Esther 3

1-15 Haman Undertakes to Destroy the Jews

1-2 After Ahasuerus promotes Haman the Agagite to a position above the other officials, at the king’s command, all the king’s servants, except Mordecai, bowed down to Haman. The Jews consider Haman a descendant of Agag the Amalekite, whom Saul spared but Samuel killed (1 Samuel 15:8-11). Agag may have been the title of the kings of Amalek, so Haman could have descended from any one of them (Smith’s Bible Dictionary).

3-6 The other servants tell Haman about Mordecai’s refusal, which infuriates Haman, but thinking it “beneath him” to punish Mordecai alone, he decides to destroy all the Jews and in so doing also destroy Mordecai.

7-11 In the king’s 12th year, 1st month [4+ years after his marriage to Esther], Haman casts lots (Pur) to determine the month best for his extermination of the Jews. Then he tells the king the Jews are rebellious and promises him 10,000 talents to get his permission. The day chosen is the 12th month, 13th day [providential, in one commentator’s opinion, because it gives Esther enough time to prepare her people].

12-15 On the 13th day of the 1st month, the king sends an edict out to all the provinces that all Jews — men, women and children — are to be destroyed and their goods plundered. The king and Haman sit down to drink while Susan is “thrown into confusion.” It seems the king is too much influenced by his colleagues and maybe too much by drink.