Haman's plot against the Jews

Introduction

Story format

Character development

Problem developed

Events leading up to the Climax

Climax of the story

Resolution of the problem

Happy Ending

Character Development

King Ahasuerus (Esther 1)

Esther and Mordecai (Esther 2)

Haman (Esther 3:1-6)

Haughty, Hateful, Heartless

Promoted and honored by the King. Hatred towards Mordecai.

Problem

Here is where the author makes known the problem of the Story.

Last week, we saw the conflict between Mordecai and Haman. Haman expected and King ordered that officials were to bow to Haman when he walks by, but Mordecai would not.

Esther 3:5 (ESV)

And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury.

It is through this conflict and the fury of Haman that the problem of the story arises.

The Plot (3:6–9)

Haman’s hatred and plot (6)

Esther 3:6 (ESV)

But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

Haman was very angry with Mordecai for not bowing in honor of Him. He decides to get revenge on Mordecai through the extermination of all his people.

to destroy (damage) v., to destroy completely; damage irreparably. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Haman is looking to destroy all Jews in the Persian Empire.

Haman’s Plan (7)

Esther 3:7 (ESV)

In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman day after day; and they cast it month after month till the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.

In the first month of the 12 year of the reign of Ahasuerus

Esther made Queen - Esther 2:16 “And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign,”

5 years later.

Haman hatches a plan and starts the working out of the plan.

“They cast Pur...”

Pur - lot (object) n., any kind of small object (such as a stick, pebble, or shard) used for making decisions by a random outcome or for determining the will of God. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

In ancient near eastern culture, the casting of lots were used to make decisions or seek the will of the gods.

The High Priest of Israel used lots to seek the will of God.

Exodus 28:30 (ESV)

And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before the Lord. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly.

“URIM AND THUMMIM (אוּרִים, urim;, תֻּמִים, tumim). Objects kept in the breastpiece of the High Priest and used to discern the will of God.” (Klippenstein, Rachel. “Urim and Thummim.” Ed. John D. Barry et al. The Lexham Bible Dictionary 2016: n. pag. Print.)

Haman may or may not seeking the will of the gods by casting the pur, but is seeking a time to fulfill his plan. The Pur fell on the 13th day of the 12th month. This gives him a full year to accomplish what he needs to do for the destruction of the Jews to happen.

Haman’s Persuasion (8-9)

Esther 3:8–9 (ESV)

Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king’s laws, so that it is not to the king’s profit to tolerate them. If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king’s business, that they may put it into the king’s treasuries.”

The first part of His plan is to get the King to sign on to the plan so he can use the King’s authority to destroy the Jews throughout the Persian empire.

King Ahasuerus’ personality

He is easily influenced by others and using his authority to accomplish what he wants. (Memucan, wisemen, now Haman)

Haman is going to deceive the King by showing him how these people are a threat to his reign and the personal benefit for Him.

Haman’s Deception

Jews are a threat to His reign (8)

“There is a certain people...” Haman does not even state that it is the Jewish people.

Scattered throughout his Kingdom (8a)

They have their own law and do not obey his laws (8b)

Haman will personally give to the King (9)

10,000 talents of silver

“The amount of money offered is ridiculously excessive (possibly about two-thirds of a year’s revenue from the whole empire).” (Reid, Debra. Esther: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 13. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008. Print. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries.)

“Haman then offered to get for the king over $25,000,000 in silver if the king would authorize the slaying of the Jews.” (Wiersbe, Warren W. Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1993. Print.)

“The exact dollar amount is uncertain, but reportedly it would have weighed 375 tons and equaled almost 70% of the King's annual revenue.” (John MacArthur)

This is another emphasis of the author by pointing out the extensiveness of the giving. The author is using this to show the immense hated of Haman.

The Permission (3:10–11)

Esther 3:10–11 (ESV)

So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. And the king said to Haman, “The money is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.”

The King like the plan of Haman and the benefits it would bring to Him.

Gives Haman his signet ring.

Signet ring n., a ring incised to make an impression; used to secure (with wax) or to authenticate documents (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

King Ahasuerus gave Haman the authority to set a decree that can’t be broken. This is a command that will have the name and authority of the King, not Haman.

Gives Haman Permission to do as he seems good.

Haman has the full authority of the King to write up the command as he sees fit.

Haman now has the Kings permission and authority to work out his plan of revenge.

The Proclamation (3:12–15)

Letters with King’s authority (12)

Esther 3:12 (ESV)

Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written to the king’s satraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the officials of all the peoples, to every province in its own script and every people in its own language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring.

King’s Scribes

Secretary n., a person who is in charge of written documents as a relatively high official in a kingdom: (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Haman is using the King’s scribes to write up the edict to give it a clear command from the King himself. To me, it seems as thought Haman is either hiding behind the King’s authority or making sure that his plan has all the chance for success.

Command was sent to every province.

letters were written to all governing officials through out the empire in their own languages.

The letters were sent in the name of the King and sealed with his signet ring.

The Edict (13-15)

Esther 3:13–15 (ESV)

Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with instruction to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day. The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.

Letter content (13)

instructions to kill all Jews

Destroy, kill, and annihilate

Young and old, Women and Children

In one day, 13th of 12th month Adar

Again extreme orders. Kill all Jews in one day.

Plunder their goods.

Decree (14)

custom legal n., accepted or habitual practice; often with the custom being understood as legally binding:” (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Similar to the command of Nebuchadnezzar - Daniel 3:1-7 “King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. …”

People in turmoil, Haman and King feast (15)

Esther 3:15 (ESV)

The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.

Lessons from Haman

Dealing with anger and unmet expectation

Haman was proud and became very angry when he did not get what he expected. He was a man promoted to a position of authority and used his position to get revenge.

Proverbs 29:22 (ESV)

A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.

How do we deal with anger and unmet expectation?

Proverbs 15:18 (ESV)

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

Abuse of Power

Haman used his authority and deception of the King to get his revenge on Mordecai.

We are called by God to use our power and authority to bless and edify others.

Mark 10:42–45 (ESV)

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”