Esther 2-3

Treachery, Ancient Racism, and Drunken Statesmanship

The assassination attempt:

Read Timeline up to this point.

Esther may have appointed Mordecai to what appears to be an official position as a lower court official. Throughout the kingdom and the near east, “the gate” was used as a place where justice would be served. Those inquiring of justice would stand, while the king or his appointed official would sit.

Mordecai was now in a position where he overheard and witnessed many of the goings on of the palace officials, for in this particular citadel, the officials who were in service to the king would remain within the area of the King’s gate

Read page 72 from tyndale.

Two officers of the king, gatekeepers, conspire to assassinate Ahasuerus. The reasons men could come up with for murdering a king are many, but it is possible they were dissatisfied with his lack of accomplishment in war.

Mordecai overhears this plot and alerts Esther.

What happens next is reminiscent of the cupbearer who benefited from Joseph’s dream interpretation, yet forgot to honor him before the Pharoah.

It is important to notice however that the incident was officially recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king. I think a case could be made that the king was an alcoholic, for his memory and decision making abilities do not serve him well throughout the book of Esther.

Enter Haman:

Haman Son of Hammedatha the Agagite.

Who is Agag?

Who are the Amalekites?

Who is Amalek? Read and 10-12

Who is Canaan? Read and 9:24-26

So through our backwards timeline we have seen the seeds of good and evil weaving their way through time. Ultimately the difference we see in the descendants of Ham, and Shem, is a general willingness to revolt against God in the one, and a general willingness to obey God in the other.

If Haman had even an inkling of knowledge of what we just read, then he hated the Jews severely, and he hated their God, who had always cared for and fought for the sons of Shem.

Mordecai likely knew of this history as well, which may have been why he refused to bow before him.

It wasn’t unacceptable for Jews to bow before men.

It is also important to note that Haman likely was not generally respected by all people in the first place, which is likely why an order was given for people to bow to him. It would have been the custom to bow to someone in Haman’s position out of respect, not under compulsion, but Haman needed special orders given for him to be honored.

Kill all Jews:

Mordecai alone does not bow before Haman.

v4The other officials give him chances

There was likely widespread dislike of Haman, and if Mordecai was allowed to defy him, others would follow.

This decree was posed to the King without mention of the specific people group.

v7 The decree was to be executed 11 months later

March 7 473 BC

“Purim is celebrated on the 14th day of Adar, which is usually in March. The 13th of Adar is the day that Haman chose for the extermination of the Jews, and the day that the Jews battled their enemies for their lives. On the day afterwards, the 14th, they celebrated their survival. In cities that were walled in the time of Joshua, Purim is celebrated on the 15th of the month, because the book of Esther says that in Shushan (a walled city), deliverance from the massacre was not complete until the next day. The 15th is referred to as Shushan Purim.

In leap years, when there are two months of Adar, Purim is celebrated in the second month of Adar, so it is always one month before Passover. The 14th day of the first Adar in a leap year is celebrated as a minor holiday called Purim Katan, which means "little Purim." There are no specific observances for Purim Katan; however, a person should celebrate the holiday and should not mourn or fast. Some communities also observe a "Purim Katan" on the anniversary of any day when their community was saved from a catastrophe, destruction, evil or oppression.” (Judaism 101.com)

What is the character of Mordecai?

Haman?

Esther?

Xerxes?

How is God at work?