Esther Chapter 3

Haman seeks revenge

3:1 Some time later King Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ
Transliteration;’ăḥašvērôš Pronunciation akh-ash-vay-rosh’ Ahasuerus = “I will be silent and poor” title of the King of Persia (Iran), probably Xerxes successor to Cyrus, toward the end of the 70 years of Babylonian exile. 4th century B.C.E. (Rashi) For more info click here promoted*גִּדַּל הַמֶּלֶךְ
the King promoted- God caused Haman to be raised to power in order to make his eventual fall greater. The holy One Blessed be He said “Should Haman be slain when he goes down to stop the building of the Temple, no one will know who he was. Let him therefore, become great and famous and afterwards be hanged (Midrash) – From The Megillah: The Book of Esther Hamanהָמָן
Transliteration; hāmān Pronunciation haw-mawn’ Haman = “magnificent”- A descendant of Agag King of Amalek, chief   minister of Ahasuerus, enemy of Mordecai and the Jews, who plotted to kill the Jews but, being foiled by Esther, was hanged, with his family, on the gallows he had made for Mordecai For more info click here the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and all the officials that [were] with him.
3:2 All the king’s servants, that [were] at the King’s Gate would kneel , and bow down before Hamanהָמָן
Transliteration; hāmān Pronunciation haw-mawn’ Haman = “magnificent”- A descendant of Agag King of Amalek, chief   minister of Ahasuerus, enemy of Mordecai and the Jews, who plotted to kill the Jews but, being foiled by Esther, was hanged, with his family, on the gallows he had made for Mordecai For more info click here: because the king had commanded it. But Mordecaiמָרְדְּכַי
Transliteration:mārdᵊḵay Pronunciation; mor-dek-ah’-ee “little man” or “worshiper of Mars” cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim For more info click here didn’t kneel or bow down to him.
3:3 So the king’s servants, that were in the King’s Gate, asked Mordecaiמָרְדְּכַי
Transliteration:mārdᵊḵay Pronunciation; mor-dek-ah’-ee “little man” or “worshiper of Mars” cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim For more info click here, Why don’t you obey the king’s command?
3:4 Now it so, happened, when they said this to him day after day, and he didn’t listen to them, so they told Hamanהָמָן
Transliteration; hāmān Pronunciation haw-mawn’ Haman = “magnificent” – A descendant of Agag King of Amalek, chief   minister of Ahasuerus enemy of Mordecai and the Jews, who plotted to kill the Jews but, being foiled by Esther, was hanged, with his family, on the gallows he had made for Mordecai For more info click here, in order to find out if Mordecaiמָרְדְּכַי
Transliteration:mārdᵊḵay Pronunciation; mor-dek-ah’-ee “little man” or “worshiper of Mars” cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim For more info click here‘s words would stand. Because he had told them that he was a Jewיְהוּדִי
Transliteration: yᵊhûḏî – Jew (74x), Judah (1x) The term ‘Yehudi’ (derived from Yeddah, or Judah, fourth son of Jacob) has become a synonym for Jew. Yehudah’s mother gave him that name because she said, ‘I will praise God.’ Yehudah is thus a declaration that Jews always praise God,hence the common name Yehudi regardless of tribal origin (Sfas Emes) for more info click here.
3:5 When Hamanהָמָן
Transliteration; hāmān Pronunciation haw-mawn’ Haman = “magnificent”- A descendant of Agag King of Amalek, chief   minister of Ahasuerus, enemy of Mordecai and the Jews, who plotted to kill the Jews but, being foiled by Esther, was hanged, with his family, on the gallows he had made for Mordecai For more info click here saw that Mordecaiמָרְדְּכַי
Transliteration:mārdᵊḵay Pronunciation; mor-dek-ah’-ee “little man” or “worshiper of Mars” cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim For more info click here didn’t bow, down or kneel to him, then was Hamanהָמָן
Transliteration; hāmān Pronunciation haw-mawn’ Haman = “magnificent”- A descendant of Agag King of Amalek, chief minister of Ahasuerus, enemy of Mordecai and the Jews, who plotted to kill the Jews but, being foiled by Esther, was hanged, with his family, on the gallows he had made for Mordecai For more info click here filled with fury.
3:6 But he thought it beneath him to lay hands on Mordecaiמָרְדְּכַי
Transliteration: mārdᵊḵay Pronunciation; mor-dek-ah’-ee “little man” or “worshiper of Mars” cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim For more info click here alone; because they had told him of the people of Mordecaiמָרְדְּכַי
Transliteration: mārdᵊḵay Pronunciation; mor-dek-ah’-ee “little man” or “worshiper of Mars” cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim For more info click here. And Hamanהָמָן
Transliteration; hāmān Pronunciation haw-mawn’ Haman = “magnificent”- A descendant of Agag King of Amalek, chief minister of Ahasuerus, enemy of Mordecai and the Jews, who plotted to kill the Jews but, being foiled by Esther, was hanged, with his family, on the gallows he had made for Mordecai For more info click here plotted to destroy all the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִים
Transliteration: hayyᵊhûḏîm – Jew (74x), Judah (1x) The term ‘Yehudi’ (derived from Yeddah, or Judah, fourth son of Jacob) has become a synonym for Jew. Yehudah’s mother gave him that name because she said, ‘I will praise God.’ Yehudah is thus a declaration that Jews always praise God,hence the common name Yehudi regardless of tribal origin (Sfas Emes) for more info click here, the people of Mordecaiמָרְדְּכַי
Transliteration: mārdᵊḵay Pronunciation; mor-dek-ah’-ee “little man” or “worshiper of Mars” cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim For more info click here who were throughout the entire kingdom of Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ
Transliteration;’ăḥašvērôš Pronunciation akh-ash-vay-rosh’ Ahasuerus = “I will be silent and poor” title of the king of Persia (Iran), probably Xerxes successor to Cyrus, toward the end of the 70 years of Babylonian exile. 4th century B.C.E. (Rashi) For more info click here.
3:7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ
Transliteration;’ăḥašvērôš Pronunciation akh-ash-vay-rosh’ Ahasuerus = “I will be silent and poor” title of the king of Persia (Iran), probably Xerxes successor to Cyrus, toward the end of the 70 years of Babylonian exile. 4th century B.C.E. (Rashi) For more info click here, they threw Purפּוּר‎
Transliteration: pûr Pronunciation:poor “lot” or “piece”. Persian for lottery. Purim is plural or “lots or “pieces” For more info click here , that is, the lot, in the presence of Hamanהָמָן
Transliteration; hāmān Pronunciation haw-mawn’ Haman = “magnificent”- A descendant of Agag King of Amalek, chief minister of Ahasuerus, enemy of Mordecai and the Jews, who plotted to kill the Jews but, being foiled by Esther, was hanged, with his family, on the gallows he had made for Mordecai For more info click here from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, which is the month of Adarאֲדָר
Ădār; from Akkadian adaru is the sixth month of the civil year and the twelfth month of the religious year on the Hebrew calendar, roughly corresponding to the month of March in the Gregorian calendar. It is a month of 29 days. For more info click here.

Haman obtains a murderous decree

3:8 Then Hamanהָמָן
Transliteration; hāmān Pronunciation haw-mawn’ Haman = “magnificent”- A descendant of Agag King of Amalek, chief minister of Ahasuerus, enemy of Mordecai and the Jews, who plotted to kill the Jews but, being foiled by Esther, was hanged, with his family, on the gallows he had made for Mordecai For more info click here said to King Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ
Transliteration;’ăḥašvērôš Pronunciation akh-ash-vay-rosh’ Ahasuerus = “I will be silent and poor” title of the king of Persia (Iran), probably Xerxes successor to Cyrus, toward the end of the 70 years of Babylonian exile. 4th century B.C.E. (Rashi) For more info click here, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; and their laws are different from those of every other people; and they don’t observe the laws of the king : so it isn’t appropriate for the king to tolerate them.
3:9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued for their destruction: and I will pay ten thousand talents The Biblical weight of a talent is equal to approximately 34 kilograms or 74.96lbs (or 30 tons $1,104,060 in 2025) of silver*וַעֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים כִּכַּר־כֶּסֶף
Ten thousand silver talents [Haman felt that by giving away a huge sum of money equal to the value of the entire nation, he would be assured that his prey (the Jews) would not escape his clutches] – From The Megillah: The Book of Esther to the hands of those who perform the duties, for deposit in the king’s treasuries.
3:10 And the king removed his signet ring*טַבַּעְתּוֹ
His signet ring. Transference of the King’s signet ring was symbolic that Haman now had full authority to act on the king’s behalf (Rashi) – From The Megillah: The Book of Esther from his hand, and gave it to Hamanהָמָן
Transliteration; hāmān Pronunciation haw-mawn’ Haman = “magnificent” chief minister of Ahasuerus, enemy of Mordecai and the Jews, who plotted to kill the Jews but, being foiled by Esther, was hanged, with his family, on the gallows he had made for Mordecai For more info click here the son of Hammedatha (meaning double) the Agagite, the enemy of the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִים
Transliteration: hayyᵊhûḏîm – Jew (74x), Judah (1x) The term ‘Yehudi’ (derived from Yeddah, or Judah, fourth son of Jacob) has become a synonym for Jew. Yehudah’s mother gave him that name because she said, ‘I will praise God.’ Yehudah is thus a declaration that Jews always praise God,hence the common name Yehudi regardless of tribal origin (Sfas Emes) From The Megillah: The Book of Esther.
3:11 And the king said to Hamanהָמָן
Transliteration; hāmān Pronunciation haw-mawn’ Haman = “magnificent”- A descendant of Agag King of Amalek, chief minister of Ahasuerus, enemy of Mordecai and the Jews, who plotted to kill the Jews but, being foiled by Esther, was hanged, with his family, on the gallows he had made for Mordecai For more info click here*With the exception of Karachi, Haman was the richest man who ever lived, for he stole the treasures of the Judean kings and of the Temple (Midrash) – From the Artscroll English Tanach, The silver is given to youנָתוּן לָךְ
i.e. consider your money as having already been accepted by me and use it to execute your avowed purpose of annihilating the people any way you wish (M`nos Halevi) – From The Megillah: The Book of Esther, the people too , to do with them as you see fit.
3:12 Then the king’s secretaries were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and everything was written exactly as Hamanהָמָן
Transliteration; hāmān Pronunciation haw-mawn’ Haman = “magnificent”- A descendant of Agag King of Amalek, chief minister of Ahasuerus, enemy of Mordecai and the Jews, who plotted to kill the Jews but, being foiled by Esther, was hanged, with his family, on the gallows he had made for Mordecai For more info click here had dictated to the king’s satraps, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the officials of every people [to] each province according to its script, and [to] each people in their own language. It was written in the name of king Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ
Transliteration;’ăḥašvērôš Pronunciation akh-ash-vay-rosh’ Ahasuerus = “I will be silent and poor” title of the king of Persia (Iran), probably Xerxes successor to Cyrus, toward the end of the 70 years of Babylonian exile. 4th century B.C.E. (Rashi) For more info click here, and sealed with the king’s signet ring.
3:13 And the letters were sent by courier to all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to to annihilate, all the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִים
Transliteration: hayyᵊhûḏîm – Jew (74x), Judah (1x) The term ‘Yehudi’ (derived from Yeddah, or Judah, fourth son of Jacob) has become a synonym for Jew. Yehudah’s mother gave him that name because she said, ‘I will praise God.’ Yehudah is thus a declaration that Jews always praise God,hence the common name Yehudi regardless of tribal origin (Sfas Emes) for more info click here, from young to old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adarאֲדָר
Ădār; from Akkadian adaru is the sixth month of the civil year and the twelfth month of the religious year on the Hebrew calendar, roughly corresponding to the month of March in the Gregorian calendar. It is a month of 29 days. For more info click here, and to seize their belongings as plunder.
3:14 Copies of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation, calling on all the peoples to be ready for that day.
3:15 The couriers went out, being hurried*יָצְאוּ דְחוּפִים
Went out quickly. There were several reasons for the strange hasten publishing a decree that would not executed for 11 months. Haman was afraid that the fickle king would have a change of heart. He wanted to prolong the agony of the Jews throughout the kingdom by telling them of the impending massacres far in advance (Rav Galico). God desired a lapse of so many months to give the children of Israel a chance to repent (Me`am Loez) – From The Megillah: The Book of Esther by order of the king, and the decree was given in Shushan the capital. And the king and Hamanהָמָן
Transliteration; hāmān Pronunciation haw-mawn’ Haman = “magnificent” – A descendant of Agag King of Amalek, chief minister of Ahasuerus, enemy of Mordecai and the Jews, who plotted to kill the Jews but, being foiled by Esther, was hanged, with his family, on the gallows he had made for Mordecai For more info click here sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was bewildered.