Est 3:1 | KingComments | STEP | This chapter is dedicated to Haman. Haman gets his high position from Ahasuerus. We see in this the picture that every power a person has ultimately comes from God. Something else is, how someone uses that power. Haman uses it for his own honor and to kill God’s people, because they do not bow down before him. From the expression “after these events” ( ) we see that a new part begins, in which new events will take place. We are here at the beginning of the twelfth year of the reign of Ahasuerus ( ), while the events of the previous chapter take place around the seventh year of his reign ( ). As an introduction to the new events, our attention is focused on what Ahasuerus is doing to Haman, the fourth protagonist of this book. In a threefold mention we are told remarkably emphatically that Ahasuerus exalts Haman to great heights. Ahasuerus 1. “promoted Haman”, 2. he “advanced him”, and 3. “established his authority over all the princes who [were] with him”. As with two other protagonists, Mordecai and Esther, Haman’s ancestry is also mentioned ( ). Haman is the great opponent of Mordecai and the people of Mordecai. Here Haman is made great by Ahasuerus as a prelude to the extermination of God’s people. So how is it possible that the king is a picture of God? We only understand that when we see that God is sovereign and gives power to whom He wills. He controls everything. God created the angel who would become satan ( ). He has allowed satan to have dominion over creation because he succeeds in deceiving man. Since then, satan has been the “god of this world [lit. age]” ( ) and “the ruler of this world” ( ) who reigns the world. At the same time, God never relinquishes control. For example, He Himself will conceive the Antichrist ( ), while in the following verse He also pronounces the ‘woe’ over him ( ). Thus, the Lord Jesus says to Pilate when He stands before him as a Prisoner: “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above” ( ). It is significant that Haman is an Agagite. Agag is the title of the Amalekite kings ( ; ). Saul, who like Mordecai is a Benjaminite, must kill Agag. Saul, however, spares his life. What Saul out of disobedience leaves out, Samuel then does ( ). In the book of Esther we see in Mordecai another Benjaminite ( ) as opposed to another Agagite. Will Mordecai do better than Saul? In Haman and Mordecai, two nations face each other. One is the people of Mordecai, that is the people of the Jews, God’s people; the other is a people that hates God’s people with great hatred, that is the people of the Amalekites. This hatred has been shown in history. Amalek is the first enemy to attack Israel, while the people have only just been delivered out of Egypt ( ). In view of this, God commands His people to exterminate Amalek ( ). Amalek, however, has not yet been exterminated. Balaam speaks of the exaltation of Amalek ( ), although the Messiah will eventually be higher ( ). Here we see the exaltation of Amalek. Instead of an exaltation of Mordecai as a reward for saving the life of the king, a great enemy of God’s people is exalted. But what at first glance seems to go against God’s promises is helping to fulfill His plans. We see this, for example, in Paul’s life. When he is on his way as the Lord’s messenger, he is captured. Now he can no longer fulfil his commission and go around preaching, because he is bound. God, however, has a purpose with it. Paul is aware of this and therefore he can say that his captivity has “turned out for the greater progress of the gospel” ( ). We also see this with Israel. God has promised to make the people numerous ( ), but it seems as if the enemy has a chance to exterminate them ( ). The people are in great distress and cry out to God. This is the reason for God to fulfil His promises ( ).

‏ Esther 3:1

Introduction

This chapter is dedicated to Haman. Haman gets his high position from Ahasuerus. We see in this the picture that every power a person has ultimately comes from God. Something else is, how someone uses that power. Haman uses it for his own honor and to kill God’s people, because they do not bow down before him.

Haman, the Agagite

From the expression “after these events” (Est 3:1) we see that a new part begins, in which new events will take place. We are here at the beginning of the twelfth year of the reign of Ahasuerus (Est 3:7), while the events of the previous chapter take place around the seventh year of his reign (Est 2:16).

As an introduction to the new events, our attention is focused on what Ahasuerus is doing to Haman, the fourth protagonist of this book. In a threefold mention we are told remarkably emphatically that Ahasuerus exalts Haman to great heights. Ahasuerus

1. “promoted Haman”,

2. he “advanced him”, and

3. “established his authority over all the princes who [were] with him”.

As with two other protagonists, Mordecai and Esther, Haman’s ancestry is also mentioned (Est 2:5 ; 15).

Haman is the great opponent of Mordecai and the people of Mordecai. Here Haman is made great by Ahasuerus as a prelude to the extermination of God’s people. So how is it possible that the king is a picture of God? We only understand that when we see that God is sovereign and gives power to whom He wills. He controls everything.

God created the angel who would become satan (Eze 28:14-19). He has allowed satan to have dominion over creation because he succeeds in deceiving man. Since then, satan has been the “god of this world [lit. age]” (2Cor 4:4) and “the ruler of this world” (Jn 16:11) who reigns the world. At the same time, God never relinquishes control. For example, He Himself will conceive the Antichrist (Zec 11:16), while in the following verse He also pronounces the ‘woe’ over him (Zec 11:17). Thus, the Lord Jesus says to Pilate when He stands before him as a Prisoner: “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above” (Jn 19:11).

It is significant that Haman is an Agagite. Agag is the title of the Amalekite kings (Num 24:7; 1Sam 15:20 ; 32). Saul, who like Mordecai is a Benjaminite, must kill Agag. Saul, however, spares his life. What Saul out of disobedience leaves out, Samuel then does (1Sam 15:9 ; 33). In the book of Esther we see in Mordecai another Benjaminite (Est 2:5) as opposed to another Agagite. Will Mordecai do better than Saul?

In Haman and Mordecai, two nations face each other. One is the people of Mordecai, that is the people of the Jews, God’s people; the other is a people that hates God’s people with great hatred, that is the people of the Amalekites. This hatred has been shown in history. Amalek is the first enemy to attack Israel, while the people have only just been delivered out of Egypt (Exo 17:8 ; 16). In view of this, God commands His people to exterminate Amalek (Deu 25:17-19).

Amalek, however, has not yet been exterminated. Balaam speaks of the exaltation of Amalek (Num 24:20), although the Messiah will eventually be higher (Num 24:7). Here we see the exaltation of Amalek. Instead of an exaltation of Mordecai as a reward for saving the life of the king, a great enemy of God’s people is exalted. But what at first glance seems to go against God’s promises is helping to fulfill His plans.

We see this, for example, in Paul’s life. When he is on his way as the Lord’s messenger, he is captured. Now he can no longer fulfil his commission and go around preaching, because he is bound. God, however, has a purpose with it. Paul is aware of this and therefore he can say that his captivity has

“turned out for the greater progress of the gospel” (Phil 1:12).

We also see this with Israel. God has promised to make the people numerous (Gen 15:5), but it seems as if the enemy has a chance to exterminate them (Exo 1:7 ; 8 ; 22). The people are in great distress and cry out to God. This is the reason for God to fulfil His promises (Exo 2:23-25).