Esther 3:7

¶ 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.

In the first {H7223} month {H2320}, that is, the month {H2320} Nisan {H5212}, in the twelfth {H8147}{H6240} year {H8141} of king {H4428} Ahasuerus {H325}, they cast {H5307} Pur {H6332}, that is, the lot {H1486}, before {H6440} Haman {H2001} from day {H3117} to day {H3117}, and from month {H2320} to month {H2320}, to the twelfth {H8147}{H6240} month, that is, the month {H2320} Adar {H143}.

In the first month, the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of Achashverosh, they began throwing pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman every day and every month until the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.

In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the Pur (that is, the lot) was cast before Haman to determine a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

In the first month, which 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, which is the month Adar.

Commentary

Context

Esther 3:7 marks a pivotal moment in Haman's wicked scheme against the Jewish people. Having been elevated to a position of immense power by King Ahasuerus, Haman's pride was wounded when Mordecai refused to bow to him. His rage escalated beyond Mordecai to encompass all Jews in the Persian Empire, leading him to seek their annihilation. This verse details his method for choosing the "auspicious" day for this horrific act. The events unfold in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus's reign, placing it firmly within the context of the vast Achaemenid Persian Empire.

Key Themes

  • Haman's Malice and Superstition: The verse vividly portrays Haman's deep-seated hatred and his reliance on pagan divination—casting lots—to determine the best time for his genocidal plot. This reveals his spiritual blindness and his belief in fate over divine will, rather than the true God.
  • Divine Providence and Timing: Though God is not explicitly mentioned in the Book of Esther, His hand is clearly seen in the seemingly random outcome of the lot. The "Pur" fell on the twelfth month (Adar), giving Esther and Mordecai nearly a full year to uncover the plot and strategize a response. This delay is crucial for the eventual deliverance of the Jewish people, highlighting the concept of God's subtle working behind the scenes, even in seemingly random events.

Linguistic Insights

  • The verse explicitly defines "Pur" as "the lot." This Aramaic word is significant because it gives its name to the Feast of Purim, celebrated annually by Jews to commemorate their deliverance from this very plot.
  • "Nisan" (the first month) and "Adar" (the twelfth month) are Babylonian month names adopted by the Jews during the exile, indicating the specific timeline of Haman's planning and the long interval before the planned execution of his decree.

Practical Application

  • Esther 3:7 reminds us that even when evil schemes are meticulously planned, God's sovereign timing can intervene and turn the tables. What Haman intended for evil, God used for good, providing time for a counter-strategy and ultimately saving His people.
  • It encourages believers to trust in God's hidden hand, even when circumstances seem chaotic or controlled by malevolent forces. The "randomness" of life's events can often be part of a larger, divine purpose that we may not immediately discern.
  • The verse also serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of prejudice and the insidious nature of hatred that seeks to destroy entire groups of people, urging vigilance against such malice.
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Cross-References

  • Ezra 6:15

    And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

  • Ezekiel 21:21

    For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made [his] arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver.

  • Ezekiel 21:22

    At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint [battering] rams against the gates, to cast a mount, [and] to build a fort.

  • Proverbs 16:33

    ¶ The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof [is] of the LORD.

  • Esther 9:24

    Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that [is], the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;

  • Esther 9:26

    Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and [of that] which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,

  • Esther 9:17

    On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.