ESTHER-3
The story in poem continued. Haman becomes prime minister…
3-
He was so happy
He freed his provinces from tax payments
And gave gifts worthy of the king’s bounty
Mordecai was sitting at the King’s Gate.
Esther still did not reveal her Jewish estate
Her family background or her ethnicity,
As Mordecai had directed to any of the city
She had always obeyed his request
Knowing his wisdom she was so impressed
During those days while Mordecai
Was sitting at the King’s Gate
Two of the king’s eunuchs connived
And talked of an evil plan for
The king, so that he would not survive
When Mordecai overheard the plot,
He reported it to Queen Esther, as he ought
And she told the king on Mordecai’s behalf.
When the report was verified,
They proved to be riffraff
And both men were placed on the gallows.
News spread from kingdom to fallows
And so the event was put in the historical Record in the king’s presence
And no more was made of this incidence
A little while later
A different thing took place,
King Ahasuerus had honored Haman,
And promoted him in rank
He gave him a higher position and place
Than all the other officials in his space
So the entire royal staff at the King’s Gate Were now required to bow down
To show him homage great
Because the king had ordered it as of late
But Mordecai would not bow, show
Or pay homage when he passed
The members of the royal staff were aghast
Why are you disobeying the king’s command?” They all asked
So they continued to warn him day after day And he still didn’t listen to what they did say
For Mordecai knew this man from before
According to Jewish lore, far more
Details were grave and told of their past
Hamans’ wealth was stolen so fast
The hatred came from vows not kept
Years before Mordecai had won out
Haman lost, but never did forget
For he had handed him his sandal
By law, not winning
Was more than he could handle
But now he was prime minister
And his comrades as well, were very sinister
They blabbed to Haman in order
To see if by Mordecai’s actions
They somehow could corner
This insubordination
They thought should not be tolerated,
And their anger would clearly not be abated
When Haman saw that Mordecai the Jew
Was not bowing down, they said, Hey you!
Who makes you so good?
That you won’t pay our master homage?
So Haman was filled with even more rage.
And when he learned of their ethnic identity,
He was more greatly annoyed
Hearing this news he planned to destroy
All of Mordecai’s people, the Jews,
Throughout the kingdom and lands
His plan would soon ensue at his hand
In the first month of the Kings’ twelfth year,
The pur— that is, the lot — with a smear
Was cast before Haman and he set the time
To begin the onslaught due for it was prime
And it fell on the twelfth month, as so ought
Then Haman informed the King
Oh king. And this is the truth
I have known them since my youth
We have a certain people among
Us scattered throughout your kingdom
That always keep themselves separate.
Their laws are different and do not equate
With ours and they also do not obey
For they betray the king’s laws
It is not in the king’s best vantage
To continue to tolerate them, he said in rage
If the king approves, let an order be drawn
To command their swift destruction
So the king agreed to accept the payoff
To be given to the royal treasuries trough
In exchange for Hamans many tons of silver
It may not have been what he would prefer But then he didn’t know the people
Or the meaning of the slur
So the king removed his signet ring
From his hand and gave it to Haman
To ratify this unspeakably wicked thing
Thus he became the enemy of the Jews.
The people are given to you
To do with as you see fit.
Then the royal scribes were summoned
Immediately to get to it
When the order was written
Exactly as Haman commanded.
It was headed for the royal satraps,
Officials and governors in each province
And written in its own areas script
Written craftily to fully convince
As word spread the Jews did quite dread
For it was made into law, no matter if friend
And it could not be questioned,
The Jews lives would surely come to an end
For it was written in the name of the King
And sealed with the royal signet ring.
Letters were sent by couriers
To each area, and caused great worriers
All telling the officials to destroy,
Kill and annihilate all the Jewish people — Young and old, women and children —
And plunder their possessions
It was worded as such an obsession
On a single day coming up in a short while
A copy of the text, issued as law
Throughout every area in the land
To all the peoples, for them to understand
So that they might get ready for that day. The couriers embarked as they left to say
And spurred on by royal command,
The law is now issued
In the fortress of Susa.
While the king and Haman
Sat down to drink, they did brag
Just to think with a little imagination
For this act set the city of Susa
In a frantic state of confusion
Though it was designed to be a great boost
To the economy
A boon of morale for all the community
***************************************
To be continued…
Remember: Gods Word changes us from within. Like medicine. It restores our soul…🙂- Don