Esther 3

Esther 3 introduces Haman, a high-ranking official under King Ahasuerus, who becomes the primary antagonist in the story. After Mordecai, a Jew, refuses to bow to him, Haman plots to destroy not only Mordecai but all the Jews in the Persian Empire. Haman secures a royal decree to carry out this genocide, setting the stage for the coming conflict. The chapter highlights themes of pride, hatred, and the vulnerability of the Jewish people in exile.

Esther 3:1-5 (NKJV)
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.
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.
3 Then the king’s servants who were within the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the king’s command?”
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.
5 When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath.
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.

In Esther 3:1-5, King Ahasuerus promotes Haman, an Agagite, to a position of high honor, commanding that all officials bow to him. Mordecai, a Jew, refuses to bow, enraging Haman. This refusal likely isn’t due to a prohibition against bowing itself, as the Scriptures show examples where figures like David and Abraham bowed in respect. David bowed to King Saul (1 Samuel 24:8), and Abraham bowed before the Hittites (Genesis 23:7), demonstrating that bowing was acceptable when done as a gesture of honor rather than worship. Mordecai’s resistance seems instead tied to Haman’s identity as an Agagite, connecting him to King Agag of the Amalekites—Israel’s ancient enemies. This background gives Mordecai a compelling reason not to honor Haman, as bowing would symbolically acknowledge someone from a hostile lineage. Haman’s reaction also reflects this historical enmity: rather than punishing only Mordecai, he devises a plan to annihilate all the Jews in the empire. His decision shows that Haman’s hatred is not merely personal but fueled by a longstanding feud between the Amalekites and Israel, which he aims to continue by targeting all of Mordecai’s people.

Esther 3:7 (NKJV)
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, until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.

Haman consults superstitious methods, casting lots (Pur), to choose the most auspicious date for his planned massacre. The lot falls on the twelfth month, Adar, giving him nearly a year to prepare his plot. This moment introduces the element of divine timing, as what appears to be chance will later work in favor of the Jews.

Esther 3:8-11 (NKJV)
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.
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.”
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.
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.”

Haman manipulates King Ahasuerus by portraying the Jews as disobedient and a threat to the kingdom’s unity. He offers a massive bribe of silver to fund their extermination, further appealing to the king’s interest. Without fully understanding the implications, the king grants Haman authority to carry out his plan, symbolized by giving him his signet ring, which gives legal power to Haman’s decree.

Esther 3:12-15 (NKJV)
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.
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.
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.
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.

Haman quickly sets his plan into motion by issuing the decree across the empire, ordering the massacre of all Jews on a single day. The edict is comprehensive, targeting every Jewish person, regardless of age or gender, and permitting the confiscation of their property. While Haman and the king are at ease, drinking together, the rest of the city of Shushan is confused and disturbed by this sudden, harsh decree, indicating the unrest it caused among the populace.