July 2, 2012
In chapters 3 and 4, the story begins to accelerate; the main villain is introduced, and the critical purpose for Esther’s becoming queen is revealed.
In chapter 3, Xerxes makes an appointment similar to Darius’ raising of Daniel to an ultimate position of authority; in this case, however, it is the opposite – an evil man is given power over the entire kingdom, and it is his objectives, not those of his enemies, that are sinister. He plots both personal murder and genocide, and the two are intimately linked together, for the man and the people are the same in his eyes. He proceeds through deception and bribery, and he manipulates the law system to engage all the kingdom and its peoples in his crime.
The new prime minister (for all intents and purposes) is Haman, and his family descent is from a man called Agag. For those not familiar with him, let us make a quick review of Israel’s early history; when the Hebrews first came out of Egypt in the Exodus, a nation of desert raiders called the Amalekites attacked them from behind. It was during this time that Aaron and Hur held Moses’ hands up while Joshua led the people into battle; so long as Moses’ hands were raised (in prayer to GOD), the Israelites beat back their enemies. Because of their conflict with Israel, GOD commanded Saul, Israel’s first king, to completely wipe out the Amalekites.
Ignoring GOD’s command, however, Saul spared the best of the Amalekites’ possessions, along with their king, whose name was Agag. Although Agag was later killed by the prophet/judge Samuel, his family line apparently survived, as evidenced by Haman. This leads us to the next salient point: Mordecai’s civil disobedience in refusing to bow and give homage to Haman. He did this for different reasons – first, Haman represented Israel’s failure to obey; second, to bow was to worship, and as a Jew, Mordecai gave that devotion to GOD alone. The fact that the king had commanded all his servants to do so brings to mind another parallel to the book of Daniel – particularly the Fiery Furnace incident.
Upon learning of Mordecai’s objections – and how his entire nationality shares them – Haman begins formulating a plan to remove them all from the land of the living. He contrives a half-truth to convince Xerxes that a racial genocide is necessary to provide stability and prevent insurrection in the empire, promising to pay for it out of his own pocket. In return, he gains the king’s signet ring, which in essence provides him with carte blanch to put whatever laws he needs into effect to succeed.
Mordecai vents his grief in the traditional manner of that time (sackcloth and ashes), and refuses to cover it up when Esther sends fresh clothes, perhaps fearing that he is making a scene. He then sends a copy of Haman’s edict as evidence of the danger and cause of his grief. He also sends a plea that Esther intervene on the behalf of their people. He reminds her that, if she does not do so, GOD will find another way to save the Jews, but that He placed her where she is for just such a reason; should she refuse to act, she can be just as easily removed.
Naturally, Esther is afraid; although she is the queen, she is still under the king’s authority and can act only in accordance with him or face execution (presumably on charges of treason or sedition). Nevertheless, she agrees to do as Mordecai asks, requesting that he and the other Jews in the capital fast and pray for her as she prepares to go to the king without being summoned. She is taking a huge risk, but she is willing to make it; death will be the penalty if she fails, but that would have come anyway (with Haman’s genocide), so she decides to risk her life on a possibility for success rather than await something otherwise inevitable.