Chapter 3 A Hidden Enemy

Mordecai, ever watchful, sat daily at the king's gate. One day, he overheard two chamberlains-Bigthan and Teresh-plotting to lay hands on the king. Mordecai told Esther, and Esther certified it in Mordecai's name. The matter was investigated, and the conspirators were hanged. "It was written in the book of the chronicles before the king" (Esther 2:23).

Mordecai, who worked at the king's gate, once overheard two guards plotting to kill King Ahasuerus. He told Esther, and she told the king in Mordecai's name. The men were caught and executed. This brave act was written in the royal records, but strangely, no reward came.

Then a new man rose to power in the kingdom: Haman the Agagite.

Haman was promoted above all the princes and expected everyone to bow before him. But Mordecai refused.

Not out of pride, but because he was a Jew-and Jews bowed to no man but God.

Haman was furious. When he learned Mordecai's heritage, he decided to do something horrifying: kill all the Jews in the empire.

He tricked the king into signing a law. A letter was sent to every province: On the 13th day of the month of Adar, every Jew-man, woman, child-must die.

"And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed." -Esther 3:15

________________________________________