Esther Chapters 4,5,6 Commentary

ESTHER Chapters 4-6 Chapter 4 4:1-2 Sackcloth was a very rough fabric, made of goat hair and was usually worn as a sign of mourning. Sometimes the mourner sat in the ashes (Job 2:8), placed them on his head (2 Samuel 13:19), or wallowed in them (Jeremiah 6:26). Mordecai’s mourning was not a private affair; rather it was a graphic portrayal of pending national calamity. Mordecai could not enter the palace in such garb, but he came close enough to be noticed by Esther’s servants. “Mordecai was a man of strong feeling…One should not hide one’s concern in crisis situations” (Breneman p. 333). “There is no indication that Mordecai was sorry for his actions in refusing to bow down to Haman. This would support the idea that his action was based on religious convictions” (p. 334).

4:3 Mordecai’s actions were being duplicated by many other Jews in the empire as they heard of this terrible decree. This verse is the low point in the narrative. It seems like that there is nothing anyone can do to avert disaster coming upon God’s people.

4:4 Note that Esther is still very concerned about Mordecai. His distress causes her great distress. Power, prestige, and position hadn’t made “Esther’s unique position in the harem apparently shut her off from normal lines of communication. She did not seem to be aware of the edict about the execution of the Jews” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 707). This verse may infer that Esther’s servants knew that Esther and Mordecai were related.

4:5-6 Since Mordecai could not come to Esther, she sent her personal attendant, “Hathach” (HAYthak) to find out what was troubling Mordecai.

4:7-9 Mordecai not only had a copy of the decree, but he knew exactly how much money Haman had offered to destroy the Jews. “Esther was to witness with her own eyes the decree bearing the king’s personal seal.

The massacre had been ordered by Ahasuerus, and if it was to be stopped, he would have to issue that order. Esther was the only one in a strategic position to plead for such a reversal, so Mordecai placed the destiny of his

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people in her hands” (Winters p. 181). Mordecai was well informed, even of details about the money Haman had offered the king.

4:10-12 Herodotus, the Greek historian, confirms in his writings that the Persians had such a law as described in verse 11. “Security was tight around the king. Not even the queen herself could assume the prerogative of approaching him without a specific invitation. A threat to the king would naturally be assumed when any person appeared in the inner court uninvited. Those guarding the king were under orders to kill such intruders without hesitation” (Winters p. 182). Persian monarchs, like those in most ancient nations, were protected against unwanted visitors.

The king had the power to execute anyone who disturbed him without an appointment. For the king to extend the golden scepter to someone, showed that he approved of the visit and that the person was welcome and not in danger of death. Since Esther had not been summoned by him for a month she did not know whether his attitude toward her would be favorable.

4:13-14 Mordecai reminded Esther that she also faced danger if she did nothing. Mordecai believed that God would somehow deliver His people and that Esther would be condemned if she did nothing. “He and Esther occupied positions of influence in relation to the king. If they refused to take advantage of such, deliverance would certainly come for God’s Holy People from another source, but they themselves would lose both their lives….What a powerful lesson and warning for those of us who have opportunities to stand for truth and righteousness, but refuse to do so!”

(Winters p. 183).

Points to Note: 1. We will be condemned if we allow our fears to keep us from doing what is right (Revelation 21:8). 2. Having a position of influence places us under a greater responsibility. 3. God will work and God will deliver, we have the choice as to whether we will be God’s tools in such activity (2 Timothy 2:18ff). 4. God doesn’t need us, His work will continue if we don’t act, but we will be the loser in the end if we draw back and sit on the sidelines. 5. Feelings can be a very inaccurate guide. Esther could have said, “But the king hasn’t called me for a month and I just don’t feel that now is the right time”. There are times in life when you have to just do what is right, regardless of the circumstances. 6. Mordecai was humble when it came to God’s providential workings. He didn’t say, “Surely, you are the person that God will use to save His people”.

Rather, he said, “And who knows?”. “In a crisis situation such as this, there was no neutral position. Failure to decide brings personal loss and misses the opportunity to fulfill God’s purpose” (Breneman p. 337).

Mordecai reminds her that her exaltation as a queen may have been God’s way of obtaining a savior for His people.

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4:15-17 Esther didn’t respond, “Let me think about it”. Usually, “thinking about” such things leads to giving into the temptation to save our own skin. Give Esther credit, she accepted the truth when she heard it, she wanted everyone to entreat God on her behalf, and she was prepared to give her life for God’s people. “Esther had now conquered her natural fears. She was now ready to lay her life on the line for her people.

Rashness acts without fear; bravery, in spite of it” (Smith p. 697).

Points to Note: 1. Esther doesn’t simply rush into the king’s presence, rather, she makes the proper preparations, prayer and fasting. 2. She counts the cost and is prepared to sacrifice her life. 3. She also sees the big picture. What is the use of saving herself, if all her people, including Mordecai are slain? Do we have faith like this? Are we prepared to give our lives or to suffer in seeing that God’s will is done? Do we say, “If I lose friends, I lose friends”, “If I offend people with the truth, I offend them”?

Chapter 5 5:1-2 On the third day, that is when the fasting was completed, Esther dressed in her royal splendor and went into the inner court of the palace in front of the king’s hall. Xerxes was sitting on this throne in the hall, facing the entrance. From this position he could see Esther standing in the court.

The king quickly accepted Esther because she pleased him. “After thirty days he had perhaps forgotten how beautiful she was, but most importantly, he had no idea why she had come” (Breneman p. 339).

5:3 The king knew that if Esther came like this, at risk to her life, she must have an important matter in mind. The statement, “Even to half of the kingdom”, was apparently an idiom to express the point that Esther could request whatever she desired and that her wish would be fulfilled.

5:4-8 Why Esther did not immediately relate to the king Haman’s evil plot here, or at the first banquet, is not stated. From a literary standpoint, this delay raises the tension level as the story moves to its climax. But what this delay did do was that is gave Haman further rope to hang himself. For, during the first and second banquet, Haman will start construction on a gallows for the purpose of hanging Mordecai (5:14). “The delay gave time for some very significant events to transpire---Haman would walk out still farther on the dangerous precipice of pride” (Winters p. 185).

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Points to Note: 1. Esther may have sensed that the king was not in the right frame of mind for her to tell him on that day, but the text seems to indicate a tremendous willingness on the part of the king. 2. The lesson here may be that God can even providentially work through our delays. That is, for God to use us in His service we don’t have to have perfect timing.

3. The king is so impressed by Esther’s request that he immediately suspended all other activities, and urged Haman to do the same: the queen must not be kept waiting” (Winters p. 185).

5:9 It was a very unusual honor to be invited to a banquet with the queen, for Persian officials were protective of their wives. Haman leaves completely full of himself---until he sees Mordecai.

5:10 The name of Haman’s wife is “Zeresh” (ZEE resh).

5:11-13 “Haman was so overwrought about Mordecai that he could not enjoy his good position. As a social braggart he also reminded them of his promotions and rank in the government, capping it off by telling them that on two successive days he was to be the guest of honor at a private banquet with only the king and queen present. However, he admitted that all his money and fame did not satisfy him because of Mordecai” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 708).

Points to Note: 1. Pride does go before destruction (Proverbs 16:18). 2. This is the world’s view of happiness. Nothing can be enjoyed as long as one little thing is out of place. Haman could only really enjoy the banquet the next day if Mordecai was killed. Are we like this? Do we become obsessed with one thing that we don’t or can’t have—and are completely blind to everything that we do have? 3. Haman didn’t need any more wealth, but Haman coveted was fame, and to be the type of person that people would have to crawl before and fear. 4. With all his power, position and money, he was still unhappy and miserable because one man refused to honor him as he wanted to be honored. These verses also demonstrate that one person can make a huge difference in life. “Mordecai’s refusal to kneel down to Haman reveals that as long as there is one person willing to risk his or her life, God’s will can break through the oppression of society” (Breneman p. 341). 5. These verses also reveal the fragile nature of an unbelievers happiness.

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5:14 Haman’s wife and friends aren’t any better than he is. They suggested that Haman have a gallows built that would be 75 feet high. The gallows might have been an impaling stake, a common method of execution in the ancient world. Haman was so arrogant and self-confident that he was sure that the king would honor the request to have Mordecai hanged the next day. The height of the gallows is consistent with what we know of Haman’s vanity and his obsessive desire for revenge. A stake this high could be seen by everyone is Susa, and would be a graphic reminder of what happened to people who refused to crawl before the mighty Haman. “The author again pointed out the world’s idea of happiness. If Haman could get rid of Mordecai first, then he would be happy at the next day’s banquet” (Breneman p. 341).

“The drama of the account should not be missed. Esther had not yet presented her petition to the king; the king did not know that Mordecai had once saved his life (and never been rewarded); and now an impalement tree had been set up for Mordecai” (Smith p. 698).

Chapter 6 6:1 Note the significance of this passage. “The tension which has been building throughout the account now began to dissipate. Previously understated facts take on new meanings. Almost incredible circumstances point to God’s hand guiding the course of events. The entire course of history for the Jewish nation was changed because a pagan king, hundreds of miles from the center of God’s activities in Jerusalem, could not sleep. Jewish people all over the Persian Empire, and especially in Palestine itself, were unaware of God’s dealings till long after the fact” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 709).

Point to Note: Be impressed with the “little things” which God can use to bring about huge things! And how many times has God kept us from harm---and we haven’t even known it?

6:1 Providentially, instead of taking a walk or something else, the king requests to hear a reading of the court records. Added to that, it just so happens that the precise volume which mentioned the heroics of Mordecai was being read. “Of all the texts that could have been selected by the librarian (from the records of Xerxes’ 12 years of rule up to that time), the one that contained the account of Mordecai’s uncovering the assassination

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plot (2:21-23) was read to the king. Wow! And note, God doesn’t perform a miracle or override the freewill of anyone. Is God powerful or what?

6:2-3 Further, it just so happened that Mordecai had never been properly rewarded for his loyalty. This event had taken place about five years previously to this night (Esther 2:16; 3:7). Keep this in mind next time you get upset for not being immediately praised or rewarded for something!

“If Mordecai had been immediately rewarded for his saving the king there would have been no need for the elaborate plan which would soon be carried out by the king through the mouth of Haman” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 709).

Point to Note: Such passages should serve as a serious warning to unbelievers or unfaithful Christians who are trying to hide their sins or live a dual life. You can try to cover your tracks to the best of your ability, but you will miss something, and that little thing that you missed, God can use to bring about your downfall. People who try to outsmart God end up losing everything.

6:4 Note the extreme tension in the passage. Providentially, Haman arrives at the court right after the king’s question about Mordecai is answered.

The king has just heard that Mordecai saved his life---and Haman has just entered having built a gallows upon which to hang Mordecai! Evidently, the king had heard a flurry of activity in the outer court, indicative of the approach of a dignitary, and he wanted to know who was approaching him at that early morning hour.

6:6 Here God uses human ignorance, misunderstanding, or a lack of clear communication to bring about His purposes. He also uses the arrogance of Haman. Here is a good example of how God can use the evil attitudes of people to entrap the very people who manifest those attitudes, and a good sample of how God can entrap the wicked in their own craftiness (1 Corinthians 3:19). Haman immediately jumps to the conclusion that the man who the king wishes to honor, could be no one other than himself!

6:7-9 Haman did not need money (Esther 3:9). He craved respect from his peers and from the population at large. Beyond that, carefully look at what Haman wanted for himself, and it sure looks as if Haman was coveting the position occupied by Xerxes. He wanted to be viewed as royalty (6:8).

6:10-12 Just imagine the shock when Haman heard the name “Mordecai”!

Oh how God can bring about irony. What a turn of events. Mordecai, whom he hated, had to be honored by Haman. He who wanted respect from Mordecai had to give respect to Mordecai. “Haman’s dream house

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crashed around him. All his burning expectations of glorious exposure in the king’s apparel were suddenly doused “(Winters p. 192).

6:13 As Mordecai returned to his duties, Haman rushed home and explained all these humiliating details to his wife and friends. What Haman’s “wise men” and his wife said to them was, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish origin, you will not overcome him, but will surely fall before him”. And yet, these are the same people who just a day before told him to build a gallows for Mordecai! You can almost here Haman saying, “Why didn’t you give me that little piece of information yesterday before I started building those gallows!”

Point to Note: I could be that such “wise men” knew enough of Jewish history to realize that their God was powerful (i.e., the deliverance from Egypt, their restoration to the land of Palestine, and so on). Or, this may be simply another example of the world’s wisdom, that the world is only wise when the writing is already on the wall. Or, the world’s wise men can really only predict the obvious.

6:14 Before Haman can backtrack, cover his tracks, and especially have the gallows removed, he is immediately picked up for the banquet.

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