By Dr. Jacquelyn Simmons
Included in last week’s message, this columnist mistakenly wrote that Jews did not bow to any human beings. However, during King David’s reign and other Kings, they bowed to show their respect. I apologize for the error.
In Part 5, this writer also gave an account of Haman’s plot to destroy Mordecai, who refused to bow to him. He also gained permission from the King to destroy all Jews. The King gave him free reign to do whatever he pleased with Mordecai and his people. However, he did not realize that his wife, Queen Esther, was a Jew. Upon Mordecai’s request for Esther to go before the King to save their people, she asked that they fast and pray for three days. She went to the King, knowing that she risked being killed because the King had not summoned her.
The King extended his scepter toward Esther which meant she could approach his throne without threat of being killed. He kindly and lovingly asked her what was troubling her, and he would give her whatever she asked, including half of his Kingdom.
Esther drew near the King and touched the top of his scepter while saying, “If it seems good to the King, let the King and Haman come this day to the banquet I have prepared for him.” Then the King said to his servant, “Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Queen Esther has said.” The King and Haman came to the banquet which Esther had prepared for them. The King said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, “What is thou petition, and it shall be granted to thee and what is thy request even to the half of the Kingdom it shall be granted?” Esther answered and said, “My petition and my request is, if I have found favor in the sight of the King, and if it please the King to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the King and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the King has requested.”
Then, Haman went forth with a glad heart, but when he saw Mordecai at the King’s gate and he refused to stand or bow to him, he became indignant against Mordecai! However, Haman restrained himself and when he came home, he called for his wife, Zeresh and his friends. Haman was so happy and honored over so much attention given to him by the King and Queen that he enthusiastically bragged about his good fortune to them. He said, “Yet all this availed me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai, the Jew, sitting at the King’s gate!” Zeresh and his friends said unto him, “Let a gallows be constructed of fifty cubits high, and on tomorrow speak to the King that Mordecai be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the King unto the banquet.” This pleased Haman, and he had the gallows built, (Esther 5:3-14)
