Est 3:8 | KingComments | STEP | After Haman has cast the lot and determined the day of the extermination of the Jews, he goes to King Ahasuerus ( ). His intention is to get permission for his plan. Cunning as he is, Haman does not mention the name of the people. He wants to portray the people as a nation that is dangerous to the state. It is an anonymous people that has spread its cancer cells like a cancerous tumor throughout the entire kingdom of the king. He first points out that there is a people that lives “scattered and dispersed” among all other peoples. They are everywhere. Also because of their laws they are different from other nations (cf. ; ). Finally, the situation with these people is so bad that none of them “observe the king’s laws”. His conclusion is that it does not suit the king to leave them alone. If the king does leave them alone, this people will cause great difficulties in his kingdom and it will be over with the peace in his kingdom. He has a good solution and that is to kill the people ( ). If the king gives a written order for this now, it will be all right. The king doesn’t have to worry about the costs either. Haman declares himself willing to make a substantial deposit in the king’s treasury. With that money the hands of those who have to do the dirty work can be filled. In any case, it does not have to be at the king’s expense. What Haman says to Ahasuerus in , he means to discredit the people, but in fact it is a great compliment. It is a people of whom God has said that they dwell apart ( ). The world should be able to say the same of Christians today. Through salvation, God has separated His people, the church, from all other nations. To salvation belongs separation or sanctification. Separation is the result of salvation ( ). He who is saved is sanctified. This means that he belongs to God and no longer to the world. God led Abraham out of Ur and His people out of Egypt and us out of the world (cf. ). Haman’s plan shows us the deeply depraved thoughts of satan. The people of God are not charged with any crime, something that makes them punishable. There is also no condition that they must meet in order to save their lives. No, they must die, die without mercy, just because they are Jews. Thus, the enemies of the church have always called for “the blood of the witnesses of Jesus” ( ). Those enemies are like the leech that cries: “Give, give” ( ).

‏ Esther 3:8

Haman’s Plan

After Haman has cast the lot and determined the day of the extermination of the Jews, he goes to King Ahasuerus (Est 3:8). His intention is to get permission for his plan. Cunning as he is, Haman does not mention the name of the people. He wants to portray the people as a nation that is dangerous to the state. It is an anonymous people that has spread its cancer cells like a cancerous tumor throughout the entire kingdom of the king.

He first points out that there is a people that lives “scattered and dispersed” among all other peoples. They are everywhere. Also because of their laws they are different from other nations (cf. Deu 4:8; Psa 147:19-20). Finally, the situation with these people is so bad that none of them “observe the king’s laws”. His conclusion is that it does not suit the king to leave them alone. If the king does leave them alone, this people will cause great difficulties in his kingdom and it will be over with the peace in his kingdom.

He has a good solution and that is to kill the people (Est 3:9). If the king gives a written order for this now, it will be all right. The king doesn’t have to worry about the costs either. Haman declares himself willing to make a substantial deposit in the king’s treasury. With that money the hands of those who have to do the dirty work can be filled. In any case, it does not have to be at the king’s expense.

What Haman says to Ahasuerus in Est 3:8, he means to discredit the people, but in fact it is a great compliment. It is a people of whom God has said that they dwell apart (Num 23:9b). The world should be able to say the same of Christians today. Through salvation, God has separated His people, the church, from all other nations. To salvation belongs separation or sanctification. Separation is the result of salvation (1Cor 6:11). He who is saved is sanctified. This means that he belongs to God and no longer to the world. God led Abraham out of Ur and His people out of Egypt and us out of the world (cf. Gal 1:4).

Haman’s plan shows us the deeply depraved thoughts of satan. The people of God are not charged with any crime, something that makes them punishable. There is also no condition that they must meet in order to save their lives. No, they must die, die without mercy, just because they are Jews. Thus, the enemies of the church have always called for “the blood of the witnesses of Jesus” (Rev 17:6). Those enemies are like the leech that cries: “Give, give” (Pro 30:15).