Esther 3:15

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

The posts {H7323} went out {H3318}, being hastened {H1765} by the king's {H4428} commandment {H1697}, and the decree {H1881} was given {H5414} in Shushan {H7800} the palace {H1002}. And the king {H4428} and Haman {H2001} sat down {H3427} to drink {H8354}; but the city {H5892} Shushan {H7800} was perplexed {H943}.

Complete Jewish Bible

At the king's order the runners went out quickly, and the decree was issued in Shushan the capital. Then the king and Haman sat down for a drink together, but the city of Shushan was thrown into confusion.

Berean Standard Bible

The couriers left, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was in confusion.

American Standard Version

The posts went forth in haste by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Esther 3:15 powerfully illustrates the immediate and widespread implementation of Haman's genocidal decree against the Jewish people, contrasting the callous revelry of King Ahasuerus and Haman with the profound distress and bewilderment that gripped the city of Shushan. This pivotal moment underscores the grave danger facing God's chosen people, setting the stage for the dramatic unfolding of divine providence and human courage.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Haman's successful manipulation of King Ahasuerus to issue a decree for the annihilation of all Jews throughout the Persian Empire (Esther 3:8-14). Haman, filled with rage against Mordecai, casts lots (pur) to determine the most opportune day for this horrific act, settling on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month. The king, with shocking indifference, grants Haman his signet ring, effectively delegating absolute authority to execute the plan. Esther 3:15 thus describes the swift and official dissemination of this decree, highlighting the immediate and tangible threat that now hangs over the Jewish population, creating immense narrative tension and setting the stage for Mordecai's lament and Esther's courageous intervention in [Esther 4](/esther/4 "Esther 4 - Mordecai's Plea and Esther's Resolve").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Persian Empire, at its zenith, was vast, stretching from India to Ethiopia, encompassing 127 provinces (Esther 1:1). To govern such an expansive realm, an efficient system of royal couriers, known as "posts" or "runners" (_ratzim_), was essential for transmitting official decrees. These couriers, often mounted on swift horses, ensured rapid communication across the empire, making the implementation of the decree in Esther 3:15 incredibly swift and far-reaching. Shushan (Susa) was one of the four capital cities of the Persian Empire, serving as the administrative center where the king's palace was located. The "drinking" of the king and Haman reflects a common practice among Persian royalty and nobility, often associated with sealing agreements or celebrating significant decisions, underscoring their casual disregard for the immense suffering their decree would unleash.
* **Key Themes:** Esther 3:15 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Esther. It vividly portrays the **swift execution of evil**, emphasizing the immediate and widespread nature of Haman's malicious intent. The king's detached indifference and Haman's unchecked authority exemplify the theme of the **abuse of power** and the dangerous consequences of negligent leadership, contrasting sharply with the divine sovereignty that subtly guides events. The stark juxtaposition of the rulers' revelry with the city's perplexity highlights a profound **moral disconnect** and the theme of **suffering under oppression**, foreshadowing the desperate need for deliverance. This verse also amplifies the theme of **imminent danger** facing God's people, creating intense suspense and emphasizing the crucial role of human agency, guided by unseen divine providence, in the face of seemingly insurmountable evil, a theme that resonates throughout [the book of Esther](/esther/1 "The Book of Esther - God's Providence and Human Courage").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Posts (Hebrew, _ratzim'_):** This word literally means "runners" or "couriers." In the context of the Persian Empire, these were highly efficient royal messengers, often utilizing a sophisticated network of roads and relay stations. The use of this word emphasizes the speed, urgency, and official nature with which Haman's decree was disseminated across the vast empire, leaving no time for delay or reconsideration.
* **Hastened (Hebrew, _dachaf'_):** This verb means "to push," "to urge," or "to hasten." It conveys a sense of compulsion and immediate action. The decree was not merely sent out but was actively expedited by the king's command, indicating the king's full endorsement and the high priority placed on its rapid implementation. This highlights the deliberate and determined nature of the genocidal plot.
* **Perplexed (Hebrew, _navokhah'_):** This word describes a state of being bewildered, confused, disoriented, or thrown into disarray. It's a stronger term than mere sadness; it implies a deep sense of shock, moral outrage, and helplessness. The city of Shushan, a diverse metropolis, was not just sorrowful but utterly confounded by the horrifying and unprecedented nature of a decree that targeted an entire ethnic group for annihilation, creating widespread fear and moral crisis.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment":** This clause immediately conveys the efficiency and urgency of the Persian administrative system. The royal couriers, acting under the direct and compelling authority of King Ahasuerus, swiftly departed to deliver the genocidal decree. This highlights the immediate threat and the rapid spread of the danger across the empire, leaving little time for the Jewish people to react or escape.
* **"and the decree was given in Shushan the palace.":** This specifies the origin and official promulgation point of the decree. Shushan, as the royal capital, was where the edict was formally issued and sealed with the king's ring. This detail underscores the decree's legitimacy and the full weight of the empire's authority behind it, making it an unchallengeable law of the Medes and Persians.
* **"And the king and Haman sat down to drink;":** This clause presents a chilling contrast. While the machinery of death is set in motion, the architects of the decree, the king and Haman, engage in a celebratory drink. This act symbolizes their callous indifference, their self-satisfaction, and their profound moral detachment from the horrific consequences of their actions. It highlights their casual disregard for human life and suffering.
* **"but the city Shushan was perplexed.":** This final clause provides the stark counterpoint to the rulers' revelry. The capital city, home to a diverse population including many Jews, was thrown into utter confusion, dismay, and moral shock. The term "perplexed" suggests a state of bewilderment and distress, indicating that the decree was not just a Jewish problem but a moral affront that disturbed the conscience of the entire city. This contrast sets up the dramatic tension central to the book.

#### Literary Devices
Esther 3:15 masterfully employs several literary devices to heighten its dramatic impact. The most prominent is **Juxtaposition**, specifically the stark contrast between the "king and Haman sat down to drink" and "the city Shushan was perplexed." This deliberate placement of opposing images dramatically underscores the moral chasm between the indifferent, self-serving rulers and the horrified populace. It highlights the profound disconnect between those who wield power and those who suffer its consequences. There is also a strong element of **Irony** present; the act of drinking is typically associated with celebration and joy, yet here it marks the sealing of a decree of mass murder, making the celebration itself grotesque and morally perverse. Finally, the verse serves as significant **Foreshadowing**, signaling the imminent crisis that will engulf the Jewish people and setting the stage for the heroic actions of Mordecai and Esther, as well as the unseen hand of divine providence, to avert the impending catastrophe.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Esther 3:15 serves as a powerful reminder of the pervasive nature of evil and the devastating impact of unchecked power and moral indifference. It illustrates how readily human authority can be perverted to inflict widespread suffering, even while those in power remain oblivious or celebratory. The perplexity of Shushan underscores a universal moral revulsion to genocide, suggesting an inherent human understanding of justice that transcends ethnic lines. Theologically, this moment of crisis, where God's people face annihilation, sets the stage for the unfolding of divine providence, even when God's name is not explicitly mentioned in the text. It highlights that even in the darkest hours, when human plans seem to prevail, God is at work behind the scenes, orchestrating events for the deliverance of His people.

* [Psalm 94:20](/psalms/94-20 "Psalm 94:20 - Can a corrupt throne be your ally—a throne that plots injustice by statute?")
* [Proverbs 29:2](/proverbs/29-2 "Proverbs 29:2 - When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.")
* [Isaiah 5:20](/isaiah/5-20 "Isaiah 5:20 - Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Esther 3:15 calls us to a profound reflection on the nature of leadership, justice, and our response to suffering. It challenges us to consider whether our own lives are marked by a similar moral disconnect, where we might be celebrating our comforts while others around us are "perplexed" by injustice, poverty, or oppression. The verse urges us to cultivate discerning and ethical leadership, recognizing the immense ripple effects of our decisions, whether in our homes, workplaces, or communities. It also serves as a poignant reminder that evil, once unleashed, moves with frightening speed. Therefore, we are called not to complacency but to active engagement, to be sensitive to the plight of others, and to stand against injustice, trusting that even in seemingly hopeless situations, God's providential hand can work through courageous individuals to bring about deliverance and justice.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be unknowingly "drinking" while others are "perplexed" by a situation I could influence?**
* **How does the swiftness of Haman's decree challenge me to be more vigilant against the subtle beginnings of injustice in my own sphere of influence?**
* **What does "the city Shushan was perplexed" teach us about the universal human response to moral outrage, and how can we cultivate such moral sensitivity today?**

### FAQ
**Why was the city of Shushan "perplexed" by the decree, and not just the Jewish population?**

Answer: While the decree explicitly targeted the Jews, the word "perplexed" (Hebrew, _navokhah_) suggests a broader sense of confusion, bewilderment, and moral shock that extended beyond just the Jewish community. Shushan was a diverse metropolitan center, and a decree calling for the annihilation of an entire ethnic group would have been unprecedented and morally abhorrent to many, regardless of their own ethnicity. Such an act would destabilize society, create fear for anyone's safety, and violate fundamental principles of justice, leading to widespread dismay and disorientation among the general populace. It highlights that acts of extreme evil often disturb the conscience of a wider community.

**What does "posts" refer to in this verse?**

Answer: "Posts" (Hebrew, _ratzim_) refers to the royal couriers or runners of the Persian Empire. The Persians had a highly organized and efficient postal system, often using relays of swift horses and riders stationed along imperial roads. These couriers were responsible for rapidly transmitting royal decrees and messages across the vast empire. Their deployment underscores the urgency and official nature of Haman's command, ensuring the decree's swift dissemination to all 127 provinces.

**Why did "the king and Haman sit down to drink" after issuing such a terrible decree?**

Answer: This act highlights the profound moral depravity and casual indifference of both King Ahasuerus and Haman. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, drinking together often symbolized the sealing of an agreement or a celebration of a successful venture. For Haman, it was a celebration of his perceived triumph over Mordecai and the Jews. For the king, it demonstrated his detached, almost flippant, attitude towards the immense power he had just delegated and the horrific consequences that would follow. Their revelry stands in chilling contrast to the terror and confusion gripping the city, emphasizing their callous disregard for human life and their complete lack of empathy. It showcases their self-absorption and the intoxicating effect of unchecked power, as seen in the broader narrative of [Esther 3](/esther/3 "Esther 3 - Haman's Plot Against the Jews").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Esther 3:15, with its chilling depiction of a decree of death and the contrasting reactions of callous rulers and a perplexed populace, finds its ultimate fulfillment and reversal in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Haman's decree, driven by hatred and aimed at the annihilation of God's people, foreshadows the ultimate spiritual decree of death that hung over all humanity due to sin (Romans 6:23). Just as the "posts" swiftly carried Haman's edict, so too did the reality of humanity's condemnation permeate every corner of existence. However, in Christ, we see the divine counter-decree. The Lamb of God, through His sacrificial death on the cross, disarmed the powers of darkness and canceled the record of debt that stood against us (Colossians 2:14-15). Where Haman celebrated a decree of death, God the Father, through Christ, established a decree of life. The "perplexed" city of Shushan, facing an insurmountable threat, finds its parallel in a humanity lost and without hope, but the good news of the Gospel brings clarity, peace, and salvation to those who were once bewildered by sin and death. Christ's resurrection is the ultimate triumph over the forces of evil, ensuring that no decree of death, no matter how swiftly issued by the enemy, can ultimately prevail against those who are in Him (Romans 8:38-39). He is the true King who does not drink in callous indifference but offers His own blood as a covenant of life, transforming perplexity into peace and despair into eternal hope (Hebrews 9:15).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Esther 8:15

¶ And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

John 16:20

Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

Amos 6:6

That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

Proverbs 4:16

For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause [some] to fall.

Esther 4:16

Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which [is] not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

Hosea 7:5

In the day of our king the princes have made [him] sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.

Proverbs 29:2

¶ When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.