Esther 3–4

After these things did king Ahasuerus ^apromote Haman the son of Hammedatha the ^bAgagite, and ^aadvanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. ²And all the king’s servants, that were ^cin the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. ³Then the king’s servants, which were ^cin the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the ^dking’s commandment? ⁴Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew. ⁵And when Haman saw that Mordecai ^ebowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman ^ffull of wrath. ⁶And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

⁷In the first month, that is, the month ^gNisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast ^hPur, that is, ⁱthe lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month ^kAdar. ⁸And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and ^ltheir laws are ^mdiverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them. ⁹If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries. ¹⁰And the king ⁿtook his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the ^bAgagite, the Jews’ enemy. ¹¹And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. ^12oThen were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the ^pfirst month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king’s ^qlieutenants, and to the ^rgovernors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of ^severy province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; ^tin the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring. ¹³And the letters were sent ^uby posts into all the king’s provinces, ^vto destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, ^win one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month ^kAdar, and ^xto take the spoil of them for a prey. ^14yThe copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day. ^15uThe posts went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but ^zthe city Shushan was perplexed.

IV.When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai ^arent his clothes, and put on ^bsackcloth with ^cashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; ²and came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. ³And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and ^dfasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in ^bsackcloth and ^cashes. ⁴So Esther’s maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.⁵Then called Esther for ^eHatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was. ⁶So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king’s gate. ⁷And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of ^fthe sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. ⁸Also he gave him ^gthe copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people. ⁹And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. ¹⁰Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai: ¹¹All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into ^hthe inner court, who is not called, ⁱthere is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom ^kthe king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. ¹²And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words. ¹³Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. ¹⁴For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? ¹⁵Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer: ¹⁶Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink ^lthree days, night or day; I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and ^mif I perish, I perish. ¹⁷So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

V.