posts = the hand of the runners. Compare Esther 8:10 . destroy . . . kill . . . cause to perish. Note the Figure of speech Synonymia , to emphasize the utter destruction contemplated. perish. Hebrew. 'abad. Here and Esther 4:16 ; Esther 7:4 ; Esther 8:11 , not Esther 9:28 . take the spoil. See note on Esther 9:10 . read more
Esther 3:13. Letters were sent by posts— The first institution of posts is generally ascribed to the Persians; for the kings of Persia, as Diodorus Siculus observes, lib. 19: in order that they might have intelligence of what passed in all the provinces of their vast dominions, placed centinels on eminences, at convenient distances, where towers were built; and these centinels gave notice of public occurrences to each other, with a very loud and shrill voice; by which method news was... read more
B. Haman’s Proposal 3:7-15His pride having been wounded, Haman set about to take revenge, not only on Mordecai, but also on all of Mordecai’s relatives. read more
3. The king’s permission 3:10-15The imprint of an official’s signet ring (Esther 3:10) was the equivalent of his signature in ancient times (cf. Genesis 41:42; Esther 8:2; Esther 8:8; Esther 8:10). Ahasuerus gave permission to Haman to confiscate the Jews’ wealth and to put them to death (Esther 3:11; cf. Proverbs 18:13). Merrill suggested that Ahasuerus viewed the Jews as a scapegoat to blame for his humiliating losses to the Greeks. [Note: Eugene H. Merrill, Kingdom of Priests, p. 502.] The... read more
Haman’s Revengeful Design Against the Jews1. The Agagite] It has been suggested that the name is an epithet meant to recall the Amalekite Agag hewn in pieces by Samuel (1 Samuel 15:33), and intended to indicate contempt and abhorrence.2. Mordecai bowed not, etc.] In the apocryphal ’Rest of Esther’ Mordecai explains in a prayer to the Almighty that he refused to bow down to Haman, ’that he might not prefer the glory of man above the glory of God.’ Amongst many heathen peoples divine honours were... read more
(13) Posts.—Literally, the runners. (See Note on Esther 1:22.) read more
The Solitariness of Principle Esther 3:8 In this story of the Persian Empire it is related how Haman, the king's chief favourite, felt insulted because Mordecai the Jew neglected to give him sufficient honour. His wounded dignity demanded revenge, but could not be satisfied with merely inflicting punishment on the man who had offended him. Because Mordecai was a Jew he would have the indignity wiped out by the extermination of the whole tribe. So Haman, by a little judicious flattery of the... read more
HAMAN AND HIS WICKED PLOT CHAPTER 3 1. The promotion of Haman and Mordecai’s faithfulness (Esther 3:1-6 ) 2. Haman’s proposal and the King’s assent (Esther 3:7-11 ) 3. The proclamation of death (Esther 3:12-15 ) Esther 3:1-6 . How long after these things the history of this chapter came to pass is not definitely stated. It probably happened after a short interval. We are now introduced to Haman, the Son of Hammedatha the Agagite. Him the king promoted and set his seat above all the... read more
HAMAN'S ADVANCEMENT AND CONSPIRACY (vv. 1-15) After this (though we are not told how long after) King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, an Agagite, to a position above all the princes (v. 1).Agag had been the king of the Amalekites(1 Samuel 15:8), who were bitter enemies of Israel from the time Israel came out of Egypt(Exodus 17:8-16) concerning whom God said He would utterly blot out the remembrance of them from under heaven (Exodus 17:8-14). King Saul had later spared Agag when destroying the... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Esther 3:1-15
3:1-7:10 PLAN TO DESTROY THE JEWSHaman plots evil (3:1-15)Some time later, a proud and ambitious man named Haman was promoted to the position of chief minister in the Empire. He apparently demanded that people honour him almost as if he were a god. Mordecai refused, letting it be known that he was a Jew, and claiming that to give Haman such honour was against his Jewish religion. Haman was furious, and decided to get his revenge by killing all the Jews in the Empire (3:1-6). (Esther had now... read more