Esther 3

Esther 3:1

III. THE EXTERMINATION OF THE JEWS PLANNED (Chaps. 3, 4) A. Haman’s Talk with the King (Chap. 3)3:1 The words “After these things” indicate a five-year interval between chapters 2 and 3. The last important figure in the drama of Esther comes on stage in verse 1, Haman, the son of Hammedatha. We are not told why he was promoted, but subsequent history makes it clear that the hand behind the hand of the king was Satan’s. Haman was an Agagite, a descendant of the kings of the Amalekites (Agag was a royal title). The Lord had declared perpetual war against Amalek (Exo_17:8-16). The Book of Esther relates the last recorded battle in that war (see also 1Sa_15:32; 1Sa_30:1-10; 1Ch_4:43). 3:2-6 By official order Haman was now to be paid homage as one second only to the king. But Mordecai refused to bow to a mere man, especially to an Amalekite. The fear of God overcame any fear of man. The law of Moses did not forbid showing due respect to those in authority, but it did forbid the worship of any but God. Eastern monarchs often demanded such worship. Mordecai’s fellow workers sought to gain favor in Haman’s eyes by pointing out his refusal. Haman was a very egotistical man, and the sight of Mordecai’s blatant disrespect infuriated him beyond reason. Instead of dealing with Mordecai alone, he set in motion a plan to annihilate all the Jews in the kingdom! 3:7-11 Haman’s first step was to cast lots to determine a suitable date for the mass execution. By a seeming coincidence the date indicated was nearly a year away. As someone has said, “Even superstition was chained to the divine chariot-wheels.” God overruled to allow sufficient time to thwart Haman’s plan. “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD” (Pro_16:33). Haman next approached the king with an inflammatory report about the Jews, misrepresenting them as a danger to the kingdom. He urged that a decree be issued ordering their extinction. According to the law of the Medes and Persians, this decree, once issued, could never be changed or withdrawn.

As added incentive, Haman offered to pay ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasuries, now badly depleted by the king’s losses in Greece. Ahasuerus sealed the death writ with his signet ring, sentencing thousands of innocent men, women, and children to be sacrificed at the altar of Haman’s pride. Verse 11 might mean that the money taken from the slain would belong to Haman. 3:12-15 Copies of the execution order were sent out with great thoroughness, setting the thirteenth day of the twelfth month aside for the atrocity. In the palace Ahasuerus and Haman complacently sat down to drink, but in the city there was great perplexity. Irving Jensen comments on this: The last phrase of chapter 3 is significant: “But the city Shushan was perplexed” (KJV). Not only the Jews, but non-Jews reacted to this outrageous example of violent despotism. Sometimes the masses are wrong, but not always. Here was a situation where a king and his high minister were an erring minority with extensive authority. But all peoplenations and individuals alikemust reckon with the highest AuthorityGod. The king’s decree was issued and posted, but the King of kings would have the last word.