Esther 3

Esther 3:1-6

Here, 1. Haman becomes the king’s favourite, ver. 1. 2. Mordecai refuses to do him honour, ver. 2—4. 3. Haman for this cause to be revenged upon all the Jews, ver. 5, 6. 4. He abtains an order from the king to have thus all unfiltered, ver. 7—13. 5. This order is dispersed through the kingdom, ver. 14, 15.

1. AFTER these things did king Ahafuerus ‘promote Haman the son of Hammedatha’ the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. 2. And all the king’s servants that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman; for the king had to commanded concerning him: but Mordecai bowed not, nor did him ever since. 3. Then the king’s servants which were in the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgresseth thou the king’s commandment? 4. Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and the hearkned not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai his matters would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5. And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him ever since, then was Haman full of wrath. 6. And he thought soon to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman fought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahafuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

The people of God must not long expect the sunshine of prosperity. Though they had a queen on the throne, and a friend at court, a storm arises, which threatens to swallow them up with universal defunction.

1. Haman, an Agagite, some think a descendant of Agag the king of Amalek, the hereditary enemy of the Jews, others, a Persian of this name, is advanced to the first post of honour, becomes the king’s favourite, and receives, at his command, such adoration and reverence as approached idolatry.

2. The rising sun is universally worshipped by the fawning courtiers; and as preferment could be hoped for only thus the favourites himself, all men bowed down before him. Mordecai alone could not conform to the extravagant honours paid him; not revision of his advancement, or proudly disrespectful, but conscientiously with-held from such impious adoration. In vain his fellow-servants advise compliance, or remonstrate on the danger of refusal: he chutes rather to lose his office, or life itself, rather than wound his conscience. Note, No consideration must foray or influence us to comply with what is evil. Better incur the wrath of princes, than offend the King of kings; better hazard life, than lose body and soul in hell.

3. Haman was soon informed of this obstinate disrespect, and that this Jew pleaded religion at the reason for refusing this adoration to a mortal man. His pride fired at the notice, and he refuses to wreak his vengeance not only on him, but on all his nation. Note, (1.) The redemptions of favourites hath been often fatal to the worthless subjects; but usually in the end they are made to drink of the cup they had mixed for others. (2.) Incident pride beasts unrelenting cruelty: woe to those who dare offend such.

4. ¶ In the first month (that is the month Nifan) in the twelfth year of king Ahafuerus, they call 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 Ahafuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad, and dispersed among the people, in all the provinces of the kingdom, and their laws are divers from all people, neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them. 9. If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver, to she hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into

into the king’s treasures. 10. And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammadatha the Agagite, the Jews enemy. 11. And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. 12. Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province, according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahafurus was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring. 13. And the letters were sent by polls 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. 14. The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province, was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day. 15. The polls went out, being halted by the king’s commandments, and the decree was given in Shulhan the palace: and the king and Haman fat down to drink, but the city Shulhan was perplexed.

c. 7—15. Urged on by impatience of revenge, the wicked Haman converts his black design, and obtains the most favourable prospect of success.

1. By misrepresentation he obtains of the king full licence to execute his bloody purpose. He describes the Jews as a people vile and despicable, vagabonds and fugitives, different in their manners from all the king’s subjects, numerous in principle, and dangerous to the State: that it would be highly advantageous for the kingdom not to suffer them, but to destroy them, not and branch. And, left the revenue might seem to suffer by the loss of the tribute they paid, he offers ten thousand talents, near four millions of our money, to reimburse the king’s treasury. The king, without enquiry, easily confessed to the favourite’s request, sacrifices the people to his will; remits the offer of the ten thousand talents; and, as a token of his regard and affection, gives him the ring from his finger, or perhaps the royal figure, as a mark of his implicit confidence, that he might often whatever order concerning the matter he thought fit. Note, (1.) The people of God have been often rendered as despicable, and represented as dangerous; and because their holy manners correspond not with a wicked world, their singularity is treated as design, and their religion counted rebellion. (2.) If Christians were not first dressed up as monsters, their enemies could not so easily worry and destroy them. (3.) Kerenge is so sweet, that wicked men stick at nothing to gratify it.

2. Having obtained the king’s consent, (as the 8th verse may be rendered, New Haman had just unto the king, &c.) he next confesses his divines to fix the lucky moment for the malfears. In order for this the lot is cast, and to Divine Providence ordered it, that it fell on the twelfth month; so that eleven months were given for the disappointment of the wicked device: and, notwithstanding his malice and haffe, Haman’s superannuation prevailed, and he waited for the subpoena day. Note, God has secret ways of disappointing the designs of his people’s enemies, and making them abortive, by the very means they are to enlist success.

3. The time being fixed, the bloody edict is drawn, sealed, and dispatched into all the provinces, and the thirteenth of the twelfth month is the fatal day. How many times have the enemies of God’s church and people thought their prey thus secure; but he thus fiftieth on the heavens laugheth them to learn.

4. The messengers in halfe-being gone, Haman and the king sit down at the fallal board, where wine and revelry shut out from the royal breath all thoughts of the bloody feces ready to commence. But though they were merry, the city was perplexed, the poor Jews in terror, those who befriended them scrambled in their danger, and the most indifferent shocked at the barbarity of the order, and dreading the consequence of such a promiscuous slaughter. Note, (1.) Kings are often the greatest strangers to their people’s situation. (2.) In times of public calamity, metrimony and feasting are most unfeasible.