BOOK 17 OF 66 · HISTORY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Esther 3

Esther book home•Chapter 3 of 10•15 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Esther 3 Overview

Haman is promoted above the king’s princes, but Mordecai refuses to bow to him. Haman’s anger expands from Mordecai to the entire Jewish people. By casting Pur, Haman selects a date and secures the king’s authorization for a decree ordering the destruction of the Jews throughout the empire.

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Before you read Esther 3

Coming from

Chapter 2 placed Esther on the throne and recorded Mordecai’s unrewarded loyalty to the king.

In this chapter

Haman’s personal hatred becomes an empire-wide genocidal decree against the Jews.

Leads into

Chapter 4 shows Mordecai and the Jews mourning and brings Esther face-to-face with the question of whether she will risk approaching the king.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The issue is larger than a personal quarrel once Haman targets Mordecai’s entire people. The Pur was a lot used to select an auspicious time; the book later makes its apparent power look empty because the chosen date becomes the day of Jewish victory instead of destruction.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

Unchecked pride can turn personal offense into destructive policy against innocent people.

Truth 2

Haman manipulates royal authority by portraying an entire people as dangerous and offering financial benefit for their destruction.

Truth 3

The decree creates a crisis that Esther’s earlier placement in the palace is uniquely positioned to address.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

Daniel 3 contains another imperial demand involving public honor and refusal, though the specific circumstances are different.

Connection 2

Psalm 37 describes the wicked plotting against the righteous while their apparent advantage is temporary.

Connection 3

Esther 9 explicitly connects the feast name Purim to the Pur Haman cast in this chapter.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

The text does not fully explain Mordecai’s reason for refusing to bow; do not invent certainty beyond what is written.

Keep this clear 2

Do not generalize Haman’s hostility into suspicion of entire modern ethnic or national groups.

Keep this clear 3

The casting of Pur is part of Persian practice; Scripture does not endorse divination by reporting it.

Read Esther 3 watching for…

Haman’s promotion and Mordecai’s refusal to bow.

How Haman’s anger broadens from one man to one people.

The language Haman uses to persuade the king.

The role of money and royal authorization.

The contrast between the king and Haman drinking while Shushan is perplexed.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-6Haman is promoted, Mordecai refuses to bow, and Haman plans to destroy all the Jews 7-11Haman casts Pur and persuades the king to authorize the destruction of the Jews 12-15The decree is written and sent through the empire, leaving Shushan perplexed

After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?

Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.

And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.

If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.

And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.

And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.

Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.

And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.

The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.

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Esther 3:4

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