Esther3
New International Version
1After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles.
2All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.
3Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?”
4Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.
5When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged.
6Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.
7In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.
8Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.
9If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.”
10So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
11“Keep the money,” the king said to Haman, “and do with the people as you please.”
12Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman’s orders to the king’s satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring.
13Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.
14A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day.
15The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Esther 3.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Haman seeks to destroy the Jews. (1–6). He obtains a decree against the Jews. (7–15).
vv1-6
Mordecai refused to reverence Haman. The religion of a Jew forbade him to give honours to any mortal man which savoured of idolatry, especially to so wicked a man as Haman. By nature all are idolaters; self is our favourite idol, we are pleased to be treated as if every thing were at our disposal. Though religion by no means destroys good manners, but teaches us to render honour to whom honour is due, yet by a citizen of Zion, not only in his heart, but in his eyes, such a vile person as Haman was, is contemned, Ps 15:4. The true believer cannot obey edicts, or conform to fashions, which break the law of God. He must obey God rather than man, and leave the consequences to him. Haman was full of wrath. His device was inspired by that wicked spirit, who has been a murderer from the beginning; whose enmity to Christ and his church, governs all his children.
vv7-15
Without some acquaintance with the human heart, and the history of mankind, we should not think that any prince could consent to a dreadful proposal, so hurtful to himself. Let us be thankful for mild and just government. Haman inquires, according to his own superstitions, how to find a lucky day for the designed massacre! God's wisdom serves its own purposes by men's folly. Haman has appealed to the lot, and the lot, by delaying the execution, gives judgment against him. The event explains the doctrine of a particular providence over all the affairs of men, and the care of God over his church. Haman was afraid lest the king's conscience should smite him for what he had done; to prevent which, he kept him drinking. This cursed method many often take to drown convictions, and to harden their own hearts, and the hearts of others, in sin. All appeared in a favourable train to accomplish the project. But though sinners are permitted to proceed to the point they aim at, an unseen but almighty Power turns them back. How vain and contemptible are the strongest assaults against Jehovah! Had Haman obtained his wish, and the Jewish nation perished, what must have become of all the promises? How could the prophecies concerning the great Redeemer of the world have been fulfilled? Thus the everlasting covenant itself must have failed, before this diabolical project could take place.
Key Words
אַחַר: properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
אֵלֶּה: these or those
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
מֶלֶךְ: a king
אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ: Achashverosh (i.e. Ahasuerus or Artaxerxes, but in this case Xerxes), the title (rather than name) of a Persian king
גָּדַל: to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride)
הָמָן: Haman, a Persian vizier
אֲגָגִי: an Agagite or descendent (subject) of Agag
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
מְדָתָא: Medatha, the father of Haman
Cross References
Esther 3Haman is an 'Agagite,' identifying him as a descendant of Agag, king of the Amalekites.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God's historical decree to blot out Amalek underpins Mordecai's refusal to bow to the Agagite.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
A citizen of Zion contemns a vile person like Haman rather than giving him honor.
Supported by Matthew Henry
They cast the lot (Pur), but its timing and delay was governed entirely by the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Accusation of a Jewish minority refusing to keep the king's laws, echoing Daniel's companions.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Esther later references this transaction, noting the silver offered to destroy her people.
Supported by JFB
The giving of the king's signet ring signifies supreme delegation of royal authority.
Supported by JFB
The ring given to Haman for destruction is later reclaimed and given to Mordecai.
Supported by JFB
The irreversible nature of Persian laws sealed with the king's ring is described.
Supported by JFB
Mordecai's repeated refusal to bow in the gate continues to enrage Haman.
Supported by JFB
Summarizes Haman's wicked plot to consume and destroy the Jews by casting Pur.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Drinking in excess while insensitive to the affliction and ruin of others.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Contrasts Shushan's perplexity here with its later rejoicing when Mordecai is elevated.
Supported by JFB
Another historical instance of casting lots to make decisions or identify a target.