Esther 3 in the early church
12 passages quote, allude to, or echo Esther 3, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 2 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 9 · 13 · 15
Esther 3:1
After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esth 3:1 | Demonstration 3.10 · Aphrahat | allusion, high confidence | 337-345 |
Esther 3:2
All the royal servants at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded that this be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esth 3:2 | Exhortation to Martyrdom 33 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | 235 |
| Esth 3:2 | Demonstration 3.10 · Aphrahat | allusion, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Esth 3:2–6 | Demonstration 3.12 · Aphrahat | allusion, high confidence | 337-345 |
Esther 3:5
When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay him homage, he was filled with rage.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esth 3:5–6 | On Not Sparing Those Who Sin against God 23 · Lucifer of Cagliari | echo, low confidence | ca. 356–361 |
Esther 3:6
And when he learned the identity of Mordecai’s people, he scorned the notion of laying hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he sought to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esth 3:6 | On Joseph 35 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Esth 3:6 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 36.19.2 · Ambrose | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| Esth 3:6–13 | Part 2, chapter 38 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
Esther 3:7
In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the Pur (that is, the lot) was cast before Haman to determine a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esth 3:7 | Instructions 2.7 · Eucherius of Lyon | allusion, high confidence | ca. 428-434 |
Esther 3:9
If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will deposit ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury to pay those who carry it out.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esth 3:9 | Demonstration 14.40 · Aphrahat | allusion, high confidence | 337-345 |
Esther 3:13
And the letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces with the order to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—and to plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esth 3:13 | Commentary on Daniel 3.20 · Hippolytus of Rome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 202-204 |
Esther 3:15
The couriers left, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was in confusion.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esth 3:15 | 12 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | 250 (the text may be later) |