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Esther 3

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Haman's Promotion and Mordecai's Refusal 1–6

1
After these things did king Ahasuerus 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 so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. ​
3
Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
4
Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's 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 reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
6
And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai. ​

Haman Casts the Lot (Pur) 7–11

7
In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast 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 Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse 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 the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries. ​
10
And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha 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.

The Genocide Decree Is Published 12–15

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 Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.
13
And the letters were sent by posts 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 posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for Esther 3

Verse 1

the Agagite — Haman's title, Agagi, 'of Agag', the name of the Amalekite king whom Saul spared (1 Sam 15:8–9) and Samuel hewed in pieces (1 Sam 15:33). The LORD had said that he would 'utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven' (Ex 17:14). The king sets Haman's seat 'above all the princes'.

Verse 2

Mordecai bowed not — Two Hebrew verbs are used: kara', to bend the knee, and shachah, to prostrate oneself, the usual word for worship and homage. The servants did both by the king's command. The verse gives no reason for the refusal; v.4 records only that Mordecai 'had told them that he was a Jew'.

Verse 6

he thought scorn — The verb bazah means to despise: to strike Mordecai alone was too small a thing in Haman's eyes. Having learned 'the people of Mordecai', he 'sought to destroy' (shamad) every Jew in the kingdom. The same wish is voiced against Israel in Ps 83:4, 'that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance'.

Verse 7

Pur, that is, the lot — Pur is explained in the verse itself as goral, the lot. Haman cast it in Nisan to choose a day, yet the lot fell on the twelfth month, Adar (v.13). 'The whole disposing thereof is of the LORD' (Prov 16:33). The festival of Purim is named 'after the name of Pur' (Esth 9:26).

Verse 9

ten thousand talents of silver — Kikkar is the talent, the unit in which the silver for the sanctuary was weighed (Ex 38:27). Haman offers to pay it 'into the king's treasuries', and Mordecai reports the sum to Esther (4:7). The king answers in v.11, 'The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.'

Verse 10

took his ring — Tabba'at, the signet ring, the king's seal. A document 'sealed with the king's ring' could 'no man reverse' (8:8). Pharaoh gave Joseph his ring in the same way (Gen 41:42), and in 8:2 the king takes this ring back from Haman and gives it to Mordecai. Haman is called 'the Jews' enemy' (tsarar).

Verse 13

to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish — The same three verbs, shamad, harag, abad, appear in Esther's plea (7:4) and in the king's grant to the Jews (8:11). The words 'both young and old, little children and women' recall the command against Amalek (1 Sam 15:3). The Jews later 'laid not their hands on the prey' (9:16).

Verse 15

Shushan was perplexed — Buk means to be entangled or bewildered. Only two other verses use it: Pharaoh's thought that Israel was 'entangled in the land' (Ex 14:3) and the 'herds of cattle' in Joel 1:18. While the king and Haman 'sat down to drink', the capital was in confusion; after the second decree 'the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad' (8:15).