Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Esther 3

50 catchwords268 parallels

← Esther | ← Ch 2 | Ch 4 →

Esther 3 . 1 , Haman , advanced by the king , and despised by Mordecai , seeks revenge upon all the Jews; Esther 3 . 7 , He casts lots; Esther 3 . 8 , He obtains by calumniation a decree of the king to put the Jews to death.

Esther 3:1

After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him.

Esther 3:1 · BSB

promote Haman3 parallels

Agagite3 parallels

above all the princes5 parallels

Reciprocal10 parallels

am 3551 , bc 453

Esther 3:2

All the royal servants at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded that this be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.

Esther 3:2 · BSB

the king's servants2 parallels

Dr. Shaw , speaking of the cities in the East , says , "If we quit the streets , and enter into any of the principal houses , we shall first pass through a porch , or gate-way , with benches on each side , where the master of the family receives visits , and despatches business; few persons , not even the nearest relations , having admission any farther , except upon extraordinary occasions." These servants were probably officers who here waited the king's call; and it is likely that Mordecai was one of them

bowed2 parallels

bowed not7 parallels

Yichra welo yishtachaweh , "bowed not down , nor prostrated himself ," or worshipped him. Had this meant only civil reverence the king would not have needed to command it; nor would Mordecai have refused it; there was , therefore , some kind of divine honour intended , such as was paid to the Persian kings , and which even the Greeks refused , as express adoration

Reciprocal12 parallels

Esther 3:3

Then the royal servants at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the command of the king?”

Esther 3:3 · BSB

Why4 parallels

Reciprocal2 parallels

Esther 3:4

Day after day they warned him, but he would not comply. So they reported it to Haman to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, since he had told them he was a Jew.

Esther 3:4 · BSB

when they spake1 parallel

that they told3 parallels

he had told6 parallels

Reciprocal1 parallel

Esther 3:5

When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay him homage, he was filled with rage.

Esther 3:5 · BSB

that Mordecai2 parallels

full of wrath10 parallels

Reciprocal8 parallels

Esther 3:6

And when he learned the identity of Mordecai’s people, he scorned the notion of laying hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he sought to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes.

Esther 3:6 · BSB

sought2 parallels

Reciprocal18 parallels

Esther 3:7

In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the Pur (that is, the lot) was cast before Haman to determine a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

Esther 3:7 · BSB

the first month1 parallel

in the twelfth2 parallels

they cast Pur5 parallels

Adar5 parallels

Reciprocal5 parallels

Esther 3:8

Then Haman informed King Xerxes, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples of every province of your kingdom. Their laws are different from everyone else’s, and they do not obey the king’s laws. So it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.

Esther 3:8 · BSB

scattered abroad12 parallels

their laws7 parallels

Reciprocal21 parallels

for the king's profit to Heb. meet , or equal for the king to , etc

Esther 3:9

If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will deposit ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury to pay those who carry it out.”

Esther 3:9 · BSB

and I will pay1 parallel

Heb. and I will weigh

  • Genesis 23:16 Here Haman is obliged to acknowledge that there would be a loss to the revenue , which he was willing to make up out of his own property. Ten thousand talents of silver , counted by the Babylonish talent , amount to 2 ,119 ,000.; but reckoned by the Jewish talent , they amount to double that sum. In those days , silver and gold were more plentiful than at present; and we have many instances of individuals possessing almost incredible riches. Herodotus relates , that when Xerxes went into Greece , Pythius the Lydian had 2 ,000 talents of silver , and 4 ,000 ,000 of gold darics , which unitedly amount to nearly 5 ,500 ,000. Plutarch tells us , that after Crassus had dedicated the tenth of all he had to Hercules , he entertained the Roman people at 10 ,000 tables , and distributed to every citizen as much corn as was sufficient for three months; and , after all these expenses , he had 7 ,100; Roman talents left , which amount to more than 1 ,500 ,000. Lentulus the augur is said to have possessed no less than 3 ,333 ,333. 6s. 8d. Apicius was worth more than 916 ,671 13s. 4d.; and , after having spent in his kitchen 833 ,333 6s. 8d. he considered the remainder too little for his support , and poisoned himself!

ten thousand1 parallel

Reciprocal11 parallels

that they may be destroyed Heb. to destroy them

Esther 3:10

So the king removed the signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.

Esther 3:10 · BSB

took3 parallels

enemy1 parallel

or , oppressor

Reciprocal5 parallels

Esther 3:11

“Keep your money,” said the king to Haman. “These people are given to you to do with them as you please.”

Esther 3:11 · BSB

to do4 parallels

Esther 3:12

On the thirteenth day of the first month, the royal scribes were summoned and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded the royal satraps, the governors of each province, and the officials of each people, in the script of each province and the language of every people. It was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the royal signet ring.

Esther 3:12 · BSB

Then were1 parallel

according3 parallels

in the name4 parallels

sealed3 parallels

Reciprocal15 parallels

scribes or , secretaries

Esther 3:13

And the letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces with the order to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—and to plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.

Esther 3:13 · BSB

by posts6 parallels

both young2 parallels

in one day2 parallels

the spoil3 parallels

Reciprocal11 parallels

Esther 3:14

A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that they would be ready on that day.

Esther 3:14 · BSB

The copy2 parallels

Reciprocal2 parallels

Esther 3:15

The couriers left, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was in confusion.

Esther 3:15 · BSB

hastened2 parallels

sat down4 parallels

the city3 parallels

Reciprocal20 parallels

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge is the classical cross-reference layer — centuries of catchword parallels beneath the site’s quotations, allusions, and echoes. Every reference above also flows into the wider web of connections.

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