Esther Part 2 - Haman's Introduction, His Desire for Revenge, and the Courage of Esther

Esther Part 2:  Haman's introduction, his desire for revenge, and the courage of Esther.

Esther 3-4.

The LORD God is never mentioned by name in the book of Esther, but he is everywhere in this book. In Esther part one (go here to read) we learned that king Ahasuerus gave a feast and requested that his queen Vashti come to his feast so the people could see her, but queen Vashti disobeyed the king and refused to come.  After that Vashti was no longer queen, and the king’s servants were sent out to find all the maidens in the land and bring them to the palace.  One of those maidens was Hadassah, also known as Esther, who was charged by her uncle Mordecai, who had raised her, not to reveal that she was Jewish, something which is very important to remember.  Of all the maidens who were taken to the palace, Esther pleased the king, and she became the new queen, the king not knowing that she was Jewish.. 

At the end of Chapter 2:21-23 we learn that “while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name.” because of this 2:23 “when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree…..”  This bit of information may seem out of place, but all things mentioned in the bible are important, and we shall find out later why these few verses in Chp 2 are there.

Chapter 3:1 Haman is introduced “After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman….the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.” And then the reason why Haman hated Mordecai V2 “And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded…but Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.” The king’s servants wanted to know why Mordecai disobeyed the king’s commandment (V3) and as days went by and Mordecai still did not bow down to Haman, the king’s servants V4 “.... told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.” With the result V5 “when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath”. Haman did not want to lay hands on Mordecai alone, no, V6 “Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.” Surely this is a plan of Satan to destroy God's people. But Haman is so cunning, he must first turn king Ahasuerus against the Jews, so Haman told the king that V8-9 “….there is a certain people.. in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws:…if it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed….” Haman also promises V9 “I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to those that have charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.” Haman gets his wish, and V12 “..there was written to all that Haman had commanded..to the rulers of every people of every province…and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus…and the letters were sent by posts..to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day..the thirteenth day of the twelfth month which is Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.”  And the people were told V14 “they should be ready against that day” truly Jeremiah 17:9 describes Haman perfectly.  “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it.”

But now we see the perfect timing, and intervention of our Lord in having Esther become queen.  When Mordecai heard of this plan he 4:1 “..rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry.” Indeed in every province V3 “there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.” Esther learns of the plan to destroy the Jews from her maids and her chamberlains V4 “then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him, but he received it not.”..Esther sent forth one of the king’s chamberlains to find out what was happening and why, and Mordecai told him that V7 “Haman had promised to pay money to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.” And Mordecai V8 “gave him the copy of the writing of the decree…to show it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people,.” Then the chamberlain came and told Esther the words of Mordecai (V9) Esther sends word back to Mordecai that anyone who goes to the king without being summoned can be put to death, but if the king holds out his golden scepter he may live, but Esther had not been called to come in unto the king for 30 days (V10-11).  Mordecai knows that the only way the Jews will be saved will be if Esther goes to the King, and what follows are two of the most important verses in this chapter.   Chapter 4:13-14 "Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.  For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" By these statements,  Mordecai believes if Esther holds her peace and says nothing, she will be destroyed, but that the Jews will be delivered by some other means, and what if Esther became queen “for such a time as this”  Mordecai truly believes that the LORD will intervene, even though this is not stated in so many words.

The next verse contains words that are very well known.  “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.” Esther is willing to die for her people.  Would we be as willing, if need be?  So V17 Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

To be continued in Esther Part 3 – her appearance to the king, a banquet, and Haman’s gallows

vcg/August 2015