The Footstool Throne

And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;

2 Kings 25:27

Well, here comes Evilmerodach king of Babylon. Only he isn't quite Nebuchadnezzar, is he. On this is history as well as Scripture largely silent. What we do know though is what has already been told of in the text. Jehoiachin was somewhere along the line of the kings of Judah subjugated unto Babylon being thereby made to serve. It was more like a safe-keeping if you will. That way, you had the people and their commander all in one neat location for safe retrieval later. Only, for Judah, the day of this need had not yet come. Nor would it ever, as Judah was silent under the Lord's hand and not once again would it attempt to rise. The issue here is that the star-shapes are weird. It almost looks like a chair at first glance with space allowing for time and sight. Upon closer look then, the shape of the chair forms that of a throne, with the three stars of the enemies put atop and the rest made into a nice little resting place to cradle the foot.

And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou art like a young lion of the nations, and thou art as a whale in the seas: and thou camest forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers.

Ezekiel 32:1-2

And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month, that one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten.

Ezekiel 33:21

Then came the long years of the captivity. Ezekiel if you will recall was contemporary to Daniel, albeit in a slightly different place. Here he is prophesying before Daniel even got started, as the city of Jerusalem had not fallen just yet. Perhaps you remember how Jeremiah prophesied in the south to Judah just prior. His book ended with his assistant Seriah being slain with the sword upon the full taking away of the people. From there, once in Babylon Daniel came up by the side of the king. Pharaoh also had been going through much troubles due to Babylon at such a time as this. Babylon it seemed had grown far and wide in it's kingdom and so needed a set-back. What better way to do this than with the king whom God had called forth. You might talk about the Babylonian empire stretching to fill the whole earth all you wish. Here though, it's no laughing matter. It really was second in power only to that of the Chaldees, whom also they served.

In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.

8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.

Esther 3:7-8

At this point, I will step back and allow the writers to carry the tale. Whoever told Esther, whether her uncle or no, really did know how to do a good job. From the text, can you pick out the thread of what happened? Let's start off with Haman, the man who had hated God's people. He had the ear of the king and devised a rather sneaky plan to finish them off. Esther it seemed had been groomed by her uncle to take the queen's place. When Vashti the king's mistress failed to appear, he instead grew wroth and demanded a contest. It was a contest of brains, beauty, and brawn if you will though perhaps not quite in that order. Esther won this then just by the favor of God. It had to be with so many others set on taking the place. In all this, it can be seen that God overrules. For she would be useful in saving his people perhaps in more ways than one. With her uncle in the background who sat at the gate, she had everything needed to finish her people. Except she did not, for when the evil arose, so did Queen Esther who also had the ear of the king.

And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

Esther 3:13

With her and her uncle back at the wheel, Haman was discovered and speedily hanged. From there, all that was left was just to straighten out the people. Surely like Haman there were others that likewise possessed the same mind. What follows then is the true accounting of how these were all dealt with and soon were destroyed. See how all the people were appointed as worthy rulers at the hands of the king. Perhaps there were many places his power couldn't reach. However, as they say a few well-placed letters and a good call didn't do much to hurt. Soon the people were happy having dealt with their issue themselves. What better way to do this then at the hands of the king. It must be a good kind indeed that can trust his subjects to faithfully carry the matter back out. I'll let you read all about it and find out what happened next.

Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar

Esther 8:11-12

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;)

2 The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.

Esther 9:1-2

For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.

16 But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,

Esther 9:15-16

To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,

22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

Esther 9:21-22

And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

16 And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.

Ezra 6:14-16

Remember, Haggai and Zechariah were contemporaries of each other as I said before. About this time, from Cyrus to Darius were the buildings accomplished. Now there were houses and with them a feast. The house of the Lord also, whether rightly or wrongly, was finished. The dedication of it came then with an outpouring of love and of joy. How does the saying go, that a bad ruler makes the people groan but a good one brings light to the land. Perhaps it's not really their light though that shines forth, only that of the Lord. A truly good ruler then knows when to borrow judgment, authority, ruling, and power as light from the Lord.

Adar (12th) / September, Virgo, footstool throne