The Beginning of the End for Haman in Esther 6:12-14
High drama unfolds as the conflict between Haman and Mordecai escalates in the narrative of Esther. Mordecai's return to the king's gate signals a shift in fortune, while Haman mourns in despair. The stage is set for Haman's downfall, showcasing themes of reversal of fortune and divine justice in the unfolding events.
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ESTHER 6:12-14 The Beginning of the End for Haman
REVIEW FROM LAST TIME We left the narrative at a point of high drama. Sandwiched between banquets six and seven, Esther gives us the plot against Mordecai by Haman and his advisers, the King s insomniac review of the Annals of Persia, and the episode of honor bestowed on Mordecai. The conflict between Haman and the Jews is soon to be resolved. Before we get there, we have several verses that set the stage for Haman s downfall. 2023 Esther 6:12-14 2
OPENING PRAYER Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen 2023 Esther 6:12-14 3
6:12 THEN MORDECAI RETURNED TO THE KINGS GATE, BUT HAMAN HURRIED TO HIS HOUSE, MOURNING AND WITH HIS HEAD COVERED 2 Samuel 15:30 Psalm 44:15 2 Chronicles 32:21 (Sennacherib) Psalm 89: 38-44 Lamentations 2:17 Psalm 102:23 Although Esther pretends to be a secular book that doesn t mention God, Torah, the festivals, or religious practices, some of these themes have plenty of Biblical literature. The reversal of fortune of a once great man is a type in Scripture, and this reversal is often blamed on wickedness, disobedience, arrogance, or failure to follow God s law. 2023 Esther 6:12-14 4
6:12 CONTINUED And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. Returned, i.e., to his former condition and employment. The high honor done him was regarded as sufficient reward. (Pulpit Commentary.) This return is not to the sackcloth and ashes routine he had the last time we saw Mordecai (before his honoring). This is a return to his former position as a minor official of the court, at the King s gate. It would be safe for us to assume that Mordecai s mood was greatly improved after the great display of honor, he might reasonably conclude things were taking a turn in his favor, and that of his people; though as yet he knew not what success Esther had had. (Gill s Exposition.) 2023 Esther 6:12-14 5
6:12 CONTINUED It is very possible that among Haman s counselors at home, there would have been seers or diviners. The Persians were quite superstitious and used soothsayers and Mediums. Their advice at 5:14 makes sense, because the work of Mediums is to read the signs and offer advice based on the signs. These same advisers will read the tea leaves a bit differently the second time around and make the safe assumption that Haman s reign is about to end. Of course, you don t have to be a meteorologist to know which way the wind is blowing (Bob Dylan). Previously the advisers had not hesitated to advise him to hang the insignificant Jew; but now that the insignificant Jew has become, as by a miracle, a man highly honored by the king, the fact that the Jews are under the special protection of Providence is pressed upon them The revival of the Jewish people since the times of Cyrus was sufficient to induce, in the minds of heathen who were attentive to the signs of the times, the persuasion that this nation enjoyed divine protection. (Keil and Delitzsch Commentary.) According to the Greek commentator and historian, Herodotus, it was well known in the Middle East that the Jews shared the type of Divine protection that had helped them secure victories over more powerful adversaries. If God is fighting for the Jews at this point in history, the Mediums could have seen this in the sudden honor Mordecai received from the King. Of course, these comments are extra-textual because the text does not attribute the King s honor to God. 2023 Esther 6:12-14 6
13WHEN HAMAN TOLD HIS WIFE ZERESH AND ALL HIS FRIENDS EVERYTHING THAT HAD HAPPENED TO HIM, HIS ADVISERS AND HIS WIFE ZERESH SAID TO HIM, IF MORDECAI, BEFORE WHOM YOUR DOWNFALL HAS BEGUN, IS OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE, YOU WILL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST HIM, BUT WILL SURELY FALL BEFORE HIM. This is a very strange verse. It almost implies that the advisers and Haman s wife do not know that the enemy for whom Haman has been suffering is a Jew. Yet, we have an episode when Haman was narrating his splendors to his friends. He ends with, 5:13 Yet all this does me no good so long as I see the Jew Mordecai sitting at the king s gate. Why are they acting as though Mordecai is now undefeatable because he is a Jew? Perhaps they only formed their judgment from the omen, in Haman having been obliged to pay such honors himself to one of that nation which he had purposed, and even got the king s edict, entirely to destroy They plainly confessed that the Jews, though scattered through the nations, were special objects of Divine care. Miserable comforters are they all; they did not advise Haman to repent but foretold his fate as unavoidable. (Benson Commentary.)
6:13 CONTINUED Chronos Vs. Kairos Typology: The Bible often plays with the theme of timing. God s Glory is often manifested in the timing of his actions to deliver the nation from his enemies: Psalm 102:13 Psalm 119:126 Psalm 69:13 Psalm 145:15 Isaiah 49:8 Galatians 4:4 At the right time 2 Corinthians 6:2 Romans 5:6 Isaiah 60:22 1 Timothy 2:6 2023 Esther 6:12-14 8
6:13 CONTINUED The expression, You will not prevail against him could mean one of three different things, or all of them: 1. Now that the King has honored him, you will not be able to kill him and his people 2. We have heard and read many legends about a Jew by the name of Joseph who was in great peril in Egypt in the ancient days, but once the Pharoah honored him publicly, his fortunes changed, and he became very important. If this man shares his God s favor like his ancestor, he will rise, and you will not be able to stop it. 3. The God of this man has revealed to us that he is destined to rise in fame and importance, and you have no power over him (This is a favorite argument of many who accept the LXX view of Mordecai as the righteous Jew favored by God.) They claim, rightly, that God has used the mouths of the ungodly at various times to speak on his behalf. Even the devil has permission to reveal God s greatness to humans, We know who you are, Jesus of Nazareth, you are the Son of the living God! These counselors may have been inspired by God, Who might have suggested this to them, as he did other things to other wicked men, Balaam, Caiaphas, etc., for his own greater glory, and the good of his people. (Matthew Poole s Commentary.) 2023 Esther 6:12-14 9
14. WHILE THEY WERE STILL TALKING WITH HIM, THE KINGS EUNUCHS ARRIVED AND HURRIED HAMAN OFF TO THE BANQUET THAT ESTHER HAD PREPARED. This is a transition verse that closes the in-between banquets narrative. Very proper of Courtier Intrigue Tales, the reader knows a few things Haman doesn t know or suspect: 1. Haman is unsuspectedly walking to his ultimate destruction. 2. This is the last time this great man will speak to his wife and his 10 children. 3. In customary courtier narratives, there is a great suspenseful (unspoken) question about the future of Haman s progeny. This unasked question will be answered a bit later. 4. There is no reason for Haman to suspect the Queen of this grand scheme. He still believes this banquet is a great honor. The great surprise will not be for the reader, who already knows, but for Haman himself.
The dramatic instinct of the writer presents us with a sudden change of scene, and contrasts Haman s exultant anticipations (Esther 5:12) of splendor attaching to the royal banquet with the dark forebodings which now oppressed the apparently so highly honored guest. 6:14 CONTINUED We need not suppose that the coming of the attendants implies fear on the part of Esther that through a presentiment of his approaching fall he might fail to arrive. The Eastern custom of fetching guests is well known. Cp. Luke 14:17. (Cambridge Commentary). This is a custom not elsewhere mentioned as Persian, but quite in accordance with Oriental ideas. The polite host sends his servants to escort guests of importance from their own homes to the place of entertainment. (Pulpit Commentary.) Some believe that Esther sent for him to prevent him from backing out, but this presumes too much. The king's chamberlains hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared; the time appointed for it being very near, or quite up, and Haman being backward and dilatory, having no stomach to go to it, and perhaps fearing worse things were coming upon him he should hear of there. (Gill s Exposition) and During this conversation certain courtiers had already arrived, who hastily brought Haman to the banquet of the queen, to which he would certainly go in a less happy state of mind than on the preceding day. (Keil and Delitzsch Commentary.) 2023 Esther 6:12-14 11
SUMMARY SO FAR The people of God who chose to stay in Babylon after the Cyrus and Darius gave them permission to return, have chosen to remain in the now Persian Empire. In fact, they have enjoyed freedom of movement among all the 127 provinces, and now they are quite scattered from India to modern day Middle East and parts of Europe. They have prospered and many have done quite well. A righteous Jew, Mordecai has obtained some minor post in the Empire s capitol city and lives in Susa with his cousin, young Hadassah, whose parents are now dead. The young and beautiful Hadassah is chosen as a tribute from the province of Persia to enter into a context to select a new queen, after Vashti has been banished from court, due to the intrigues of enemies at court. The young Hadassah, now known by the Persian name, Esther, is chosen as the next queen of the empire. In the meantime, a new royal Vizier, Haman, has become highly insulted by Mordecai s refusal to pay him obeisance. He plots the complete extermination of all Jews, manipulating a weak king into signing a non- reversible decree. Mordecai mourns the decree and enlists the help of a reluctant Queen Esther in saving the nation. He convinces her that she too will perish if the Jews are exterminated. Esther then approaches the King and invites him and Haman to two banquets, binding the king to her hospitality. Between the two banquets, the king remembers that Mordecai saved his life and honors him. Now Haman is on his way to the second banquet (the seventh in the book,) where his fate will be forever sealed.
CLOSING PRAYER 2023 Esther 6:12-14 13
