|
|
|
|
The Ten Sons of Haman
|
Considering it's relatively small size, the Book of Esther has attracted much controversy, including debate about whether or not it belongs in the biblical canon. Of the 66 books in the Bible, only Esther and the Song of Songs have no direct mention of God. But there are other aspects of Esther which have been puzzling it's readers for the 2,400 years since it was written. Why, for example, when half the kingdom was hers for the asking, did Esther request the hanging (tomorrow) of the ten sons of Haman? Hadn't they already been killed in Shushan the palace? So what purpose did hanging them upon the gallows serve?
|
Ahaseurus and Haman at the Feast of Esther by Rembrandt van Rijn (1660).
|
"And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done. Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows." Est 9:12-13
With the unfolding of world history and a close examination of the text, the true meaning of this difficult passage has come to light. As explained by the sages:
With the unfolding of world history and a close examination of the text, the true meaning of this difficult passage has come to light. As explained by the sages:
There is a tomorrow that is now, and a tomorrow which is later." Tanchuma, Bo 13 and Rashi, Shemot 13:14.
The three abnormally small Hebrew letters from Est 9:7-9
|
In the three verses naming the ten sons of Haman, there are three abnormally small Hebrew letters. Always a focus of attention, those three letters provide the clue to the prophesy which was to be eventually realized. The small letter tav in Parshandatha, the small letter shin in Parmashta and the small zayin in Vajezatha have a combined gematria value of 707. In practice, just as we truncate years (such as '78 for 1978), the thousands are skipped when writing Hebrew years. Instead, they are referred to by quoting from the hundreds down. Webster's New World Hebrew Dictionary states: "In practice . . . the thousands are skipped and the Jewish year is referred to by quoting, in Jewish numerical symbols, the figure from the hundreds down" (p. xxiv, Introduction, The Jewish Calender). So the Hebrew year 5707 is written as תשז (Tav Shin Zayin), the three small letters from the names of Haman's ten sons who were hanged from the gallows.
Also in this same passage, there can be seen an abnormally large letter vav (bottom right in the diagram). With a gematria value of six, it has been pointed out that this indicates the sixth millennium, which includes the year 5707. In total, Esther contains six abnormally sized letters (three big, three small), and the following study will reveal that the number six has even more profound implications. |
Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion
|
After a painstaking struggle, German astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler provided a momentous breakthrough for the science of astronomy when he deduced that the planetary orbits are elliptical, rather than the circular paths presumed at the time. Kepler described his theory in the three laws of planetary motion he was to become famous for:
1) The orbit of a planet is an ellipse with the Sun at one of the two foci. 2) A line segment joining a planet and the Sun sweeps out equal areas during equal intervals of time. 3) The square of the orbital period of a planet is proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit. Kepler's book Astronomia nova related the discovery of the first two of these principles.The third law, which shows a constant proportionality between the cube of the semi-major axis of a planet's orbit and the square of the time of its orbital period, is set out in Book V of his later volume Harmonices Mundi (The Harmony of the World). |
GDR postage stamp featuring Kepler.
|
First edition of Kepler's Harmonices Mundi (1619).
|
What came to be known as the third law of planetary motion was one among many other harmonies. Kepler articulated that the planets moved as part of a divine symphony, which he related to musical consonance and the angular velocities of the planets. Thus Kepler reasoned that his relationships gave evidence for God acting as a grand geometer, rather than a Pythagorean numerologist. Kepler himself was in no doubt as to the significance of his discovery, as can be seen from his introduction to Harmonices Mundi:
Now because 18 months ago the first dawn, 3 months ago broad daylight but a very few days ago the full sun of the most highly remarkable spectacle has risen — nothing holds me back. I can give myself up to the sacred frenzy, I can have the insolence to make a full confession to mortal men that I have stolen the golden vessel of the Egyptians to make from them a tabernacle for my God far from the confines of the land of Egypt. If you forgive me I shall rejoice; if you are angry, I shall bear it; I am indeed casting the die and writing the book, either for my contemporaries or for posterity to read, it matters not which: let the book await its reader for a hundred years; God himself has waited six thousand years for his work to be seen." Johannes Kepler |
Kepler's third law was subsequently improved upon by Isaac Newton, who discovered that the equation had also to take into account the size (or more correctly mass) of the planets. Kepler's elegant equation A³ / P² (where A is the length of the semi-major axis and P the period of orbit) still works exceptionally well for the smaller planets of the solar system, as can be seen from the following table:
Kepler's third law as it applies to the planets. The relatively small planets of the inner solar system are perfectly harmonious, just as Kepler theorized.
It's worth reminding ourselves of the scale of things - these correctly scaled models show the relative sizes of the planets. The mass of Jupiter is 318 times that of the Earth, and 2.5 times the mass of all the other planets combined.
The planets of our solar system, shown to correct scale. In pairs from the back: Jupiter and Saturn; Uranus and Neptune; Earth and Venus, Mars and Mercury.
|
The same planetary model, shown to scale against the Sun.
|
Although exaggerated in drawings, the Earth's orbit is actually only slightly elliptical, barely detectable from a perfect circle. Whereas a circle has an eccentricity of zero, the Earth's orbit is only slightly more eccentric at 0.01671123. What this means is that as our planet hurtles along it's orbital path (at a cool 108,000 km/hr) it's distance from the Sun is constantly changing, varying by as much as 1.67% more or less from the average, as indicated by the degree of eccentricity.
The first accurate calculation of the distance from the Earth to the Sun was made during the transits of Venus across the Sun in 1761 and 1769.
- the diameter of the Sun = Earth's diameter x 109
- average distance from Earth to the Sun = Sun's diameter x 107
- Earth's orbital speed around the Sun = 108 thousand km/hr
The first accurate calculation of the distance from the Earth to the Sun was made during the transits of Venus across the Sun in 1761 and 1769.
- the transit of Venus happens only twice every 108 years
The Earth's orbit around the Sun, using a greatly exaggerated eccentricity for effect.
Each timestamp has a different proximity to the Sun, with a variation of about 0.2 miles per second, or 17,200 miles per day. Unlike Kepler, we now have the luxury of astronomical software that enables us to know the precise distance from the Sun to any geographical location on Earth for any given time from the past, present or future. What this knowledge reveals makes Kepler's introduction to Harmonices Mundi appear prescient, and entrenches the accuracy of the prophesy from the Book of Esther.
Kepler's Third Is A Perfect Six
Using a distance scale of millions of miles, Kepler's Third Law applied to the planets of the inner solar system calculates to approximately 6. For the Earth, at an average distance of 1 astronomical unit (92.95580727 million miles) and an orbital period of 365.256363 days, the calculation for A³ / P² is therefore:
Given the Earth's orbital eccentricity of 0.1671123, this means the calculation varies between 5.94 and 6.10 depending on the time of year. We can therefore calculate precisely when Kepler's Law calculates to exactly 6, and so begin to unravel the mystery of the large letter vav in the Book of Esther. Using the scale of millions of miles is particularly poignant, considering there were six million Jews killed during the Holocaust. To calculate, we use the formula:
A = ³√(365.256363² x 6) = 92.85007888 million miles = 0.998862595 au
The Sun will be this distance from Jerusalem just before sunrise during Sukkot, 5778 on the Hebrew calendar (October 9th, 2017).
- 92.95580727³ / 365.256363² = 6.020519949
Given the Earth's orbital eccentricity of 0.1671123, this means the calculation varies between 5.94 and 6.10 depending on the time of year. We can therefore calculate precisely when Kepler's Law calculates to exactly 6, and so begin to unravel the mystery of the large letter vav in the Book of Esther. Using the scale of millions of miles is particularly poignant, considering there were six million Jews killed during the Holocaust. To calculate, we use the formula:
A = ³√(365.256363² x 6) = 92.85007888 million miles = 0.998862595 au
The Sun will be this distance from Jerusalem just before sunrise during Sukkot, 5778 on the Hebrew calendar (October 9th, 2017).
The position of the Sun for an observer in Jerusalem when, on a scale of millions of miles, Kepler's Law calculates to exactly 6. Starry Night Software.
In history, October 9th was an important date for both the outcome and the aftermath of World War II. On October 9th 1945, Pierre Laval, who as the premier of Vichy France had collaborated with the Nazi programs of oppression and genocide during World War II, was sentenced by the French High Court to death for treason. This event was pivotal to the number 6 and the eventual fulfillment of Esther's prophesy regarding the hanging of the ten sons of Haman.
The High Court, which functioned until 1949, judged 108 cases, pronouncing eight death penalties, of which only three were carried out.
"And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain." Ezr 8:4
והנה שם כבוד אלהי ישראל כמראה אשר ראיתי בבקעה
179 621 501 266 541 46 32 340 66 = 2592
Also in the book of Ezra 5:5 is found the Aramaic word for God (אלההם) which has a gematria value of 81.
On October 9, 1941, one of the most important decisions in the course of World War II was made by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a small meeting with only Vice President Henry Wallace and the head of the National Defense Research Committee Vannevar Bush present.
Roosevelt committed the United States government to embark upon a program of intensified research into the feasibility of a fission bomb. The issue had first drawn the attention of President Roosevelt when Albert Einstein wrote the president a letter in August 1939 outlining his concerns that Germany might pursue such a weapon, and with it Hitler might become invincible. The United States was still technically a neutral nation in October 1941.
- Laval's trial began on Thursday, 4 October 1945
- He was sentenced on October 9, day 6 of the trial
- After a failed suicide attempt, Laval was executed by firing squad on October 15th 1945, 6 days after being sentenced
- The Nuremberg Trial commenced on November 20th, 1945, 6 weeks after Laval was sentenced
The High Court, which functioned until 1949, judged 108 cases, pronouncing eight death penalties, of which only three were carried out.
- 108 x 8 = 864 (more on 864 and 108 later)
- 108 x 8 x 3 = 2592
"And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain." Ezr 8:4
והנה שם כבוד אלהי ישראל כמראה אשר ראיתי בבקעה
179 621 501 266 541 46 32 340 66 = 2592
- Ezr 8:4 gives 8 x 4 = 32
- 2592 / 32 = 81
Also in the book of Ezra 5:5 is found the Aramaic word for God (אלההם) which has a gematria value of 81.
On October 9, 1941, one of the most important decisions in the course of World War II was made by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a small meeting with only Vice President Henry Wallace and the head of the National Defense Research Committee Vannevar Bush present.
- As Chairman of the NDRC, Bush coordinated the activities of some six thousand leading American scientists in the application of science to warfare.
Roosevelt committed the United States government to embark upon a program of intensified research into the feasibility of a fission bomb. The issue had first drawn the attention of President Roosevelt when Albert Einstein wrote the president a letter in August 1939 outlining his concerns that Germany might pursue such a weapon, and with it Hitler might become invincible. The United States was still technically a neutral nation in October 1941.
Purim Fest, 1946!
Another relationship to the astronomical unit can be derived from a Hebrew letter count from the Book of Esther. The text contains 12,196 Hebrew letters, plus four for the title (אסתר) giving a total of 12,200.
The Sun was precisely this distance from Jerusalem on the eve of Purim (13 Adar) on March 16 1946.
"Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)" Est 9:1
- 12200² = 14,884,0000
- 148840000 km = 92484888.25 miles = 0.994933947 au
The Sun was precisely this distance from Jerusalem on the eve of Purim (13 Adar) on March 16 1946.
"Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)" Est 9:1
The Sun in the evening sky as seen from Jerusalem on Purim Eve, 1946. At that time, 7719 seconds before sunset, the distance between the Sun and Jerusalem was precisely 12,200² kilometers. Starry Night Software.
One of the ten Nazis hung at Nuremberg was Julius Streicher, who was obviously conversant with Jewish history and particularly the Book of Esther. Just before his execution, he shouted "Purim Fest 1946!". Purim was to commence at sunset, 2 hours 8 minutes and 39 seconds after the above screenshot. This is equivalent to 7719 seconds:
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." 1 Co 12:7
εκαστωι δε διδοται η φανερωσις του πνευματος προς το συμφερον
1336 9 399 8 1866 770 1146 450 370 1365 = 7719
Using 12,196 as the letter count (without the title) can be used as the basis for another calculation:
The Sun was precisely this distance from Jerusalem on 11 Adar (March 14) 1946. Generally the Fast of Esther is observed on Purim Eve, unless Purim coincides with the Sabbath, as was the case in 1946. In which case the fast is brought forward to the Thursday, the 11th day of Adar. The Fast of Esther was to begin at sunrise on March 14, 1946.
- cosine (7719) = -0.994296953
- 0.994296953 au = 148,744,707 km
- √148,744,707 = 12,196.09 giving the number of letters in the Book of Esther (without the title)
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." 1 Co 12:7
εκαστωι δε διδοται η φανερωσις του πνευματος προς το συμφερον
1336 9 399 8 1866 770 1146 450 370 1365 = 7719
Using 12,196 as the letter count (without the title) can be used as the basis for another calculation:
- 12196² = 148742416
- 148,742,416 km = 0.994281638 au
The Sun was precisely this distance from Jerusalem on 11 Adar (March 14) 1946. Generally the Fast of Esther is observed on Purim Eve, unless Purim coincides with the Sabbath, as was the case in 1946. In which case the fast is brought forward to the Thursday, the 11th day of Adar. The Fast of Esther was to begin at sunrise on March 14, 1946.
On 11 Adar, 1946 the Sun was precisely 12,196² kilometers from Jerusalem. Starry Night Software.
Of course the Sun is this distance from Jerusalem not once, but twice each year. The second time in 1946 occurred just after sunrise on October 25th.
The Sun just after sunrise on October 25th, 1946. At this precise moment the Sun was 12,196² kilometers from Jerusalem. Starry Night Software.
- October 25th, 1946 was nine days after the hanging of the ten Nazis at Nuremberg
- 9 days = 216 hours
Exactly one year earlier, on October 25th 1945, one of the Nuremberg accused, former chief of the German Labor Front Robert Ley escaped justice by commiting suicide. Ley was indignant at his arrest:
Stand us against a wall and shoot us, well and good, you are victors. But why should I be brought before a Tribunal like a c-c-c- ... I can't even get the word out!" Robert Ley (1945) Sereny, Gitta (1995) Albert Speer: His Battle With Truth. London: Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-333-64519-2.
The Day of Atonement
|
Yom Kippur commemorates the date on which Moses received the second set of Ten Commandments, following the completion of the second 40 days of instructions from God. At this same time, the Israelites were granted atonement for the sin of the Golden Calf, establishing the 10th day of the month of Tishri as a day of atonement, forgiveness and teshuvah both for them and all future generations. Traditionally, this fast day has been considered the most solemn of the Jewish holy days, a time which God determines whether one will live or die in the coming year.
|
Worship of Golden Calf - Jan Steen, c.1673-1677
|
In 1946, Yom Kippur began at sunset on Friday, 4th October until sunset on Saturday, 5th October. During this day, the Sun was precisely 1.0000 astronomical unit from Jerusalem.
The position of the Sun on Yom Kippur, 1946 (with the horizon hidden) when it's distance from Jerusalem was exactly 1 astronomical unit. Starry Night Software.
Moses received the second set of Ten Commandments in the year 2449 on the Hebrew calendar, whilst Yom Kippur, 1946 coincided with the year 5707.
"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." Exo 3:14
The Sun was precisely 1 au from Jerusalem 24,486 seconds after sunset, which occurred at 6:21:18 PM on October 4th, 1946.
"Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD." Jer 2:3
קדש ישראל ליהוה ראשית תבואתה כל אכליו יאשמו רעה תבא אליהם נאם יהוה
26 91 86 403 275 357 67 50 814 911 56 541 404 = 4081
"Have an easy fast" is the proper way to wish someone well for Yom Kippur. Please don't wish people a Happy Yom Kippur; it's not a happy holiday.
- 5707 - 2449 = 3258
- 3258 / 6 = 543
"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." Exo 3:14
- "I AM THAT I AM" (אהיה אשר אהיה) has a gematria value of 543
- Exo 3:14 gives 3 x 14 = 42 (names of God)
The Sun was precisely 1 au from Jerusalem 24,486 seconds after sunset, which occurred at 6:21:18 PM on October 4th, 1946.
- 24486 / 6 = 4081
"Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD." Jer 2:3
קדש ישראל ליהוה ראשית תבואתה כל אכליו יאשמו רעה תבא אליהם נאם יהוה
26 91 86 403 275 357 67 50 814 911 56 541 404 = 4081
- Jer 2:3 gives 2 x 3 = 6
"Have an easy fast" is the proper way to wish someone well for Yom Kippur. Please don't wish people a Happy Yom Kippur; it's not a happy holiday.
Passover, Day 6
In addition to the pivotal role of the number 6, you may have also noticed the consistent appearance of the number 108 and it's multiples throughout this study. To recap:
The radius of the Earth's core and the diameter of the moon are both 2,160 miles, so something's going on. Strangely, an excellent approximation of an astronomical unit can be obtained from the following calculations:
Using the precise diameter of the Sun provides another opportunity to explore the Esther phenomena:
The Sun was this precise distance from Jerusalem just after sunset on April 20, 1946. This coincided with 20 Nisan on the Hebrew calendar, the sixth day of Passover.
- The Earth's orbital speed is 108,000 km/hr
- The High Court in France judged 108 cases
- The speed of light is 1.08 billion km
- The semi-major axis of Venus is 108,000 km
- There were 216 court sessions during the Nuremberg Trial
- The diameter of the Sun is approximately 864 thousand miles
The radius of the Earth's core and the diameter of the moon are both 2,160 miles, so something's going on. Strangely, an excellent approximation of an astronomical unit can be obtained from the following calculations:
- 864,000 x 108 = 216,000 x 432 = 93,312,000
- 93,312,000 miles = 1.00383185 au
Using the precise diameter of the Sun provides another opportunity to explore the Esther phenomena:
- Sun diameter = 864,935.1537 miles
- 864935.1537 x 108 = 93412996.6 miles = 1.004918351 au
The Sun was this precise distance from Jerusalem just after sunset on April 20, 1946. This coincided with 20 Nisan on the Hebrew calendar, the sixth day of Passover.
The position of the Sun on the sixth day of Passover, 1946 was the diameter of the Sun x 108 miles from Jerusalem. Starry Night Software.
This event occurred 1 hour 9 minutes and 18 seconds after sunrise, or 4158 seconds. In the Book of Judges (Chapter 6) Israel was reduced to utter misery by the Midianites.
"And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years." Jdg 6:1
World War II spanned seven calendar years from 1939-1945, but it's duration was six years.
The war also spanned seven Hebrew years 5699-5705. September 2nd, 1945 was 24 Elul on the Hebrew calendar. Six days later, a new year was begun on 1 Tishri, 5706. More on the Midianites from the Book of Judges:
"And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass." Jdg 6:4
ויחנו עליהם וישחיתו את יבול הארץ עד בואך עזה ולא ישאירו מחיה בישראל ושה ושור וחמור
260 512 311 543 63 527 37 82 29 74 296 48 401 740 155 80 = 4158
"And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years." Jdg 6:1
World War II spanned seven calendar years from 1939-1945, but it's duration was six years.
- September 1, 1939: Invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany
- September 2, 1945: The Japanese Instrument of Surrender is signed on the deck of USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay
The war also spanned seven Hebrew years 5699-5705. September 2nd, 1945 was 24 Elul on the Hebrew calendar. Six days later, a new year was begun on 1 Tishri, 5706. More on the Midianites from the Book of Judges:
"And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass." Jdg 6:4
ויחנו עליהם וישחיתו את יבול הארץ עד בואך עזה ולא ישאירו מחיה בישראל ושה ושור וחמור
260 512 311 543 63 527 37 82 29 74 296 48 401 740 155 80 = 4158
The Full Sun Has Risen
Kepler's first two laws of planetary motion were formulated in Prague, where Kepler was able to work for Tycho Brahe and therefore gain access to his master's extensive astronomical data. In 1611 (the same year the King James Version of the Bible was released), the growing political-religious tension in Prague forced Emperor Rudolph to abdicate as King of Bohemia, to be succeeded by by his brother Matthias. It was clear that Kepler's future prospects in the court of Matthias were dim, so Kepler moved to Linz in Austria from where his third planetary law was born. In a strange twist, 137 years later (in 1748) Jews were only permitted to remain in Bohemia on payment of a "Judensteuer" of 216,000 florins. (Judaism in Action, Chapter 6, p. 310).
In Harmonices Mundi, Kepler does not give any details about how he derived his formula, but he does provide the date of his epiphany (March 8, 1618). On this date, the relationship between the Book of Esther and Kepler's Third Law of planetary motion was described in the heavens when just after sunrise, the Sun was 12,196² kilometers (0.994281637 au) for observers (including Kepler) in Linz, Austria.
In Harmonices Mundi, Kepler does not give any details about how he derived his formula, but he does provide the date of his epiphany (March 8, 1618). On this date, the relationship between the Book of Esther and Kepler's Third Law of planetary motion was described in the heavens when just after sunrise, the Sun was 12,196² kilometers (0.994281637 au) for observers (including Kepler) in Linz, Austria.
On the day of his epiphany that resulted in Kepler's Third Law of planetary motion, the Sun was 12,196² (148,742,416) km from his then home town of Linz, Austria. 12,196 is the number of Hebrew letters in the Book of Esther. Starry Night Software.
....the full sun of the most highly remarkable spectacle has risen — nothing holds me back...." Johannes Kepler. Introduction, Harmonices Mundi.
Contact
|
|