In the 12th year of King Xerxes, in the 1st month, the month of Nisan (March, 474 B.C.) the pur—that is, the lot—was cast to select a day and month to destroy the Jews. And the lot fell on the 12th month, the month of Adar (March, 473 B.C.) (Esther 3:7)

The irony is that in the month the Jews celebrated Passover—Nisan, their deliverance from Egypt—their enemies began plotting their destruction.

Esther begged the king to put an end to the evil plan devised against the Jews (Esther 8:3). “If it pleases the king,” Esther said, “and he thinks it the right thing to do, let an order be written overruling the dispatches devised and wrote to destroy the Jews” (Esther 8:5).

At once the royal secretaries were summoned—on the 23rd day of the third month, the month of Sivan (June 25, 474 B.C.), orders were written (Esther 8:9). The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves: to destroy, kill and annihilate any armed force of any nationality or province that might attack them (Esther 8:11). To avenge themselves of their enemies (Esther 8:13), the day appointed for the Jews to do this was the 13th day of the month of Adar (March 26, 473 B.C.) (8:12).

According to the Hebrew calendar, the 13th day of the month of Adar in 2025 falls on Thursday, March 13th.  A total lunar eclipse will occur on the Jewish sabbath, Friday, March 14, 2025.

For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor (16). And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them (17).

On the 13th day of the month of Adar, the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them. The Jews assembled in their cities to attack those determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them, because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of them (9:1-2).

The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them (9:5). Other Jews also assembled to protect themselves and get relief from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of their enemies, This happened on the 13th day of the month of Adar. And on the 14th day they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy (9:16-17) .

Recent developments in the Middle East raise concerns about potential threats to Israel during the upcoming celebration of Purim. Egypt is on high alert along its border with Gaza and deploying military forces to (perhaps) prevent the displacement of Palestinians into Egyptian territory.

At the same time, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt have engaged in discussions regarding the reconstruction of Gaza. The convergence of these countries around the time of Purim serves as a warning to Israel. Iran is the most vocal in calling for Israel’s destruction, with Syria, Lebanon, and some factions in Saudi Arabia and Egypt also maintaining hostile stances. Jordan and Egypt have peace treaties with Israel, but public opinion in these countries remains largely opposed to Israel, focusing instead on Palestinian rights and sovereignty.

March 13-14 may come and go without event, but given the symbolic significance of Purim and the “sign in the heavens” (the moon will not give its light), those who care for Israel should pray and prepare for her protection.

And should forces from Persia and its allies come against the Jews in Israel and elsewhere, watch for God to move as He did during the reign of  King Xerxes and take from Israel’s enemies and give the plunder to the Jews. (Note: in Esther, the king authorized the Jews to plunder their enemies, but they did not.)