Mordecai vs. Haman
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Character Development
King Ahasuerus (Esther 1)
Esther and Mordecai (Esther 2)
Haman (Esther 3:1-6)
Setting the stage (3:19-20)
Esther 2:19–20 (ESV)
19 Now when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. 20 Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him.
Question (19a)
The Second time
“Now when the virgins were gathered together the second time...” is difficult to understand. The gathering of the virgins was for the purpose of replacing Queen Vashti. Esther was picked to replace Vashti (2:17). So, why gather the virgins a second time?
“The LXX does not include the words “Now when the young women were being gathered again.” The Hebrew word שֵׁנִית (shenit, “a second time”) is difficult in v. 19, but apparently it refers to a subsequent regathering of the women to the harem.” (Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible. Second Edition. Denmark: Thomas Nelson, 2019. Print.)
Mordecai
“Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate."
“That Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate apparently means that he was a high-ranking government official. It was at the city gate where important business was transacted. Being in this position afforded Mordecai an opportunity to become aware of the plot against the king’s life, although the author does not include the particular details of how this information first came to Mordecai’s attention.” (Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible. Second Edition. Denmark: Thomas Nelson, 2019. Print.)
“the king’s gate. A place where justice was dispensed by officials appointed by the king.” (Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008. Print.)
Mordecai was in an official position for the King that served the people of Susa and was able to be there for Esther in the harem.
Esther (20)
Emphasizes that Esther continues to keep her kindred a secret from those in the King’s Palace.
Esther was obedient to Mordecai about her heritage.
Mordecai (2:21-23)
Mordecai (2:21-23)
The plot revealed (2:21–22): Mordecai overhears a plot by some palace guards to assassinate the king. He reports the information to Esther, and she tells the king.
Esther 2:21–22 (ESV)
21 In those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 22 And this came to the knowledge of Mordecai, and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai.
Mordecai comes to know about assassination attempt upon the King.
King’s Eunuchs - “eunuchs. It was common practice in the ancient world for the king to have a harem (cf. 1Ki 11:3) and for the harem to be provided with guards. These guards were typically eunuchs (castrated men), so that the king could be sure that the males who were in close proximity to his women were not capable of sexual relationships with them.” (Keener, Craig S., and John H. Walton, eds. NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016. Print.)
“The noun, meaning “(court) official,” has its origin in the Akkadian title ša re̱ši (šarri) “the one of the (king’s) head.” The meaning “eunuch” arose with the practice of utilizing castrated men in key positions in the various nations of the ancient near east (e.g. in Persia, Est 2:3ff.; 4:4f.).” (Patterson, R. D. “1545 סָרִיס.” Ed. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament 1999: 634–635. Print.)
Threshold
“The door to the king’s private quarters.” (Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008. Print.)
Bigthan and Teresh seemed to be guards for the King’s safety stationed at the doors of the King’s private quarters. They became angry with the King and planned to assassinate the King.
Mordecai came to hear about their plans to kill the King. He informed Queen Esther about the plan. Esther went to the King about the plan to assassinate him in the name of Mordecai (giving credit to Mordecai). This is important to the story here and in later part of the story.
The plot recorded (2:23): Because of Mordecai’s report, the guards are hanged, and the entire episode is duly recorded in the king’s archives.
Esther 2:23 (ESV)
23 When the affair was investigated and found to be so, the men were both hanged on the gallows. And it was recorded in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.
Bigthan and Teresh were found guilty and executed on the stakes.
Annuals of the King
“All ancient Near Eastern monarchs kept records of events that occurred during their reigns (see note on 1Ki 14:19).” (Keener, Craig S., and John H. Walton, eds. NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016. Print.)
This is a minor detail in the story that will play an important role in the story later on.
The plot Unrewarded
“Acts of loyalty were ordinarily rewarded immediately and generously by Persian kings, but Mordecai’s reward was initially overlooked, even though his action had been noted.” (NIV Archaeological Study Bible)
Mordecai should have been rewarded with honor by the King for this action that saved the life of the King.
Although Mordecai was not rewarded, He continued to conduct his life the way he knew was right.
How do our expectations of reward or not receiving reward (physical or verbal) affect how we react?
This would have been seen as important by the ancient reader knowing the usual procedure in this situation.
God is going to use this event in numerous ways in the future to accomplish His Will.
Haman (3:1-6)
Haman (3:1-6)
Plot twist with introduction of new character.
Haman’s Introduction (3:1a)
Esther 3:1 (ESV)
1 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him.
Name (Haman The Agagite, the Son of Hammedatha)
Agagite
Naming in Biblical writings
Name of the person, Son of _____, an ___ite
Isaac the son of Abraham
Jacob, the Son of Isaac, the son of Abraham.
Canaanites, Israelites, Hittites, etc.
Agagite
There in no record of a nationality of Agag.
Agagite is only used in the book of Esther and always in relation to Haman.
Was not able to find information for Agagite outside the Bible.
Haman’s Promotion (3:1b)
Esther 3:1 (ESV)
1 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him.
King Ahasuerus promoted Haman above all the officials.
We have no idea why or how he was promoted.
“tn Heb “made great”; NAB “raised … to high rank”; NIV “honored.” sn The promotion of Haman in 3:1 for reasons unexplained contrasts noticeably with 2:19–23, where Mordecai’s contribution to saving the king’s life goes unnoticed. The irony is striking.” (Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible. Second Edition. Denmark: Thomas Nelson, 2019. Print.)
Plot twist: This is an emphasis by the author that would have and does cause questions in the mind of the readers. Why is Mordecai not being honored by the King with obvious good deed and good character? Instead, we see Hanan being honored with high position without a known reason and bad character?
Haman’s Personality (3:2-6)
Haughty (3:1a-2): King Xerxes promotes Haman to prime minister; all the royal officials bow down whenever Haman passes by.
Esther 3:1–2 (ESV)
1 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him. 2 And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage.
Haughty - blatantly and disdainfully proud : having or showing an attitude of superiority and contempt for people or things perceived to be inferior.
People Bow down to him by order of the king.
Esther 3:1–2 (NET 2nd ed.)
1 Some time later King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, exalting him and setting his position above that of all the officials who were with him. 2 As a result, all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate were bowing and paying homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded. However, Mordecai did not bow, nor did he pay him homage.
Haman thought so much of himself that he expected to be honored by others.
“...For the King had so commanded.”
The king commanded others to bow down to Haman as he walked by.
King Ahasuerus is influenced by others and used His authority to fulfill the the desires of himself and others. Memucan (1:16-20) and King’s young men (2:2)
Haman will later use the King to get what he wants (Next week) and I believe he was a deceptive person that manipulated the King to become promoted and cause others to bow down to Him. He is so arrogant that he wants not only the position of honor, but also the praise of others.
Mordecai’s response
He would not bow down. Why? Don’t know, but it affects Haman.
Hateful (3:3–5): Haman becomes furious when Mordecai refuses to bow down before him.
Esther 3:3–5 (ESV)
3 Then the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the king’s command?” 4 And when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury.
fury n., a feeling of intense anger: (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
similar use as with Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel 3:19 (ESV)
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated.
Haman is an arrogant person who expected everyone to honor and praise him and became very angry when someone doesn’t.
Haman came to hate Mordecai because he would not bow.
Haman came to hate the Jews because Mordecai is a Jew. He is later addressed as an enemy of the Jews.
Esther 3:10 (ESV)
10 So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews.
Heartless (3:6)
Esther 3:6 (ESV)
6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.
Genocide
Destroy - to destroy (damage) v., to destroy completely; damage irreparably. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
Haman’s fury and hatred was extended to the complete extinction of all Jews in the empire of Persia.
Lessons from Mordecai and Haman
Lessons from Mordecai and Haman
Mordecai
Live in a way that Honors God no matter if you get recognized or not.
God may be at work to position you through the situation for a future plan or purpose.
So whether we get the rewards or honor we expect for our actions, we should live in a way that will honor God and do what we know is right.
Haman
He lived an arrogant life in which he wanted the honor and praise of others. We are called by God to think rightly about ourselves.
Romans 12:3 (ESV)
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Haman became angry when he did not get what he wanted and dealt with his anger with revenge. He sought to get revenge against Mordecai by killing him and all the Jews. We are to live in a way that is more like Mordecai and not Haman.
Romans 12:15–21 (ESV)
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.