Esther 3

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.