A. Background Considerations 2:21-3:6

At this point in the narrative the writer introduced us to the villain, and we learn the reasons he hated the Jews.

 1. Mordecai's loyalty 2:21-23

We know no details concerning the identities of the assassins or the reasons they hated Ahasuerus. Extra-biblical sources have not yet clarified these matters, though the commentators love to speculate. Mordecai's position in the government is another evidence of God's providential preparation to deliver His people.

"Gallows"(v. 23; cf. 5:14; 7:10) is literally "tree."

"Rather than being hanged by the neck on a modern-type gallows, the men were probably impaled on a stake or post (cf. Ezra 6:11). This was not an unusual method of execution in the Persian Empire. Darius, Xerxes' father, was known to have once impaled 3,000 men."⁵¹

Ahasuerus was careful to record the name, father, and town of anyone who demonstrated particular loyalty to his throne and to reward him quickly and generously.⁵²

"Xerxes is consumed with power yet powerless as sovereign events unfold."⁵³

 2. Haman's promotion 3:1-6

The events we read in chapter 3 took place four years after Esther became queen (cf. 2:16; 3:7).

Agag was the name of an area in Media that had become part of the Persian Empire.⁵⁴However, Agag was also the name of the Amalekite king whom Saul failed to execute (1 Sam. 15:8; cf. Num. 24:7). By mentioning both Kish, Saul's father, and Agag, the Amalekite king, the writer may have been indicating that both men were heirs to a long-standing tradition of ethnic enmity and antagonism.⁵⁵

Mordecai's refusal to bow before Haman (v. 2) evidently did not spring from religious conviction (cf. 2 Sam. 14:4; 15:28; 1 Kings 1:6) but from ancient Jewish antagonism toward the Amalekites.⁵⁶Mordecai did not have to worship Haman (cf. Dan. 3:17-18). Not even the Persian kings demanded worship of their people.⁵⁷Nevertheless Ahasuerus had commanded the residents of Susa to honor Haman (v. 3). Probably people knew that Mordecai was a Jew long before his conflict with Haman arose (v. 4).

"While the fact that he was a Jew (4) would not preclude his bowing down, the faith of the exiles tended to encourage an independence of judgment and action which embarrassed their captors (Dn. 3; 6)."⁵⁸

Haman might have been successful in getting Mordecai executed. However when he decided to wipe out the race God chose to bless, he embarked on a course of action that would inevitably fail (cf. Gen. 12:3).