Esther3
New Living Translation
1Some time later King Xerxes promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite over all the other nobles, making him the most powerful official in the empire.
2All the king’s officials would bow down before Haman to show him respect whenever he passed by, for so the king had commanded. But Mordecai refused to bow down or show him respect.
3Then the palace officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why are you disobeying the king’s command?”
4They spoke to him day after day, but still he refused to comply with the order. So they spoke to Haman about this to see if he would tolerate Mordecai’s conduct, since Mordecai had told them he was a Jew.
5When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him respect, he was filled with rage.
6He had learned of Mordecai’s nationality, so he decided it was not enough to lay hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he looked for a way to destroy all the Jews throughout the entire empire of Xerxes.
7So in the month of April, during the twelfth year of King Xerxes’ reign, lots were cast in Haman’s presence (the lots were called purim) to determine the best day and month to take action. And the day selected was March 7, nearly a year later.
8Then Haman approached King Xerxes and said, “There is a certain race of people scattered through all the provinces of your empire who keep themselves separate from everyone else. Their laws are different from those of any other people, and they refuse to obey the laws of the king. So it is not in the king’s interest to let them live.
9If it please the king, issue a decree that they be destroyed, and I will give 10,000 large sacks of silver to the government administrators to be deposited in the royal treasury.”
10The king agreed, confirming his decision by removing his signet ring from his finger and giving it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
11The king said, “The money and the people are both yours to do with as you see fit.”
12So on April 17 the king’s secretaries were summoned, and a decree was written exactly as Haman dictated. It was sent to the king’s highest officers, the governors of the respective provinces, and the nobles of each province in their own scripts and languages. The decree was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the king’s signet ring.
13Dispatches were sent by swift messengers into all the provinces of the empire, giving the order that all Jews—young and old, including women and children—must be killed, slaughtered, and annihilated on a single day. This was scheduled to happen on March 7 of the next year. The property of the Jews would be given to those who killed them.
14A copy of this decree was to be issued as law in every province and proclaimed to all peoples, so that they would be ready to do their duty on the appointed day.
15At the king’s command, the decree went out by swift messengers, and it was also proclaimed in the fortress of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa fell into confusion.
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.