Why did Haman rise to power?
1. Malbim: He convinced Ahashverosh that he saved his life, not Mordechai.
2. Or, he is Memuchan who advised killing Vashti. Because of him, Esther came to power. This was a way of thanking Esther for saving him.
3. Haman rose to power too fast. As fast as he comes up, he will go down.

Is it right not to bow to Haman?
1. Gemara Sanhedrin 61b, Mechilta D’rabi Shimon Bar Yochai: Do not bow to
them and don't worship them. But you could bow to a man. Even if he is like Haman? The Torah says "don't bow and don't worship." Don't bow when there is worship involved (Haman wanted people to worship him.)
2. Modern Commentary, Daat Mikra: to kneel and bow is unusual.
3. Ibn Ezra: why didn't Mordechai leave the gates and avoid Haman? He would have been killed

Why didn't Mordechai get in trouble?
Malbim: Mordechai could say he was not a servant of Achashverosh, and was exempt.
JF: No one could touch Mordechai now
Hartom: Haman thought it sounded more serious to present it as a national problem, not his personal problem. Mehuman used the same strategy.

Why was Adar chosen?
Daat Mikra: Haman should have seen that it was not fortuitous to choose Adar to destroy the Jews.
JF: it is like Balaam who can't see what G-d wants
Malbim: it gave the Jews 12 months to repent
Midrash: He thought Adar was the month only of Moshe's death, not his birth.

10,000 kikar kesef, silver= 30,000 silver pieces: Was the money returned to Haman or were the spoils handed to him? Why did Haman want to pay for the destruction?
Daat Mikra: so they would be his property to dispense with.

Why did he say the spoils could be taken?
To induce support from the community.