Sermon Tone Analysis

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.