Esther 3:8
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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.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Haman's Elevation and His Design against the Jews - Est 3:1-15 King Ahashverosh promoted Haman the Agagite above all the princes about him, and commanded all his servants to fall down before him. This mark of reverence was refused by Mordochai the Jew from religious scruples. When intelligence of this was brought to Haman, he sought to obtain the extermination of the Jews throughout the kingdom (Est 3:1-6). The twelfth month was appointed by the casting of lots for this purpose; and Haman, by exciting the suspicion of the king against the Jews as an exclusive and law-opposing people, obtained from him an edict to this effect (Est 3:7-11), and sent it, by letters sealed with the king's seal, by the hand of messengers into all the provinces of the kingdom in the first month, that they might be ready to carry it into execution in the twelfth month; whereat the city of Susa was much perplexed (Est 3:12-15).
Open source ↗A very black and mournful scene here opens, and which threatens the ruin of all the people of God. Were there not some such dark nights, the light of the morning would not be so welcome. I. Haman is made the king's favourite (Est 3:1). II. Mordecai refuses to give him the honour he demands (Est 3:2-4). III. Haman, for his sake, vows to be revenged upon all the Jews (Est 3:5, Est 3:6). IV. He, upon a malicious suggestion, obtains an order from the king to have the all massacred upon a certain day (Est 3:7-13). V. This order is dispersed through the kingdom (Est 3:14, Est 3:15).
Open source ↗3:8 who keep themselves separate: Jews intermarried within tight-knit communities and resisted integration into the larger culture. • Their laws are different: They had a unique set of laws (eating and religious customs) and were to be separate from the sinful customs of the people around them (Lev 14:42-45; 15:31; 19:2, 26-37). • they refuse to obey the laws of the king: This accusation, which is false in general, probably refers to Mordecai’s refusal to bow to Haman. • So it is not in the king’s interest to let them live: Haman played on the king’s fears and interests as Memucan had done in Esth 1:16. Intolerance toward any particular group of people ran against the general Persian tendency to be respectful of other people’s cultural and religious differences.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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But I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out a sword after you as your land becomes desolate and your cities are laid waste.
Israel is a scattered flock, chased away by lions. The first to devour him was the king of Assyria; the last to crush his bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”
But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known, and the land was left desolate behind them so that no one could come or go. Thus they turned the pleasant land into a desolation.”
At this, the Jews said to one another, “Where does He intend to go that we will not find Him? Will He go where the Jews are dispersed among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?
Then the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you.
Therefore declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries to which they have gone.’
Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings.
Yet I will leave a remnant, for some of you will escape the sword when you are scattered among the nations and throughout the lands.
I would have said that I would cut them to pieces and blot out their memory from mankind,