Esther 3:9

"Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom, and their laws are different from other people’s. They don’t keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not for the king’s profit to allow them to remain."

Key Reflection

In Esther 3:9, Haman speaks to King Ahasuerus (Xerxes), highlighting the perceived threat of a distinct group within the Persian empire. The original audience would have recognized this as an argument for the annihilation of the Jewish people, who were seen as lawless and dispersed throughout the kingdom. This narrative reflects the common fear in ancient empires of subversive or non-compliant minorities, suggesting that such groups could disrupt social order and economic stability, making their removal beneficial to the king's rule.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Ten thousand talents of silver -According to Herodotus, the regular revenue of the Persian king consisted of 14,560 silver talents; so that, if the same talent is intended, Haman’s offer would have exceeded two-thirds of one year’s revenue (or two and one-half million British pound sterling). Another Persian subject, Pythius, once offered to present Xerxes with four millions of gold darics, or about four and one-half pounds.

More from Esther 3

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Go deeper with Bible.talk - your AI Bible study companion