Esther 3

1 the Agagite. Haman is said by Josephus to have been an Amalekite, descended from the ancient kings of that people, whose royal title was Agag: see Numb. xxiv. 7; 1 Sam. xv. 9.

2 reverenced. “Worshipped” or “prostrated themselves before.”

6 sought to destroy all the Jews. If Haman was an Amalekite, his personal pique against Mordecai would be connected with feelings of hatred towards the nation who had been commissioned to exterminate the Amalekites.

7. In the first month, etc. It must not be inferred that Haman had recourse to the lot every day during a whole year: but he determined by lot first which month of the year was most auspicious, and then which day of the month; and the lots fell upon the fourteenth day of the month Adar, which was nearly twelve months after the time at which the decision was given. The overruling providence of God was herein strikingly manifested, for this long interval allowed time to take the necessary measures for defeating the plot.

9 ten thousand talents of silver. Over $20,000,000.

Haman probably intended to reimburse himself from the spoil of the Jews.

12 the king’s lieutenants. “The king’s satraps” (R.V.). The 127 provinces of the Persian empire are stated by Herodotus to have been divided into 20 satrapies. Satraps are also mentioned in viii. 9; ix. 3; and Ezra viii. 36.

the king’s ring. A seal-ring bearing the cipher of the sovereign, and thus answering the purpose of both seal and signature.

13 to destroy, etc. It appears surprising that the king should have given his consent to so inhuman a proposal; but history shows that when an arbitrary monarch has become the dupe of a wicked favourite, it frequently becomes the chief object of the king to gratify and aggrandise him, without regard to the lives of his subjects or the interests of his empire.

15. The posts. Xenophon states (Cyrop. viii. 6, 17, 18) that Cyrus had established a regular system of posts and couriers throughout the Persian dominions; and Herodotus (viii. 98) minutely describes the system as it was maintained under Xerxes between Susa and the most distant provinces.

was perplexed. No one could be sure of his life, when, to please a favourite, the king would sacrifice a whole nation, and then sit down with him to a drinking bout.