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Esther Chapter Three

 

Esther 3 Outlines

Haman’s Conspiracy Against the Jews

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

Esther 3:1.  After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.

   YLT 1After these things hath the king Ahasuerus exalted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite and lifteth him up and setteth his throne above all the heads who [are] with him

After these things ....

After the marriage of Esther and the discovery of the conspiracy to take away the king's life five years after as Aben Ezra observe at least more than four years for so it appears from Esther 3:7

did King Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite;

whom both the Targums make to descend from Amalek and to be of the stock or family of Agag the common name of the kings of Amalek; and so JosephusF7Ut supra (Antiqu. l. 11. c. 6.) sect. 5. ; but this is not clear and certain; in the apocryphal Esther he is said to be a Macedonian; and Sulpitius the historian saysF8Hist. Sacr. l. 2. p. 78. he was a Persian which is not improbable; and Agag might be the name of a family or city in Persia of which he was; and Aben Ezra observes that some say he is the same with Memucan see Esther 1:14

and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes that were with him;

erected a throne for him higher than the rest either of his own princes and nobles or such as were his captives see 2 Kings 25:28. It was the custom of the kings of Persia which it is probable was derived from Cyrus to advance those to the highest seats they thought best deserved it: says he to his nobles let there be seats with you as with me and let the best be honoured before others;--and again let all the best of those present be honoured with seats above othersF9Xenophon Cyropaedia l. 8. c. 41. .

 

Esther 3:2.  2 And all the king’s servants who were within the king’s gate bowed and paid homage to Haman for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage.

   YLT 2and all servants of the king who [are] in the gate of the king are bowing and doing obeisance to Haman for so hath the king commanded for him; and Mordecai doth not bow nor do obeisance.

And the king's servants that were in the king's gate ....

Or court all his courtiers; for it cannot be thought they were all porters or such only that

bowed and reverenced Haman;

gave him divine honours as to a deity; for such were given to the kings of PersiaF11Vid. Salden. Otia Theolog. l. 3. Exercitat. 1. sec. 4 5. and might be given to their favourites and seems to be the case; for though Haman might not erect a statue of himself or have images painted on his clothes as the Targum and Aben Ezra for the Persians did not allow of statues and imagesF12Laert. Prooem. ad Vit. Philosoph. p. 5 6. ; yet he might make himself a god as Jarchi and require divine worship with leave of the king which he had yea an order for it:

for the king had so commanded concerning him;

which shows that it was not mere civil honour and respect for that in course would have been given him as the king's favourite and prime minister by all his servants without an express order for it; this therefore must be something uncommon and extraordinary:

but Mordecai bowed not nor did him reverence;

which is a further proof that it was not mere civil honour that was required and given; for that the Jews did not refuse to give and that in the most humble and prostrate manner and was admitted by them 1 Samuel 24:8 1 Kings 1:16 nor can it be thought that Mordecai would refuse to give it from pride and sullenness and thereby risk the king's displeasure the loss of his office and the ruin of his nation; but it was such kind of reverence to a man and worship of him which was contrary to his conscience and the law of his God.

 

Esther 3:3.  3 Then the king’s servants who were within the king’s gate said to Mordecai “Why do you transgress the king’s command?”

   YLT 3And the servants of the king who [are] in the gate of the king say to Mordecai `Wherefore [art] thou transgressing the command of the king?'

Then the king's servants which were in the king's gate ....

Observing the behaviour of Mordecai towards Haman from time to time:

said unto Mordecai why transgressest thou the king's commandment?

of giving reverence to Haman which they knew he could not be ignorant of.

 

Esther 3:4.  4 Now it happened when they spoke to him daily and he would not listen to them that they told it to Haman to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand; for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew.

   YLT 4And it cometh to pass in their speaking unto him day by day and he hath not hearkened unto them that they declare [it] to Haman to see whether the words of Mordecai do stand for he hath declared to them that he [is] a Jew.

Now it came to pass when they spake daily unto him ....

Putting him in mind of his duty to obey the king's command suggesting to him the danger he exposed himself to pressing him to give the reasons of his conduct:

and he hearkened not unto them;

regarded not what they said and continued disobedient to the king's order and disrespectful to Haman

that they told Haman to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand;

they informed Haman that Mordecai refused to give him reverence as the king had ordered; this they did to try whether such a conduct would be suffered and bore with and whether Mordecai would persevere in it when taken notice of:

for he had told them that he was a Jew;

which was all the reason he gave why he would not reverence Haman; and a reason sufficient because by a fundamental law of his religion he was not to worship mere man but God only: and this confirms what has been before observed; for this would have been no reason for refusing civil respect and honour but was a strong one for denying religious worship and reverence; and no wonder that the Jews should refuse it when even the Grecians though Heathens refused to give the Persian kings the divine honours they requiredF13Herodot. Polymnia sive l. 7. c. 136. Justin e Trogo. l. 6. c. 2. Aelian. Var. Hist. l. 1. 21. ; yea the Athenians put Timagoras to death for prostrating himself in such a manner to DariusF14Plutarch. in Artaxerxe Valer. Maxim. l. 6. c. 3. ; for the Persian kings were as Aristotle saysF15De Mundo c. 6. called Lord and God and said to hear and see all things.

 

Esther 3:5.  5 When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage Haman was filled with wrath.

   YLT 5And Haman seeth that Mordecai is not bowing and doing obeisance to him and Haman is full of fury

And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not nor did him reverence ....

For after the information given him he observed and watched him to see whether he bowed and did him reverence or not:

then was Haman full of wrath;

exceedingly displeased and angry; it was such a mortification to him he could not bear.

 

Esther 3:6.  6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus—the people of Mordecai.

   YLT 6and it is contemptible in his eyes to put forth a hand on Mordecai by himself for they have declared to him the people of Mordecai and Haman seeketh to destroy all the Jews who [are] in all the kingdom of Ahasuerus -- the people of Mordecai.

And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone ....

That would not be a sufficient gratification of his revenge; he was too low and mean a person only to wreak his vengeance on; nothing short of his whole nation would satisfy him:

for they had showed him the people of Mordecai;

that they were the Jews; for Mordecai had told the king's servants that talked with him on the subject that he was a Jew and gave that as a reason why he could not and would not reverence Haman:

wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus;

even the people of Mordecai; and that not merely to be revenged on Mordecai but because he plainly saw that both by his example and upon the same principle with him; they would all to a man refuse to give him reverence; and therefore he was resolved to root them out of the whole empire that he might not be mortified by them.

 

Esther 3:7.  7 In the first month which is the month of Nisan in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus they cast Pur (that is the lot) before Haman to determine the day and the month [a] until it fell on the twelfth month [b] which is the month of Adar.

   YLT 7In the first month -- it [is] the month of Nisan -- in the twelfth year of the king Ahasuerus hath one caused to fall Pur (that [is] the lot) before Haman from day to day and from month to month [to] the twelfth it [is] the month of Adar.

In the first month that is the month Nisan ....

Which was the first month of the sacred year of the Jews by divine appointment Exodus 12:2 and there called Abib and answers to part of February and part of March; from hence it is clear this book was written by a Jew and very probably by Mordecai:

in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus;

four years and near two months after his marriage of Esther Esther 2:16

they cast Pur that is the lot before Haman;

being a Persian word it is explained in Hebrew a lot the word signifying "steel" in the Persian language. RelandF16Antiqu. Heb. par. 4. c. 12. sect. 1. conjectures that this was that sort of lot called "sideromantia". Who cast this lot is not said; whether Haman himself or one of his servants: perhaps a diviner. The latter Targum calls him Shimshai the scribe:

from day today and from month to month to the twelfth month that is the month Adar;

which answers to part of January and part of February; so that the lot was cast for every month and every day of the month throughout the year to find out which was the most lucky month and which the most lucky day in that month to destroy the Jews in and none could be found till they came to the last month and the thirteenth day of that month Esther 3:13 the providence of God so overruling the lot that there might be time enough for the Jews through the mediation of Esther to the king to prevent their destruction; so in other nations the Heathens had their lucky and unlucky daysF17Vid. Macrob. Saturnal l. 1. c. 16. Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 4. c. 20. .

 

Esther 3:8.  8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people’s and they do not keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain.

   YLT 8And Haman saith to the king Ahasuerus `There is one people scattered and separated among the peoples in all provinces of thy kingdom and their laws [are] diverse from all people and the laws of the king they are not doing and for the king it is not profitable to suffer them;

And Haman said unto King Ahasuerus

Or "had said"F18ויאמר "dixerat enim" Junius & Tremellius Piscator Drusius so Patrick. as some choose to render it; nor indeed is it likely that Haman should cast lots to know when would be a proper time to destroy the Jews until he had got leave of the king to do it:

there is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom;

for though many of the Jews returned to their own land on the proclamation of Cyrus yet others remained being well settled as to worldly things and not having that zeal for God and his worship as became them and not caring to be at the trouble and expense of such a journey and especially those of the ten tribes; now Haman through contempt of them mentions them not by name only describes them as a scattered insignificant people:

and their laws are different from all people;

concerning their diet and observation of days and other things; so Empedocles an Heathen observesF19Apud Philostrat. Vit. Apollon. l. 5. c. 11. of the Jews that they were a separate people from all others in those things; for he says "they separated not only from the Romans but even from all men; for having found out an unmixed way of living they have nothing common with men neither table nor libations nor prayers nor sacrifices but are more separate from us than the Susians or Bactrians or the more remote Indians:"

neither keep they the king's laws;

and no doubt he had a special respect to the non-observance of the king's command to give him reverence; and in like manner the Jews are represented by Heathen writers as by TacitusF20Hist. l. 5. c. 4. JuvenalF21"Romanas antem soliti" &c. Satyr. 14. ver. 99. and others:

therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them;

that is to dwell in his dominions; he got nothing by them and they might be prejudicial to his subjects and poison them with their notions; and since they were not obedient to the laws of the kingdom it was not fit and equitable that they should be continued in it.

 

Esther 3:9.  9 If it pleases the king let a decree be written that they be destroyed and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work to bring it into the king’s treasuries.”

   YLT 9if to the king [it be] good let it be written to destroy them and ten thousand talents of silver I weigh into the hands of those doing the work to bring [it] in unto the treasuries of the king.'

If it please the king let it be written that they may be destroyed ....

That is a law made signed and sealed for their destruction and letters written and sent everywhere ordering it to be put in execution:

and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those who have the charge of the business to bring it into the king's treasury;

this he proposed to prevent any objection that might be made from the loss of tribute paid by this people to the king; and this was a very large sum for him to pay out of his own estate it being near four millions of our money; it is computed by BrerewoodF24De Pret. & Ponder. Vet. Num. c. 5. at 3 750 000 pounds; for as to what is suggested by some that he intended to repay himself out of the spoil of the Jews it may be observed that according to the king's letter they that were employed in destroying the Jews were to have the spoil for a prey or booty to themselves Esther 3:13. Now this sum of money he proposed not to put into the hands of them that should slay the Jews but into the hands of the king's receivers of the dues that they might lay it up in the king's treasury or exchequer.

 

Esther 3:10.  10 So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite the enemy of the Jews.

   YLT 10And the king turneth aside his signet from off his hand and giveth it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite adversary of the Jews;

And the king took his ring from his hand and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite the Jews' enemy.

As a token of his affection for him and a mark of honour to him; with the PersiansF23Alex. ab. Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 1. c. 26. & l. 2. c. 19. for a king to give a ring to anyone was a token and bond of the greatest love and friendship imaginable; and it may be this was given to Haman to seal with it the letters that were or should be written giving order for the destruction of the Jews. It seems as if as yet Esther had not acquainted the king who her kindred and people were; or it can hardly be thought he would have so easily come into such a scheme or so highly favoured an enemy of her people.

 

Esther 3:11.  11 And the king said to Haman “The money and the people are given to you to do with them as seems good to you.”

   YLT 11and the king saith to Haman `The silver is given to thee and the people to do with it as [it is] good in thine eyes.'

And the king said unto Haman the silver is given unto thee ....

The 10 000 talents of silver Haman proposed to pay into the treasury were returned to him or the king out of his great munificence refused to take them:

the people also to do with them as seemeth good unto thee;

that is the people of the Jews; he gave him full power to do with them as he thought fit and who breathing revenge upon them would not spare them.

 

Esther 3:12.  12 Then the king’s scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month and a decree was written according to all that Haman commanded—to the king’s satraps to the governors who were over each province to the officials of all people to every province according to its script and to every people in their language. In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written and sealed with the king’s signet ring.

   YLT 12And scribes of the king are called on the first month on the thirteenth day of it and it is written according to all that Haman hath commanded unto lieutenants of the king and unto the governors who [are] over province and province and unto the heads of people and people province and province according to its writing and people and people according to its tongue in the name of the king Ahasuerus it hath been written and sealed with the signet of the king

Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month ....

The month Nisan Esther 3:7 after Haman had leave and power from the king to destroy the Jews and his ring given him in token of it; the king's scribes or secretaries of state were called together on that day to write the letters for that purpose:

and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded;

whatever he would have done; he had an unlimited power to do what he pleased and he made use of it and directed the scribes what they should write:

unto the king's lieutenants and to the governors that were over every province;

the deputy governors of the one hundred and twenty seven provinces Esther 1:1

and to the rulers of every people of every province;

it seems there were different people in every province which had their rulers; and these were sent to:

according to the writing thereof and to every people after their language;

and letters were written in the language and character of the language each people spoke that they might be understood by them:

in the name of King Ahasuerus was it written and sealed with the king's ring.

All this Haman took care to have done so early as the thirteenth of Nisan though the execution was not to be until the thirteenth of Adar eleven months after; partly that there might be time enough to send the letters everywhere even to the most distant parts; and chiefly lest Ahasuerus should change his mind and be prevailed upon to revoke his grant; and it may be either to keep the Jews in continual dread or cause them to flee.

 

Esther 3:13.  13 And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces to destroy to kill and to annihilate all the Jews both young and old little children and women in one day on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month which is the month of Adar and to plunder their possessions.[c]

   YLT 13and letters to be sent by the hand of the runners unto all provinces of the king to cut off to slay and to destroy all the Jews from young even unto old infant and women on one day on the thirteenth of the twelfth month -- it [is] the month of Adar -- and their spoil to seize

And the letters were sent by post into all the king's provinces ....

Or by the runnersF24ביד הרצים "in manu cursorum" Montanus; so the Tigurine version Drusius V. L. Junius & Tremellius Piscator. ; by which it seems as if these letters were carried by running footmen men swift of foot; or rather they were running horses on which men rode post with letters and which the Persians called Angari; a scheme invented by Cyrus for the quick dispatch of letters from place to place by fixing horses and men to ride them at a proper distance to receive letters one from another and who rode night and dayF25Xenophon. Cyropaedia l. 8. c. 43. as our mail men do now; and nothing could be swifter or done with greater speed; neither snow nor rain nor heat nor night could stop their course we are toldF26Herodot. Urania sive l. 8. c. 98. : the purport of these letters was:

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;

see Esther 3:7. The orders were to destroy by any means whatsoever all the Jews of every age and sex all in one day in all the provinces which are here named that they might be cut off with one blow: and to take the spoil of them for a prey; to be their own booty; which was proposed to engage them in this barbarous work to encourage them in it to use the greater severity and dispatch.

 

Esther 3:14.  14 A copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province being published for all people that they should be ready for that day.

   YLT 14a copy of the writing to be made law in every province and province is revealed to all the peoples to be ready for this day.

The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people ....

Not only letters were sent to the governors but a copy or the sum of the contents of them was published by heralds or stuck up as with us in various places that it might be publicly known by the common people everywhere:

that they should be ready against that day;

and fall upon the people of the Jews and slay them and seize on their goods as a prey.

 

Esther 3:15.  15 The couriers went out hastened by the king’s command; and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

   YLT 15The runners have gone forth hastened by the word of the king and the law hath been given in Shushan the palace and the king and Haman have sat down to drink and the city Shushan is perplexed.

The post went out being hastened by the king's command ....

Both to set out and make as much dispatch as possible:

and the decree was given in Shushan the palace;

by the king and with the advice of his courtiers:

and the king and Haman sat down to drink;

at a banquet which perhaps Haman had prepared in gratitude to the king for what he had granted him both being highly delighted with what had been done:

but the city Shushan was perplexed;

the court was agreed but the city was divided as the former Targum says with the joy of strange nations and the weeping of the people of Israel there being many Jews in the city; with whom no doubt there were many in connection through affinity or friendship or commerce that were concerned for them; or however were shocked at such a barbarous scheme; and which they knew not where it would end and how far they themselves might be involved in it when once a mob had such a power granted to them.

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Footnotes:

a.    Esther 3:7 Septuagint adds to destroy the people of Mordecai in one day; Vulgate adds the nation of the Jews should be destroyed.

b.    Esther 3:7 Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint reads and the lot fell on the fourteenth of the month.

c.Esther 3:13 Septuagint adds the text of the letter here.