King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 9 notes
1After 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.
Was this not what was sought for Daniel that led to his being thrown into the den of lions? 🦁
2And 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.
3Then the king’s servants, which were in the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king’s commandment?
Mordecai was a man of principle.
His comrades questioned him as to why he was willing to transgress the king's commandment.
But in truth he was not transgressing the king's commandment; he knew there was only one true king, and that was JEHOVAH, God of Israel.
Whose commandment they had transgressed and were now in exile.
He was not going to make the mistakes his nation made, and was willing to rather die than transgress the king's command.
It is interesting that at the same time that Mordecai refused to bow to man-made gods, his brothers in Babylon also likewise refused, i.e. Shadrach, Meshach and co.
Again, he, like Daniel, was willing to transgress the king's command in keeping with the King of kings' command and his beliefs.
4Now 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.
How a little spark can set a whole house ablaze.
Just this reporting of the servants set the stage for a grand showdown.
5And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
6And 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.
7In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.
Hm 🤔. This Haman was deep in the occultic.
For them to cast lots for 12 whole months...
Indeed, his threat to destroy the Jews was not a mere wish. He knew the weight 🏋️ of power needed for such an action, and he was ready to make the sacrifice.
In the earlier verse he thought it too little a matter to handle Mordecai... That shows how powerful he really was and what it took him by way of sacrifice to get to the realm of power.
Little wonder he was greatly feared 😱 and revered.
But the Jews, the Jew called Mordecai, feared no man nor god save Jehovah. Such faith in God, and God came through for him, but it took them down a rabbit 🐰 hole 🕳.
We need to exercise faith in God and his power if indeed we believe in him.
8And 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.
The king was a busy man, and like all leaders with so much going for them yet so little time,
they rely on the words of close associates and confidants; that is their superstrength when the associate is a good one.
But a great disincentive and danger to the throne if not.
Such evil confidants to the king can cause much pain and hurts even in the realm of the king...
And sadly the king may never know it.
9If 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.
10And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy.
I understand why later the king was so wrought with the conspiracy.
This act could have toppled his kingdom.
In that his wife was a Jew, and per the royal decree, which was irreversible, his wife would have to be killed, or could have been killed on his blind side, since they do not live together.
This would have been a very bad omen, because Esther was his second wife; then also other Jews like Mordecai, who had saved his life, would be killed as well.
So if even those who saved the king's life at a point are killed, then who is the king really loyal to? Who can please him?
He would have lost trust and loyalty from his trusted associates, because they knew his reckless laws could be their undoing at any point in time.
It was only a matter of time there would be a plot against him to topple him.
11And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
What a trust that the king has reposed in Haman, to give him such powers that an entire nation was at his whims to do what pleases him to them.
12Then 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.
13And 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.
14The 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.
15The 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.
Whenever there is sorrow, pain and affliction... Bear 🐻 in mind that there are others drinking 🍻 and making merry.
There was Shushan the palace, or the palace of Shushan, and Shushan the city.