’t stop me from blessing lives. Two, taking risks can either make or mar my life. The latter will be avoided if I apply God’s wisdom. Three, whatever position I occupy in life must not be used to threaten lives but rather to attend to and solve people’s problems. I must not also get intoxicated with power; it kills. Four, evil won’t last long. After some time, good will prevail. Hmm…that’s everything mum.”
“You’ve spoken well. You deserve two plates of food today.”
“Yayyy! Thank you, mum.”


By now, you’d have deciphered that this story is about Esther in the Bible. The topic, “Feasts of Lots”, is called “Purim” in Hebrew. Purim is a Jewish holiday which commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman, who planned to have all of Persia’s Jewish subjects killed, as recounted in the Book of Esther.

Expect more Bible character stories every fourth Saturday of the month.
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Have a splendid week, ahead. 💕