Bible Commentary - Esther 3

In this chapter, Haman is introduced and convinces the king to kill all the Jews.

Haman is the fourth and final major character in this story, besides Esther, the king and Mordecai.

What do we learn about Haman?  First, we learn he is an “Agagite” (v. 1).  This most likely means that he is a descendant of king Agag of the Amalekites (See 1 Samuel 15).  They have an ancient blood feud with Israel dating all the way back to the Exodus, which the death of Agag was supposed to have resolved.  As we can see, an heir survived and thus the feud lives on with him.

Second, we learn that Haman has somehow gained favor with the king and has been promoted to chief advisor, over all his officials.  We don’t know why, but Haman must have really pleased the king somehow and is now his second in command.

Third, we learn that Haman is a proud and insecure man.  Verse 5 tells us that when Haman learned a single man was not bowing down to him, he was filled with rage.  This is not the attitude of a man who is content with his life.  Haman is acting like somebody who wants to be the greatest, most powerful and feared man on earth, and when he learns that there is someone who does not respect him, it cuts him right to the heart.

When Haman learns that Mordecai is a Jew is reawakens the deep animosity between the Amalekites and Israelites, and Haman resolves to destroy all the Jews in the empire.  The king, as always, goes along with his advisor’s suggestion and agrees to destroy the Jews.  The language in v. 11 is a bit confusing, but my understanding is that “the silver is yours” is a conventional phrase that indicates the king’s assent to the deal.  I don’t think it means the king is giving the money back to Haman, just that Xerxes accepts the offer.

One obvious question is, why does Mordecai refuse to bow to Haman?  There are several possibilities but I don’t know for sure.  One possibility is because Mordecai learns Haman is an Amalekite, and Mordecai refuses to bow to his enemy.  Another possibility is that Mordecai simply refuses to bow to anyone out of some sense of piety or because of his faith.  There is nothing in the Law that condemns bowing to a human authority, so long as you do not worship them or treat them like a god, but it’s possible that Mordecai viewed bowing to this man as similar to idolatry and therefore unlawful.

Greek Esther 13 includes a prayer of Mordecai where he explains in verse 12 that “it was not in insolence or pride or for any love of glory that I [refused to bow]... but I did this so that I might not set human glory above the glory of God, and I will not bow down to anyone but you.”  Although Greek Esther is not part of the Protestant canon and it’s unlikely that Greek Esther was written at the same time as Hebrew Esther (the normal version), I do think it’s interesting how this addition directly confirms the “piety” explanation.

In the final verse of this chapter, the king and Haman sit down to drink while the capital city, Susa, is “in confusion” over the order.  This is the third feast and it marks the beginning of the real drama in this story.  In the next chapter, the drama reaches Esther within the palace.