# Esther 03 📖: Haman's Plot Against the Jews [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Esther Overview]] | [[Esther 03]] | [[Esther 04]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ## Haman Conspires to Destroy the Jews [[#Verse 01.]] Some time later King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, exalting him and setting his position above that of all the officials who were with him.  [[#Verse 02.]] As a result, all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate were bowing and paying homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded. However, Mordecai did not bow, nor did he pay him homage. [[#Verse 03.]] Then the servants of the king who were at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why are you violating the king’s commandment?”  [[#Verse 04.]] And after they had spoken to him day after day without his paying any attention to them, they informed Haman to see whether this attitude on Mordecai’s part would be permitted. Furthermore, he had disclosed to them that he was a Jew. [[#Verse 05.]] When Haman saw that Mordecai was not bowing or paying homage to him, he was filled with rage.  [[#Verse 06.]] But the thought of striking out against Mordecai alone was repugnant to him, for he had been informed of the identity of Mordecai’s people. So Haman sought to destroy all the Jews (that is, the people of Mordecai) who were in all the kingdom of Ahasuerus. [[#Verse 07.]] In the first month (that is, the month of Nisan), in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus’ reign, _pur_ (that is, the lot) was cast before Haman in order to determine a day and a month. It turned out to be the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar). [[#Verse 08.]] Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a particular people that is dispersed and spread among the inhabitants throughout all the provinces of your kingdom whose laws differ from those of all other peoples. Furthermore, they do not observe the king’s laws. It is not appropriate for the king to provide a haven for them.  [[#Verse 09.]] If the king is so inclined, let an edict be issued to destroy them. I will pay 10,000 talents of silver to be conveyed to the king’s treasuries for the officials who carry out this business.” [[#Verse 10.]] So the king removed his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, who was hostile toward the Jews.  [[#Verse 11.]] The king replied to Haman, “Keep your money, and do with those people whatever you wish.” [[#Verse 12.]] So the royal scribes were summoned in the first month, on the thirteenth day of the month. Everything Haman commanded was written to the king’s satraps and governors who were in every province and to the officials of every people, province by province according to its script and people by people according to their language. In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written and sealed with the king’s signet ring.  [[#Verse 13.]] Letters were sent by the runners to all the king’s provinces stating that they should destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews, from youth to elderly, both women and children, on a particular day, namely the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar), and to loot and plunder their possessions.  [[#Verse 14.]] A copy of this edict was to be presented as law throughout every province; it was to be made known to all the inhabitants, so that they would be prepared for this day.  [[#Verse 15.]] The messengers scurried forth with the king’s order. The edict was issued in Susa the citadel. While the king and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa was in an uproar. ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. ###### Verse 12. ###### Verse 13. ###### Verse 14. ###### Verse 15. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. Haman is called an Agagite (3:1), likely linking him to Agag, king of the Amalekites, whom Saul spared (1 Samuel 15:8-9). 2. Mordecai the Benjaminite, from the family line of Saul, now faces an Agagite, echoing Israel's ancient conflict with Amalek (Exodus 17:14-16). 3. Pur means "lot" (3:7), and it gives the Festival of Purim its name (9:26). 4. The lot was cast in the first month, Nisan, and fell on the twelfth month, Adar (3:7), leaving almost a year before the attack. 5. Haman offered 10,000 talents of silver (3:9), an enormous sum, possibly around 300 tons of silver. 6. The king gave Haman his signet ring (3:10), giving him authority to issue decrees in the king's name. 7. The decree was written on the thirteenth day of the first month (3:12), the day before Passover. 8. The decree was sent to every province in its own script and language (3:12). 9. The decree ordered the Jews destroyed on the thirteenth day of Adar and their property plundered (3:13). 10. Haman described the Jews as a people with different laws who do not obey the king's laws (3:8), mixing truth with a lie. ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the deliverer who stands against every plan to destroy God's people. Haman plotted to wipe out the Jews (3:6), but Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8), and nothing will overpower His church. ## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. Mordecai refused to bow to Haman, even when officials pressed him every day (3:2-4). When is it right to refuse to go along with the crowd? 2. Haman's wounded pride grew into a plan to destroy a whole people (3:5-6). How can pride and anger grow into something destructive? 3. The king and Haman sat down to drink while the city of Susa was in confusion (3:15). What does that contrast reveal about the heart of evil? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 2: Mordecai will not bow down or pay homage to Haman. - 📖 verse 6: Haman seeks to destroy all the Jews throughout the kingdom. - 📖 verse 15: The king and Haman sit down to drink while the city of Susa is thrown into confusion. ## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference - 🔗 [[1 Samuel 15#Verse 08.|1 Samuel 15:8-9]] - Saul spares Agag, king of the Amalekites. - 🔗 [[Exodus 17#Verse 14.|Exodus 17:14-16]] - The Lord's war against Amalek. - 🔗 [[Daniel 03#Verse 12.|Daniel 3:12-18]] - Three men refuse to bow to the king's image. - 🔗 [[Proverbs 16#Verse 33.|Proverbs 16:33]] - The lot is cast, but every decision is from the Lord. - 🔗 [[1 John 03#Verse 08.|1 John 3:8]] - Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[Esther 03 - SOAP|Not Following the Crowd]] ## 📂 Internal Notes