In today’s Esther 3 commentary, King Xerxes promotes Haman to chief officer. But when Mordecai refuses to bow, Haman’s wounded pride explodes into a plot to annihilate every Jew in the Persian Empire. He manipulates the king into signing an irreversible decree. Yet behind the scenes God is quietly positioning His people. Esther is inside the palace, and Mordecai is strategically positioned outside.
Previously on Bible Book Club
King Xerxes returned from an unsuccessful war with Greece and missed Queen Vashti. To prevent her reinstatement, advisors distracted him with a queen competition. Hadasseh, also known as Esther, won through divine providence.
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Scene 1: Mordecai Is Positioned to Protect
Esther 2:19-20
When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up. (Esther 2:19-20)
What is the second gathering of virgins?
Apparently, in the first five years of his marriage to Esther, the king became bored with her and his harem of hundreds and wanted another competition of virgins because the first was so entertaining.
The author is making a subtle aside because the second gathering is unrelated to the story. Except maybe to further emphasize the king’s licentious character. Or it may be a hint as to why Mordecai is sitting at the gate.
Why was Mordecai sitting at the King’s Gate?
We are not sure why Mordecai is sitting at the King’s Gate. Perhaps he is concerned that the second gathering of virgins means Esther has displeased the king and is about to be banished as Vashti was.
What does it mean to sit at the King’s Gate?
If you are “sitting at the gate,” it means you are holding office as a government official. The King’s Gate in Susa is not just a gate. It’s a large building located just east of the main palace. The entire building serves as the primary entrance to the royal citadel, which is why it’s called a gate even though it’s really a building.
Within the building, the largest room functions as a civic and judicial hub where the king’s officials hear petitions and other business. Petitions such as a request to have an audience with the king. Mordecai is sitting at the gate and therefore he has become an official.
We don’t know how and when Mordecai became a government official. Perhaps Esther influenced his appointment. Or maybe he accepted the position to remain informed about Esther in the hopes of protecting her if needed.
Whether it was through Esther or some other means, God is moving and providentially has two Jewish plants in the Persian Capital. Esther is hidden within the palace, and Mordecai is exposed outside the palace. Both are at risk, he more than she, at first. While Mordecai may have assumed the role of an official to protect Esther if needed, God had other intentions.
Scene 2: Mordecai Saves the King
Esther 2:21-23
During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king. (Esther 2:21-23)
How did Mordecai save King Xerxes’ life?
Mordecai providentially protects the king when he happens to overhear a plot to kill the king and tells Esther. She, in turn, reports it to the king giving credit to Mordecai.
The covert operation
It’s important to note Mordecai and Esther have providentially found a way to communicate. How covert did they have to be for that? The Persian palace is not a politically safe place for anyone, let alone for Esther. The harem itself is a political viper’s nest overseen by eunuchs. The eunuchs serve as “the eyes and ears” of the king. Every word Esther speaks and every person she associates with is monitored.
On top of that, the harem is filled with hundreds of women vying for her position. A single malicious rumor could lead to Esther being “retired” to what is called the “second house of women,” ending her political influence and social life in isolation. Remember, Esther lived in the dark shadow of the “Vashti Precedent” and one wrong move is all it would take to lose the crown.
Therefore, any message from Esther to Mordecai or vice versa is a risk. Who could Esther trust with her messages? And did they alone know she was related to Mordecai the Jew and therefore a Jew herself? We have to wonder whether being a marginalized Jew in Persia makes Mordecai somewhat more adept at covert operations like this.
Persian protocol for recognizing loyalty
It is Persian protocol that kings publicly reward loyalty to encourage people to report the would-be assassins. The recognition and reward are worth it for the king, because it reinforces the king’s image as generous and powerful and helps keep the king safe from assassination attempts, which occurred often. In fact, 14 years after this attempt, King Xerxes is indeed murdered.
Mordecai saves the king’s life and it is recorded, but the king never does anything for Mordecai in response to such loyalty. This detail will become the pivotal point of the story’s plot in just a few more chapters.
Why did King Xerxes fail to reward Mordecai for saving him?
King Xerxes failed to reward Mordecai for saving him because he simply forgot. The fact that Mordecai saved the king is buried in the annals, providentially forgotten for now. Forgotten by the king but not the king of kings.
God’s timing is perfect, and in the battle building behind the scenes, it will be the most ironic of reveals. For what no one, not even Mordecai, could see coming, God saw clearly. And at the same time Mordecai is saving the king, Haman, the adversary in our story, is planning to use the king.
Scene 3: Haman’s Hatred Develops
Esther 3:1-2
After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor. (Esther 3:1-2)
Who was Haman the Agagite and why was he honored?
Haman the Agagite is a Persian and a member of the King’s court. While no explanation is given as to why he was honored, the way it is positioned implies it was not for good, because the author ironically places the promotion of Haman precisely where we would have expected the promotion of Mordecai.
Haman has worked himself into a high position in the court to gain access to Xerxes a king we have learned is easily influenced. So Mordecai is forgotten, but Haman is honored. Promoted to chief officer. Haman, with his hateful character, most likely rose to this high position by paying his way. We will get to that soon. Money wields power, and it appears that the antagonist is winning over the protagonist.
The significance of Haman being an Agagite
As an Agagite, Haman is a descendant of Agag, the king of the Amalekites whom King Saul let live when he disobeyed God’s command to kill all the Amalekites. This group of people has the dubious distinction of being the very first to attack the Israelites after the Exodus. Refer to Esther 2 for the backstory.
The detail here about Haman being an Agagite is not random. It is a literary plant from our author. Haman is a distant relation of King Agag and Mordecai is a distant relation of King Saul, the ancient battle between the two kings and the two nations is about to come down to a battle between these two men. The hatred runs deep and dark.
So now the stage is set for a battle between Mordecai and Haman. It is an age-old conflict between good and evil. God will protect and build his team behind the scenes, while the adversary will work to promote his team to power.
Why did Mordecai refuse to bow down to Haman?
Haman is the enemy of God’s people, the Jews, and therefore he is an enemy of God, so Mordecai will not bow down with respect to him. Commentaries have lots of theories around this, but the most reasonable can be found in the way the author introduces the two men as if to tell us Mordecai has a compelling reason.
- Verse 2:5 Mordecai, a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin
- Verse 3:1 Haman, an Agagite.
- Verse 3:10 Haman an Agagite, the enemy of the Jews!
It is known, in general, that Jews can bow down to pagan officials. For example, Joseph’s brothers bowed to him when they thought he was an Egyptian. Bowing was not always an act of idol worship. It was also an ancient protocol of respect.
So it appears Mordecai is not refusing for religious reasons but for personal ones. And his reasons appear to be specific to Haman, because there is no other complaint against him for failing to bow to others.
Scene 4: Haman’s Hatred Demands Genocide
Esther 3:3-6
Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” Day after day they spoke to him, but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.
When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. (Esther 3:3-6)
Why do the people have to bow to Haman?
It is thought that the king had to issue a special decree concerning Haman, commanding the people to bow to him, or they wouldn’t. Apparently, Haman is not worthy of respect in anyone’s eyes: Mordecai’s, the other nobles, or the people. Nobody respects him. This supports the suspicion that he attained his high position disreputably and not because he earned it.
The royal officials at court notice that Mordecai does not bow to Haman and of course they have to talk about it. And, of course, eventually Haman notices too. Mordecai’s disrespect enrages Haman. The man’s pride craves respect.
Why did Haman decide to destroy all the Jews?
Just as God is never mentioned in the book of Esther, neither is Satan. But this clearly is a story of spiritual warfare: Satan vs God. When Haman discovers that Mordecai is Jewish, his hatred spreads to the entire Jewish population.
Keep in mind that the extermination of the Jews would mean the end of the Messianic Promise for the world. While Haman isn’t Satan, he is surely moved by evil, and that evil desperately wants to kill the seed of God. The seed that will produce the Son who will save the world.
Scene 5: The Purim Lot Plot
Esther 3:7
In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar. (Esther 3:7)
Haman must have been very confident he could persuade the king. Because before he even went to the king to ask, he went to the court astrologers to determine the day for the Jews’ annihilation. The day is selected by casting lots, also called pur.
What is the meaning of Pur or Purim in the story?
The plural of pur is purim, and archaeologists have unearthed samples of purim, clay cubes inscribed with characters or dots similar to dice. The word “pur,” or lot, also means destiny. So Haman is casting purim for the destiny of the entire Jewish nation.
Purim was used by the Persians as a means to attain decisions from their gods. The Jews also cast lots for answers from God. Haman cast the lots, and the providential day selected was the twelfth month, Adar, which was 11 months away. Haman most likely wasn’t happy about that. But what could he do? Solomon’s wise words remind us of that today.
Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
God has a plan, and that plan includes 11 months to position the players and prepare the people for battle. Because ultimately this is a battle of good vs evil:
- God’s people versus those who are opposed to God’s people
- The Israelites versus the Amalekites
- Mordecai versus Haman
Disappointed by the long wait but consoled by his own arrogant pride, Haman knows he can manipulate the king and therefore kill the Jews. So off he goes to do just that—convince the king of his wicked scheme.
Scene 6: Haman’s Masterful Manipulation
Esther 3:8-11
Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.”
So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. “Keep the money,” the king said to Haman, “and do with the people as you please.” (Esther 3:8-11)
Haman hates, and Haman lies. He manipulates the king, for the sole purpose of shedding innocent blood.
How did Haman convince King Xerxes to issue the decree?
Haman convinces King Xerxes to issue the decree by appealing to the king’s financial needs while also positioning the Jews as “a certain people” who break the law. He never reveals it is an entire ethnic population. He could have been referring to a gang of 100 rather than hundreds of thousands.
Of course, as with most evil, money is involved. The historian Herodotus reports that the annual tax revenue of the Persian Empire was about 15,000 talents. So Haman’s offer to provide 10,000 talents of silver, or about 300 tons, is roughly 2/3 of the king’s annual revenue. That’s huge, especially when the king is seeking to recoup the funds spent on the disastrous war with Greece.
Either Haman is fabulously wealthy, which would further support how he got to be the King’s chief officer by paying his way, or he has calculated that this amount will be the value from plundering the Jews after he annihilates them.
The commentary on whether King Xerxes gives the money back to Haman is all over the board. But it seems contrary to everything we know about the king, so more than likely no he did not give the money back. One of two things could be happening here:
- In typical Persian fashion, the king politely rejects the offer, fully expecting Haman to insist he keep the money.
- Haman likely contributed to the royal coffers to obtain his position as a court officer, therefore, the king knows they have an understanding. On record he refuses the money knowing that, as before, it will be given in secret.
What power did Haman gain from the king’s signet ring?
The king’s signet ring is used to sign and seal all official documents, so the king is blindly handing over the power of the empire by giving Haman his signet ring. With the ring in his possession, Haman has the full authority of the throne to do whatever he wishes.
Can you imagine what this does to Haman’s pride? That haughty pride goes from a ten to one hundred. No one can stop him now. He has the ring and therefore he has the king! Haman’s maniacal need for respect is now coupled with absolute power.
The King’s Rash Decisions
For the third time in the first three chapters of this book, the king makes a rash decision. He takes bad advice and makes it law without even asking questions. The king has the worst advisors and yet agrees with them every time:
- He agreed to banish Vashti.
- He agreed to a sexually abusive queen competition.
- Now he agrees to a killing spree which could include his Queen. His second Queen.
How ironic that, for the second time, Xerxes’ impulsive decisions involve the loss of his queen. He regretted his banishment of Vashti, and he will regret this decision too. But this isn’t only about one queen or the abuse of women and boys. This is genocide.
The king’s cruel character
The King says, “Do with the people as you please.” What kind of person says that? A person who has been doing with the people what he pleases for years. Hundreds of women were taken and used for his pleasure. Hundreds of boys were taken and physically mutilated to serve him.
As we talked about in Esther 1, this is not a story of romance. This is a story of a careless and cruel king. A king who is used by a cruel and manipulative man in Satan’s attempt to destroy God’s people and stop the seed of David from producing the Messiah who would save us all.
Scene 7: The King Parties as the People Panic
Esther 3:12-15
Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman’s orders to the king’s satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring. Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day. The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered. (Esther 3:12-15)
What were the details of the decree against the Jews?
The decree against the Jews was an order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the 13th day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.
The irony of the timing
And here is another of the divine ironies of this story. The death sentence was sent out on the 13th day of the first month, the eve of Passover. When the Jews are supposed to be celebrating how God saved them from the Egyptians, they receive the message that they need to be saved once again, this time from the Persians. Will their persecution ever end?
The entire city of Susa, the Persians and Jews alike, are bewildered. Where did this come from? Haman has incited conflict throughout the entire Persian Empire. He probably delighted in it and enjoyed the thought of watching the Jews panic and suffer for 11 months.
Haman embodies what God hates
While Haman’s hate grows, he seems to grow into the personification of hate itself. In fact, Haman is a masterclass in the “seven things God hates” from Proverbs 6.
Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Haman is all seven:
- Haughty eyes: he looked down on Mordecai
- A lying tongue: he lied to the king about the Jews
- Shedding innocent blood: he is trying to kill all of God’s people
- A heart that devises wicked schemes: genocide
- Feet that rush into evil: more on that next chapter
- A false witness: he said the Jews broke the laws
- A person who stirs up conflict: between the Jews and the people of Persia who were legally bound to support the king’s decisions
In fact, there are only two Bible characters who stand out for exhibiting all seven of the traits that God hates: Jezebel and Haman. You can refer back to season 11 and season 12 in 1 and 2 Kings for more about Jezebel. Some argue that her daughter Athaliah and Judas Iscariot should be on the list also for all seven hateful attributes.
The contrast: Haman drinks while Susa weeps
With all this evil pleasure dancing in Haman’s head, what does he do? He and the king sit down to drink. Possibly, probably they get drunk. Meanwhile Susa weeps. Unaware, Esther sleeps.
Think about it: Esther will wake up in our next chapter to find that she has been caught in circumstances beyond her control. We can all relate. Who hasn’t found themselves under the thumb of a Haman-type boss, landlord, or teacher? At a funeral for someone they cannot believe is gone? At a doctor’s office navigating news with shock?
We all wake up at some point to find that we have been caught in circumstances beyond our control. The only thing we can control is our response. In episode 4, Mordecai and Esther will wrestle over just that—how to respond.
Group Discussion Questions for Esther Chapter 2-3
- Mordecai’s position at the king’s gate put him in a place to save the king’s life. Where has God positioned you that might seem ordinary but could be strategic for His purposes?
- The king forgot to reward Mordecai for his loyalty. How do you respond when your faithfulness goes unnoticed or unrewarded by those in authority? Is it possible this lack of recognition is God working out His perfect timing?
- Haman manipulated the king by presenting a distorted picture of the Jews. How can we discern when information presented to us might be intentionally misleading or one-sided?
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