A Tale of Two Plots (Esther 2:19-3:15)
Esther chapter two ends with a brief description of how Mordecai, sitting in the King’s Gate, overhears a plot to kill the King and he saves his life by warning Esther. (This brief episode parallels much of the entire book’s main plotline precisely!) We see that this heroism is recorded in the records.
Esther chapter three tells us about another plot entirely. Again, Mordecai is sitting at the King’s Gate, but this time he merely refuses to bow down and honor Haman, a man who is a new official of the King. And that man is so incensed at Mordecai’s disdain, that he decides to kill every Jew in the entire empire. This feels excessive, as much that has happened in the book thus far (feasts, competitions) but it also demonstrates that Haman has the same sorts of serious flaws that the King does. He is super sensitive about his own image and “thin-skinned”, he does not confront people directly or relationally but plots to destroy them “within the system”, and he magnifies his own feelings to becoming an issue involving huge groups of people.
So, Haman and the King are both men of low character and quality. As if to underline that fact, we see that the. King—who is supposed to be the most powerful man on earth—is a push-over. Whatever his people want, they get no questions asked. The King hears that Haman wants to issue a decree to wipe out and entire race of people, and he simply hands him the signet ring and gives him cart blanche.
Esther chapter three tells us about another plot entirely. Again, Mordecai is sitting at the King’s Gate, but this time he merely refuses to bow down and honor Haman, a man who is a new official of the King. And that man is so incensed at Mordecai’s disdain, that he decides to kill every Jew in the entire empire. This feels excessive, as much that has happened in the book thus far (feasts, competitions) but it also demonstrates that Haman has the same sorts of serious flaws that the King does. He is super sensitive about his own image and “thin-skinned”, he does not confront people directly or relationally but plots to destroy them “within the system”, and he magnifies his own feelings to becoming an issue involving huge groups of people.
So, Haman and the King are both men of low character and quality. As if to underline that fact, we see that the. King—who is supposed to be the most powerful man on earth—is a push-over. Whatever his people want, they get no questions asked. The King hears that Haman wants to issue a decree to wipe out and entire race of people, and he simply hands him the signet ring and gives him cart blanche.
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