1 "AFTER these things did King Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and 2 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 down, and did reverence to Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not down, 3 nor did him reverence. Then the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest 4 thou the king's commandment? Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he harkened not unto them,15that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters 5 would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew. And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not down, nor did 6 him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. But he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had showed him the people of Mordecai; wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, 7 even the people of Mordecai. In the first month, which 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, 8 which is the month Adar. And Haman said unto King Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from those of every people; neither keep they the king's laws; therefore it is not for the king's 9 profit to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written that they be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those that have the charge of the king's business, to bring it into the king's treasuries. 10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman 11 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."
Golden Text: "If God be for us, who can be against us." Rom. 8: 31.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What is the historical setting of the book of Esther? Note 1. (2) Mention the points of interest in connection with it. (3) After Mordecai's service to the king what did Ahasuerus do? V. 1. (4) How did the king's servants regard Haman? and why? How did Mordecai regard him? V. 2. Note 2. (5) What question was asked Mordecai? V. 3. (6) When Mordecai persisted in his refusal to honor Haman, what did the king's servants do? and why? V. 4. (7) How did Mordecai's course affect Haman? V. 5. (8) What did Haman purpose to do? V. 6. Note 3. (9) What steps were taken by Haman? V. 7. Note 4. (10) How did Haman describe the Jews to the king? V. 8. Note 5. (11) What request and proposition did Haman make the king? V. 9. Note 6. (12) How did the king respond? V. 10. Note 7. (13) How full a commission did the king give to Haman? V. 11. (14) When was Haman's will embodied in law? Note 8.
NOTES.
1. Book of Esther.—The Ahasuerus of Esther is the Xerxes of history. The story told in this book belongs to the fifty-eight years between Ezra 7 and 8, between B.C. 515 and B.C. 458, or more nearly in the middle of Xerxes' reign, B.C. 485 to 474, about threescore years after the first return of Ezra, two-score years after the completion of the temple. Xerxes' third year (Esther 1:3) B.C. 482; Esther made queen in his seventh year (2: 16), B.C. 478; Haman's plot in his thirteenth year, B.C. 472.
The book opens with a magnificent description of the great Persian Empire, with its 127 provinces; of the six months' great international exposition held in his third year; of his drunken demand for the exposure of Vashti's beauty, and her virtuous refusal; of her deposition; of the search for a new favorite; of Mordecai and Esther, and her acceptance by the king; and of God's overruling providence in using Mordecai to save the king from a conspiracy against his life. Here our lesson begins.
2. Bowed not.—He could not bow to a man as God; and it is not unreasonable to suppose that Haman was an Amalekite, a descendant of Agag the king. The Amalekites were the most bitter enemies of the Lord. See 1 Samuel 15.
3. All the Jews.—He would scorn to put one man to death. Mordecai had insulted him as a Jew; all the nation must die.
4. They cast Pur.—"Pur" means lot; that is, they consulted by their idolatrous practises, by sacrifices, by a flight of birds, or the entrails of beasts, for a favorable day for asking the king's permission. God interposed in His providence to put it off for nearly a year, to give Esther and His people time.
5. Laws diverse.—They kept God's law. Altho neither God nor His worship is mentioned in this book, doubtless for fear of the Persians, it is clear that the Jews were not worshipers of idols. Their laws were diverse from all peoples. They kept God's law, and this diversity, tho no damage to his kingdom, was used to prejudice the king against them.
6. Ten thousand talents of silver.—Estimated at from $10,000,000 to $20,000,000. Haman was doubtless a rich man, but he would have secured as much or more than this in spoiling the Jews.
7. His ring, containing the king's official seal, conveying to the wicked plotter royal authority. Ahasuerus acted with his characteristic rashness and folly. The silver is given thee (verse 11) may refer to the spoil of the Jews, or the silver offered by Haman.
8. Haman's cruelty was promulgated as law on the thirteenth day of the first month, a year from his first knowledge of Mordecai's insult. The decree was published in every province that on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month all, old and young, little children and women, were to perish. Our next lesson will show how God can overrule all things.
