The events we read in chapter3took place four years after Esther became queen (cf. Esther 2:16; Esther 3:7). [source][source][source]
Agag was the name of an area in Media that had become part of the Persian Empire. [1] However, Agag was also the name of the Amalekite king whom Saul failed to execute ( 1 Samuel 15:8; cf. Numbers 24:7). By mentioning both Kish, Saul"s father, and Agag, the Amalekite king, the writer may have been indicating that both men were heirs to a long-standing tradition of ethnic enmity and antagonism. [2] King Saul, a Benjamite, failed to destroy King Agag, an Amalekite; but Mordecai, also a Benjamite ( Esther 2:5), destroyed Haman, an Amalekite. This story pictures Haman as having all seven of the characteristics that the writer of Proverbs 6:16-19 said the Lord hates: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. [3][source]
Mordecai"s refusal to bow before Haman ( Esther 3:2) evidently did not spring from religious conviction (cf. 2 Samuel 14:4; 2 Samuel 18:28; 1 Kings 1:16) but from ancient Jewish antagonism toward the Amalekites. [4] Mordecai did not have to worship Haman (cf. Daniel 3:17-18). Not even the Persian kings demanded worship of their people. [4]9 Nevertheless, Ahasuerus had commanded the residents of Susa to honor Haman ( Esther 3:3). So this appears to have been an act of civil disobedience on Mordecai"s part. Probably people knew that Mordecai was a Jew long before his conflict with Haman arose ( Esther 3:4). [source][source][source]
"While the fact that he was a Jew (4) would not preclude his bowing down, the faith of the exiles tended to encourage an independence of judgment and action which embarrassed their captors ( Daniel 3; Daniel 6)." [6][source]
Haman might have been successful in getting Mordecai executed. However, when he decided to wipe out the race God chose to bless, he embarked on a course of action that would inevitably fail (cf. Genesis 12:3). [source][source][source]