After Haman made the decision to have all the Jews in the kingdom executed, he went to King Xerxes to make it official. He told him that there was a group of people who don't keep the king's laws and that a decree should be made to have them destroyed. Haman said that he will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work to bring it into the king's treasuries. Esther 3:8-9
When it comes to carrying out evil deeds, evil people NEVER work alone. They must have support from those who are either easily manipulated or just like them. How many times have we witnessed a situation where an evil person decides to hurt someone, but instead of just doing it themselves, they bring other people into it? Evildoers are cowards who need an audience. It makes them feel powerful. In addition, it's interesting Haman wanted to pay the potential murderers with silver because centuries later the Pharisees would pay Judas in silver to betray Jesus. Matthew 26:14-15
King Xerxes gave his signet ring to Haman and said that the money and people were given to him to do with them what seemed good to him. Esther 3:10-11 The decree was written according to all Haman commanded to the king's straps, the governors who were over each province, the officials of all people in their language. It was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with his signet ring. This made it official and according to Persian history, the laws and decrees cannot be changed. The letters were sent out to all the provinces to destroy all the Jews in one day, on the 13th day of the 12th month which was the month of Adar and to plunder their possessions. Esther 3:12-15
King Xerxes had NO idea that when he sat down with Haman for a drink that he had been tricked. His own decree was going to bring death to ALL the Jews in his kingdom...including his wife and Mordecai. This shows we must be very careful with who we trust. Just because someone tells us something doesn't necessarily mean it's true.
It didn't take long for the Jews to find out what was happening. They knew the Persian laws couldn't be changed; not even the king himself could change his own laws once it was sealed with his signet ring. Mordecai and the Jews were in great mourning. Mordecai tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and cried greatly. The Jews did the same. Esther 4:13
It's a scary thing to know someone hates you SO much they want you dead...and you didn't do anything wrong.
