Section 3:1–6

Haman became angry with Mordecai

The next event in the story was that the king promoted one of his officials called Haman to the highest position in the land, next to the king himself. The king ordered all his servants to bow down to Haman in respect to him, but Mordecai refused to do this because he was a Jew. When Haman heard about this, he was angry and planned to destroy all the Jews in the empire. He cast lots to find out the best day to choose for killing the Jews.

Paragraph 3:1–6

3:1a

After these events: The text doesn’t state an exact time here, but it was probably about four years after Esther had become queen.

honored: No reason is given why the king suddenly decided to honor Haman.

Agagite: Agag was the name of the king of the Amalekites whom King Saul conquered and took prisoner and whom Samuel cut in pieces (1 Samuel 15:8, 33). It may be that Haman was descended from this king.

3:1b

elevating him: This means that Xerxes promoted Haman and gave him a more important position in his government than he had had before.

princes: See note on 1:3b.

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