An Old Enemy with a New Name (Esther 3:1-6)
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For four years, things have been peaceful in Shushan. Esther has reigned as queen, and Mordecai has tended to the king’s business at the gate. Then everything changed, and all the Jews in the empire found themselves in danger of being killed—just to satisfy the hatred of a man named Haman. Haman personifies everybody who has tried to exterminate the people of Israel. This chapter explains to us why Haman was such a dangerous man.
I. Haman’s ancestry (Es. 3:1a)
1a. After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite
A. Haman was an “Agagite”
This meant that he was descended from Agag, king of the Amalekites. We can easily understand why Haman hated the Jews: God had declared war on the Amalekites and wanted their name and memory blotted off the face of the earth. (1 Samuel 15:3) Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”
It was Saul, the first king of Israel, whom God commanded to destroy the Amalekites; and he failed in his commission and lost his own crown. Because Saul didn’t fully obey the Lord, one Amalekite lived; and one of their descendants, Haman, was determined to annihilate his people’s ancient enemy, the Jews. (1Samuel 15:9)But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.
B. Everything about Haman is hateful.
You can’t find one thing about this man worth praising. In fact, everything about Haman, God hated! “These six things the Lord hates, yes seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren” (Prov. 6:16–19, NKJV).
Keep these seven evil characteristics in mind as you read the Book of Esther, for you will see them depicted in this depraved man.
II. His authority (Es. 3:1b)
1b and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.
A. Haman chief officer in the empire.