Esther - Lesson 3

• Chapter 1 of Esther introduces King Ahasuerus as a king over the Persian empire around 484-481 BCE ruling from the capital city of Susa.

  • This was a time the empire was preparing to go to war with the Greeks.

  • The second part of chapter 1 unveils Queen Vashti’s refusal of the command from King Ahasuerus to come display her royal crown and her beauty, and how an edict was brought by the 7 advisors to the King for the disgrace brought upon the King and kingdom.

• In Chapter 2 we were introduced to Esther and Mordecai as the search for a new queen was carried out. Esther is crowned queen and Mordecai saves the life of the king.

Esth. 3:1 After these events King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and established his authority over all the princes who were with him.
Esth. 3:2 All the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman; for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage.
Esth. 3:3 Then the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why are you transgressing the king’s command?”
Esth. 3:4 Now it was when they had spoken daily to him and he would not listen to them, that they told Haman to see whether Mordecai’s reason would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew.
Esth. 3:5 When Haman saw that Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage to him, Haman was filled with rage.
Esth. 3:6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were; therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

• Verse 1 begins with the phrase, ‘after these things’, the events that were just revealed dealt with  the selection of Esther as queen and the revelation by Mordecai of the plot to kill the king.

• The narration of Esther is focused on events happening in the Persian courts that ultimately have an impact on God’s people.

  • The next event recorded is a significant elevation in the court and is detailed as, ‘King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and established his authority over all the princes who were with him.”

• The declaration that Haman was an Agagite may refer to a particular ethnic group but there is nothing known with certainty about the people designated by this name.

  • (Bible Knowledge Commentary)

• Archeologists have uncovered an inscription which indicates that Agag was also the name of a province in the Persian Empire. This probably explains why Haman was called an Agagite.

• The Jews have a particular desire to find a moral reason that Mordecai would disobey the king. There are some who have put forth the premise that this man was a descendent from King Agag found in 1 Samuel 15.

  • There are some parallels to this narrative as it would be clear in 1 Samuel the Amalekites were sworn enemies of the Jews.

  • The conflict comes down to King Agag and King Saul, a Benjamite.

  • God had commanded the extermination of the Amalekites.

1Sam. 15:17 Samuel said, “Is it not true, though you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the LORD anointed you king over Israel,
1Sam. 15:18 and the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are exterminated.’
1Sam. 15:19 “Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD?”

• For the purpose of staying focused on the narrative in Esther we simply do not know the true connection of Haman to the Amalekites.

• Esther 3 verse 1 clearly says King Ahasuerus promoted Haman and specifically defines the authority he was to have over all the princes who were with him.

  • The bible does not establish what happened to bring about this promotion for Haman.

  • The authority he is given was over the princes who were with him.

  • This would demonstrate the limit of his authority, however we are not told how far that authority reached in the kingdom at this point in the narrative.

• Considering the power King Ahasuerus later gives Haman we can conclude he did fill a very prominent position in the administrative structure of the government.

• Verse 2 details it was all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate that were to respond to Haman in a particular fashion.

  • This was a place where decisions would be made and a place of honor for all those who served there.

• All these men serving in a position of influence in the king’s gate were to specifically bow and and pay homage to Haman.

  • We don’t use the word homage much in our general speech so we just need to understand it is a word that depicts showing special honor or respect to someone in a public way.

• The bowing down and giving honor to Hamas publicly was because the king commanded it.

• Next we hear that Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage.

• In verse 3 the result of Mordecai’s public response is that, “the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why are you transgressing the king’s command?”

  • The king’s servants at the gate would have been men serving alongside Mordecai at the king’s gate.

  • Once the king has spoken everyone would have been expected to do as the king commands or experience the consequences when they disobey the king.

• As we have seen disobeying a command of the king could have very negatives consequences as in the case of queen Vashti.

• These men were looking for the reason Mordecai would not obey the king.

  • It would appear until this time Mordecai had been a completely loyal and obedient servant to the king.

• Verse 4 reveals the men spoke daily to Mordecai and he would not listen to them, this does not mean he did not hear them but that he would not obey then command of bowing and giving homage.

  • We are not told how many days these men spoke to Mordecai.

• When Mordecai does not obey the command the men tell Haman.

• The scriptures say the reason the men told Haman was to, “to see whether Mordecai’s reason would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew.”

• When Mordecai is questioned about why he will not bowling down or giving homage to Haman his reason was because he was a Jew.

  • There is nothing given in detail about why a Jew would not be allowed to give homage to Haman it is just stated as a matter of fact.

• Mordecai would have recognized men who had authority over him as he has obviously done in service to the king.

  • Bowing to show respect to those with authority would not be a violation of Jewish law.

• This may be the first time that Mordecai has shared publicly that he was a Jew.

  • He had given counsel to Esther not to share this about herself and it may Mordecai had practiced the same protective revelation about himself in the royal court.

• The question was whether this reason of being a Jew would be a rationale accepted by Hamas or the court to allow Mordecai to disobey the command given by king Ahasuerus.

• In verse 5 it is revealed, “When Haman saw that Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage to him, Haman was filled with rage.”

• It appears the lack of bowing down was not evident to Haman until it was brought to his attention by the servants who were at the king’s gate.

  • It does not seem that Mordecai went out of his way to be obvious about not bowing or giving homage so as to bring attention to himself.

  • Once Haman was aware of the lack of obedience then he looks for evidence of it.

• When Hamas verifies that Mordecai is not bowing down or paying homage to him he is filled with rage.

• Now the result of this rage is seen in verse 6 as two things are exposed; first Haman discovered Mordecai is a Jew and secondly Hamas’s desire is now not to only destroy Mordecai but all the Jews in the entire kingdom of Ahasuerus.

• We do not know if Haman’s reason to destroy the people of Mordecai was to make an example of him or if there was some other long running hatred of the Jews.

• The fact that Haman has a desire to destroy all the Jews might be linked to the description of him being an Agagite.

Esth. 3:7 In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, Pur, that is the lot, was cast before Haman from day to day and from month to month, until the twelfth month, that is the month Adar.
Esth. 3:8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from those of all other people and they do not observe the king’s laws, so it is not in the king’s interest to let them remain.
Esth. 3:9 “If it is pleasing to the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry on the king’s business, to put into the king’s treasuries.”
Esth. 3:10 Then the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
Esth. 3:11 The king said to Haman, “The silver is yours, and the people also, to do with them as you please.”

• Verse 7 gives a lot of details in regards to time references beginning with a detail of the next events happening in the first month, which is the month Nisan.

  • The dates are given with the Jewish calendar in focus.

• Next the time period these events occur in the time frame of the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus,  which we know to be five years since Esther was made queen. Esther 2:16:

Esth. 2:16 So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus to his royal palace in the tenth month which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

• The event described as beginning to take place is that, “Pur, that is the lot, was cast before Haman from day to day and from month to month, until the twelfth month, that is the month Adar.”

  • Pur is the Babylonian word for lot.

  • A lot would be cast by the rolling of clay cubes, similar to what we use called dice.

  • The lot was cast before Haman every day until the twelfth month, the Jewish month of Adar.

• Haman had the lot cast until he received whatever form of confirmation lead to the day and month his plan against the Jews is to take place.

  • Haman was waiting for the lot to be cast that would indicate he would have success in his plan.

• The Persian religious system was known to be very superstitious and stressed fate and chance. Haman was following fate, by the casting of the lot, to dictate his move against the Jews

• Haman cast the lots to receive the diviners direction before bringing this to the king.

  • His inquiry began with which day was the best day then it moved to which month of the year.

  • The month determined was the twelfth month. On the Jewish calendar this month was known as Adar.

• In verse 8 when Haman has a confirmation that the time is right to bring his request before King Ahasuerus, “Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from those of all other people and they do not observe the king’s laws, so it is not in the king’s interest to let them remain.”

• Haman begins his request before the king in identifying there is a subset of people scattered and dispersed in all the provinces of your kingdom, referred to here as a ‘certain people’.

• Haman uses flattery from the beginning by referring the kingdom as, ‘your kingdom’.

• Haman secondly emphasizes the threat to Ahasuerus’ kingdom is located in every province of the king.

  • That would be all 127 provinces of the Persian kingdom had a settlement of Jews in it.

• The final point to be made is why these people pose a threat to the kingdom in that they hold to laws that are different from those of all the other people.

• The Jews have maintained being a distinctive race of people by practicing many of the things passed to them from the Law.

  • They are to marry within the community of Jews.

• The strength of the community is maintained in practicing special observances like keeping the Sabbath and celebrating annual feasts together.

  • This is combined with daily habits that separate them from the surrounding people like sticking to strict dietary laws and other life activities as spelled out in the Law.

• Historically the Jews have not been assimilated and absorbed by other cultures.

• The final accusation Haman makes about these people is that they do not observe the king’s laws.

• There is an insinuation that all other people groups did not have a difficult time adhering to the king’s laws.

• Haman does not give specific laws of the king these people did not observe.

  • The one that has been defined in the book of Esther is that Mordecai had disobeyed the king’s command to bow down and pay homage to Haman.

• Haman does not identify who the people are or at least that is not given in the words of scripture.

• The king does not ask Haman who these people are.

• With all the evidence Haman says he has discerned about these people he concludes, “so it is not in the king’s interest to let them remain.”

• Haman was a trusted advisor to the king and he presents his proposal as something that would be good for the king in his kingdom.

• We are not told Haman reveals what laws are not being observed, or how many people are represented in his proposal.

• The obvious insinuation is that this people keeping separate and keeping their own laws and in doing so not keeping the laws of the kingdom make them a significant threat so much so they must be removed.

• Now Haman moves to his solution for this threat in verse 9 as he says, “If it is pleasing to the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry on the king’s business, to put into the king’s treasuries.”

• Haman endears himself to the king by beginning with, “If it is pleasing to the King”. Always the consummate politician.

  • The solution for this threat is to have a decree that they will be destroyed.

  • Remember a decree made in the Persian system of government could not be rescinded.

• All large scale government actions involve a cost and Haman takes the responsibility for the cost of this project when he tells the king he is willing to pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry on the king’s business, to put into the king’s treasuries.”

  • Ten thousand talents of silver weighed about 750,000 pounds.

  • A pound of silver today would be valued at about $366.00.

  • The value of silver varies but this would represent an enormous amount worth millions of dollars in present-day currency.

    • This was a staggering sum of money which Haman was willing to pay.

  • Haman is a very wealthy man.

  • Haman promises to put the funds into the king’s treasuries. From there the funds are to be given into the hands of those who carry on the king’s business.

• Haman says he is willing to pick up the cost of this project, this means so much to Haman he is willing to personally pay for this project to be carried out.

  • Haman is ingratiating himself to the king or this could be seen as bribing the king.

• Many men of power will look the other way or not ask about details when a significant amount of money is being given to them. Greed is a powerful tool in controlling the direction of political decisions.

Prov. 11:5  The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way,
But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
Prov. 11:6  The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.

• Greed is a form of idolatry:

Col. 3:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

• King Ahasuerus is lured into Haman’s trap by his greed.

• In verse 10 the king takes a significant action as he removes his signet ring and gives it to Haman.

• A signet ring held the official seal of the king by which he authorized the business of the kingdom. The king handed over the decisions of the kingdom to Haman.

• Haman is again described as the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.

• Verse 11 demonstrates the outcome of Haman’s generous offer as, “The king said to Haman, “The silver is yours, and the people also, to do with them as you please.”

• The silver already belonged to Haman’s so when the king makes this declaration he is telling Haman he does not need to put the funds in the treasury he can just enforce the decree and spend the funds needed to carry out the decree.

• The second part of what the king declares is more revealing as he literally says these people belong to Haman now and he can do as he pleases with them.

  • Haman has purchased the Jews from King Ahasuerus.

Esth. 3:12 Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written just as Haman commanded to the king’s satraps, to the governors who were over each province and to the princes of each people, each province according to its script, each people according to its language, being written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring.
Esth. 3:13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to seize their possessions as plunder.
Esth. 3:14 A copy of the edict to be issued as law in every province was published to all the peoples so that they should be ready for this day.
Esth. 3:15 The couriers went out impelled by the king’s command while the decree was issued at the citadel in Susa; and while the king and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa was in confusion.

• Haman wastes no time as he summons the king’s scribes on the thirteenth day of the first month.

  • Haman had approached King Ahasuerus in the twelfth month, Adar as seen in verse 7.

• This was a significant day in many ways.

  • The significance of the day to the Jews must not be overlooked, the Jews would be celebrating the next day their Passover celebration.

Lev. 23:5 ‘In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the LORD’S Passover.

Num. 9:5 They observed the Passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, in the wilderness of Sinai; according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses, so the sons of Israel did.

• This day was a remembrance for the Jews of their deliverance from Egypt.

Ex. 12:23 “For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you.
Ex. 12:24 “And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever.
Ex. 12:25 “When you enter the land which the LORD will give you, as He has promised, you shall observe this rite.
Ex. 12:26 “And when your children say to you, ‘What does this rite mean to you?’
Ex. 12:27 you shall say, ‘It is a Passover sacrifice to the LORD who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.’” And the people bowed low and worshiped.

• The Jews were just celebrating a remembrance of a time when when God had spared them from destruction and also destroyed their enemies as Haman continues to carry out his plan.

• Esth 3:12 details what Haman commanded:

  • It is now not commanded by king Ahasuerus but by Haman himself.

  • Haman wastes no time in carrying out his desires.

• The command goes out to the king’s satraps, to the governors who were over each province and to the princes of each people, each province according to its script, each people according to its language.

• This is the same language as we found when the decree was to be issued removing Queen Vashti in Esther 1:22.

• The scriptures clarify this is all written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring.

• The King is complicit in these actions as he was the one specifically making the decision to allow Haman this kind of authority and power.

  • The King also knew Haman’s intentions were to wipe out a people group.

• The specifics of what is being communicated is detailed next in verse 13 “Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to seize their possessions as plunder.”

• The time period given for the events to begin is exactly 11 months from the issuing of the decree to the carrying out the orders of the decree.

  • The decree is issued on the thirteenth day of the first month and to be carried out the thirteenth day of the twelfth month.

• The expanse of the destruction is simply understood to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children.

• The term used in our modern world is known as genocide.

  • This is a deliberate and complete elimination of a people group or ethnic group.

  • Ultimately the aim is to remove that group of people from existence.

• The supplemental action of the seizing of their possession as plunder gives the added incentive that would be giving to those who participated in carrying out the commands of this decree.

• Haman had already been put in charge of the distribution of funds for this decree.

  • This may have been a military action to ensure the command is carried out.

  • The addition of plunder being available to those who assist in the fulfilling of the command would guarantee an engaged citizenry in this endeavor.

• Verse 14 indicates a copy of the edict was issued as law and was to be carried out in every province and to be carried out with the full weight of being the law of the land in every province.

• The edict was sent out quickly for, “all the peoples so that they should be ready for this day.”

• All the citizenry were put on notice this was the law.

  • This would allow freedom for those carrying out the law to do it unhindered.

  • This would also alert other people and people groups that this was going to happen, so when the killing begins it would be limited to a subset of the citizenry and those not included in the edict would know they were safe.

  • This would be done to avoid expansive fear from taking over the general population.

• Verse 15 details how the decree was sent by couriers to the provinces.

  • There seems to be some urgency to get the message out even though there is time to prepare for this event to happen.

• Next the decree was specifically issued at the citadel in Susa.

  • While the decree was being delivered to the city of Susa the king and Haman sat down to drink.

  • The men seem to be celebrating the decree issued in the city of Susa.

• King Ahasuerus was a coconspirator in this wicked event.

• The result of the decree left the city of Susa in confusion.

  • The people would have been confused because there was no reason for this kind of destruction of a people group.

  • The Jews had not done anything within the empire to justify this action.

• There was no threat being made by the Jews on the kingdom of Persia

  • There was no war declared by the Jews on the Persian kingdom.

• This decree made no sense to the people and this left them in confusion.

• When there is no reason given for this grievance act the people are left with more questions than answers.

  • The question of who could the rulers turn on next would bring distrust to many.

  • When those in authority do not act in rational ways it leaves those under their authority doubting the motives of those in power.

    • This undermines the strength of a kingdom.

• Haman just happens to come along in this time in history and rise to prominence.

  • King Ahasuerus just happens to be willing to sell out a people group in his kingdom.

  • The king just happens to allow a decree to be issued in a kingdom where the decrees could not be rescinded.

  • Mordecai just happens to have stayed diligent and useful to the king and still serving in the king’s gate.

• We are again confronted with God’s perfect timing in the events contained in human history.

  • There are no coincidences in this world or in our lives.

  • Everything happens for a reason, even when we are not given the insight from God as to the why behind the event occurs.

Acts 17:24 “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;
Acts 17:25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;
Acts 17:26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,
Acts 17:27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
Acts 17:28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’

• We need to remember daily our times and boundaries are determined by God.

• We need to meditate on the fact that it is in Him we now live, move and exist.

• In the midst of the circumstances of our lives do we stay focused on God’s Will for us daily?