פור, κλῆρος, signifies _lot_. Pur, Phur, or Purim, was a solemn
feast of the Jews, instituted in memory of the lots cast by Haman, the
enemy of the Jews, Esther iii, 7. These lots were cast in the first
month of the year, and gave the twelfth month of the same year for the
execution of Haman’s design, to destroy all the Jews in Persia. Thus the
superstition of Haman, in crediting these lots, caused his own ruin, and
the preservation of the Jews, who, by means of Esther, had time to avert
this blow. The Jews have exactly kept this feast down to our times. See
HAMAN, ESTHER, and MORDECAI.
feast of the Jews, instituted in memory of the lots cast by Haman, the
enemy of the Jews, Esther iii, 7. These lots were cast in the first
month of the year, and gave the twelfth month of the same year for the
execution of Haman’s design, to destroy all the Jews in Persia. Thus the
superstition of Haman, in crediting these lots, caused his own ruin, and
the preservation of the Jews, who, by means of Esther, had time to avert
this blow. The Jews have exactly kept this feast down to our times. See
HAMAN, ESTHER, and MORDECAI.