Old Testament Commentary - Esther 3

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
                 CHAPTER 3                  

Mordecai, the Jew, refuses to do obeisance to Haman—Haman arranges a decree to kill all the Jews in the kingdom.

  1 After these things did king Ahasuerus apromote Haman the son of bHammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
  2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, abowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
  3 Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
 1a Esth. 5:11
   b 1 Sam. 15:8 (8-9)
 2a Mosiah 7:12
  4 Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
  5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai abowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of bwrath.
  6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to adestroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
 5a Esth. 5:9
   b Prov. 27:3
 6a TG Tyranny
  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 aAdar.
 7a Ezra 6:15
  8 ¶ And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.
  9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be adestroyed: and I will bpay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.
  10 And the king took his aring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemya.
 10a Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy This statement that Haman the Agagite was the Jew's enemy certainly implies that Haman did not just have a quarrel with Mordecai but with the entire nation of the Jews. And of what matter of Modecai's behavior toward Haman, whether in reality or imagined, but seeded in a much deeper root and that in Haman's ancestory and being a sworn enemy of the Jews. In the days when the Lord commanded the kingdom of Israel, Saul the king was instructed by the Lord's prophet to utterly destory the kingdom and people of King Agag. The people were known as the 'Amalekites'. And this is signicant, for Haman is not stated to be an Amalekite, but he is stated to be an Agagite, that is a descendant of king Agag. Saul took it upon himself in that order of extinction from the Lord by the mouth of the Lord's prophet, to spare the life of king Agag, who he was instructed to have killed. This may have seemed to be a 'goodturn' done unto a neighboring king, after all he was a 'King'. But in this 'no such goodturm goes unpunished', for now in the empire of Persia was Haman, an Agagite, in place and ready to totally demolish the entire nation of the Jews in retaliation for that which had been done to the kingdom of his ancestor, Agag. So whether the feast of Purim is to be a remembrance of Jehovah's watch and care over the Jews, or a reminder to the Jews that the Lord God's commands are to be kept; it is the same. Purim is a day unto the Lord and ought to be so seen as a worship day unto the Lord.    9a Esth. 8:3; Esth. 9:24
     b Esth. 7:4
 10a Gen. 41:42; Esth. 8:2

  11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
  12 Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the aname of king Ahasuerus was it written, and bsealed with the king's ring.
 12a Esth. 8:10 (8-10)
     b TG Seals
  13 And the aletters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to bkill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in cone day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
  14 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.
  15 The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed. 		 13a Esth. 9:1
     b D&C 121:23
     c Esth. 8:12