The Book of Esther
Esther 3
Chapter III · Vol. II, p. 930
1 Haman, advanced by the king, and despised by Mordecai, seeketh revenge upon all the Jews. 7 He casteth lots. 8 He obtaineth by calumniation a decree of the king to put the Jews to death.
1 After these things did king Ahasuerus promotea Haman the son of Hammedatha 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, bowed, and reverenced Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him: but Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.1
1 The most probable explanation of this is, that Haman was an Amalekite, and Mordecai scorned to do homage or show respect in any way to one of that hated nation. Possibly also Mordecai saw the wily and traitorous heart of the powerful but unscrupulous adviser. The sequel shows that Haman's boasted loyalty and devotion to the king was assumed for purposes of personal aggrandizement.—P.
3 Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
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.2
2 Agag was the common name of the kings of Amalek, with whom Israel was commanded to have no peace. Nothing can account for the refusal of Mordecai to do an act of ordinary courtesy to his superior, but the idea that he judged himself thereby contravening a commandment of God. He recollected how Saul his kinsman had suffered for sparing the wicked Agag—he dreaded he might suffer for bowing to his equally wicked descendant.—C.
5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had showed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews3 that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
3 Every single evil passion passes immediately into another when temptation offers. Haman appears to have been merely proud, instantly he becomes immeasurably cruel—he was offended by the neglect of one man, whom his pride disdains to punish; but in revenge of the imaginary insult his cruelty enacts the destruction of a whole nation.—C.
7 In the first month, (that is, the month Nisan,) in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast bPur, that is, the lot,4 before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.
b ch.9.24. Eze.21.21. He tried to fix upon a lucky day for his project.
4 The casting of lots to find out fortunate months and days, and even hours, is still all-prevalent in Persia. The king maintains an astrologer for this superstitious purpose. European almanacs were formerly filled with such vain but too successful impositions upon credulity, and even yet there are those who prefer one month or one day of the week to another for special undertakings. All this is a departure from God that, rightly considered, amounts to idolatry. The word and Spirit of God, and a conscience void of offence, are the only oracles a true believer dares or requires to consult.—C.
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 not5 for the king's profit to suffer them.
5 Heb. meet or equal.
9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed;6 and I will pay7 ten thousand talents of silver[≈ 340 tonnes · 340 tons · silver worth ≈ US$590 million] to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.8
6 Heb. to destroy them.
7 Heb. weigh. Perhaps coining of money was not then begun. It is 418 cart loads.
8 It is not necessary to conclude that this was all the argument Haman employed to deceive the king, but merely the substance of it. It amounts to a charge of rebellion against the Jews, and a lure to the king's covetousness by their extirpation. The offer amounts to above two millions of our money, but was not to come out of Haman's private property, as appears from ver. 11, but from the product of the plunder and confiscation arising from the execution of the decree.—C.
10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' cenemy.
c Or, oppressor, ch.7.6.
11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them asd it seemeth good to thee.
12 Then were the king's escribes 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; fin the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.9
e Or, secretaries, ch.8.9; 1.22.
A.M. 3495 B.C. 509
f ch.8.9. 1 Ki.21.8. Da.6.8,12,15.
9 Several signet-rings, of very high antiquity, may be seen in the British Museum. The engraved part revolves upon a pivot, and was used as the sign-manual in modern times. Many private and public documents still continue to be so authenticated, and the keeper of the great seal is in Britain an officer of the very highest rank. C.——The Persians have stones in their rings, which answer the purpose of seals. On these their names are frequently engraved, and the impression serves for their signature. It was probably for the purpose of sealing this writing that the king had previously given Haman his ring, by the use of which the sanction of the royal authority would be given to his bloody mandate.—I.
13 And the letters were sent by gposts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, hto kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in ione day, even upon the kthirteenth 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, lbeing hastened by the king's commandment; and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman msat down to drink;1 but the ncity Shushan was perplexed.2
l Ro.3.15. Pr.4.16; 1.16. Is.59.7.
m Ge.37.25. Mat.14.6. Jn.16.20. Re.11.10.
1 There are few things upon record more awful than this simple statement. 'An easy-minded monarch is deceived by a crafty and cruel minister—the letters of murderous extermination are despatched, and this accomplished, the king and Haman 'sat down to drink!'—C.
n ch.4.16; 8.15.
2 Because, no doubt, the Jews being numerous in the capital, much resistance and retaliation were apprehended.—C.
Notes
Reflections.—The very worst of men are often exalted to the highest honours: and exalted too to render their shame and ruin in the end the more conspicuous and dreadful. Often the cringing complaisance of others lays a snare for the truly godly. And there is need therefore of strong faith and ardent zeal to make us take a singular course at the hazard of all that is dear to us in this world. But no consideration must influence us to that which is evil. Of what intolerable pride, insatiable cruelty, and deep-rooted antipathy to the people of God are some men possessed! And often courtiers mark out the worthiest of the subjects as the objects of their resentments. The people of God are ordinarily loaded with the vilest calumnies in order to encompass their ruin. And pride, malice, and revenge, met together, stick at nothing to obtain their own ends. Some men are very lavish of their money in the service of the devil, who would be absolute churls in the service of God. And crafty courtiers often make princes believe what is for their unspeakable hurt to be for their inexpressible advantage. But miserable is the state of nations when flattering sycophants can sway the sovereign to everything horrid at their pleasure. And it is absurd for princes or others to riot in mirth and pleasure when the church is in danger and the public perplexed. But there is no counsel nor device effectual against the Lord. Even Haman's appeal to the lot for marking out a lucky day for the destruction of the Jews, places it at so great a distance as to render their deliverance more glorious, and his own and their enemies' ruin the more ignominious.
Measures in square brackets are modern equivalents added for this edition. They are not in the King James text or in Brown’s notes. They use common scholarly estimates: a cubit is about 45.7 cm (18 in), a shekel about 11.4 g (0.4 oz), an ephah about 22 litres. Money values give the worth of the silver or gold at spot prices on 28 October 2026, not what the sum would buy in the ancient world.