Many things have happened since Esther had been crowned queen. Mordecai had foiled a plot to assassinate the king. The king had gone to war with Greece hoping to add to his empire, but he lost! And, now, a new man had been placed in charge at Shushan.
Esther 3:1- After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
Haman was given a position of great importance. And, custom was that those in high positions would get special treatment from others.
Esther 3:2-4- And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment? Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
Everyone that sat in the gate bowed whenever Haman came through. Everyone, that is, but Mordecai.
He was still going every day to see if there was news of Queen Esther. He hadn't told anyone of his relationship to the queen, though he did tell people that he was a Jew.
Esther 3:5-6- And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
Haman had noticed that Mordecai didn't give him the special treatment that he thought he was entitled to. He was so mad that Mordecai wouldn't show him honor that he wanted to kill him! But, Haman was so wicked that he wanted to kill ALL Jews because of just one Jew's actions.
How terrible! Just imagine for a moment that there was a person who wanted to kill all puppies because once a puppy somewhere bit him! That's not right!
But, that's how Haman was acting. Just because one man didn't bow; Haman wanted to kill all Hebrew people everywhere!
And the problem with having a wicked person in a position of power is that they can do a lot of damage if there's no one willing to stand up and stop them!
Esther 3:8-9- And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.
Haman went to the king and told him that there were a group of people that were weird, and they didn't obey the law. He showed the king that it would be beneficial to wipe these people out and take what they owned as their own.
Perhaps the king was too trusting of Haman. Or maybe Haman's lies were very convincing! We don't know why, but the king consented to Haman''s request.
Esther 3:10-13- And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring. And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
So, Haman set a date, and then wrote letters and sent them out to all the kingdom- near and far. The letters said that on a certain day, anyone could kill any Jew and take their things as their own.
How horrible!
Esther 3:14-15- The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day. The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.
People everywhere were getting the news that they, or their children, or their friends would be killed and there was nothing they could do about it! There was more than likely a lot of anger, and tears, and despair all over the Persian Empire!
Esther 4:1-3- When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
When Mordecai heard about it, he put on the itchy, uncomfortable clothes of repentance and mourning that the Jews would wear, and he came to the gate of the palace.
No one in mourning could enter into the castle walls.
Esther 4:4- So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.
Mordecai loved Esther; Esther loved Mordecai. She didn't like the idea of him in such sadness! She sent clothes for him, but he wouldn't put them on.
Of course, she couldn't go out and see him.
Esther 4:5- Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.
Esther hadn't heard the news. She didn't know why Mordecai was so upset, so she sent one of her servants out to get some answers.
How would she respond? What would she do? What could she do?
Esther 4:6-9- So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate. And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people. And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
Esther was also distressed now. She hadn't told anyone that she was a Jew. But, how could she hide it and watch her people die?
Esther 4:10-12- Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
Esther had spent over a year getting ready just to meet the king. During that time, she learned all about the laws of the Medes and the Persians. One law, in particular, said that anyone who came before the king without being called by the king would be killed.
Esther didn't know what to do! How could she go before the king when he hadn't called her? How could she help her people if she were killed before she got a chance to talk to the king?
She told her servant to tell Mordecai her fears.
Esther 4:13-14- Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Mordecai understood Esther's fears. But, he reminded her that God had always delivered His people in the past. He told her that perhaps God had allowed her to become Queen so that she could save her people.
Remember when Mordecai was in the right place at the right time? Now, it was Esther's turn to do the right thing.
Esther 4:15-17- Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
Esther knew that Mordecai was right. She told him to have all the Jews in the city fast and pray for her to have courage, and for the king to show her favor. She and her maidens would fast and pray also.
After three days, she would go before the king. Would she live? Would the king listen? Could she save her people?
