21 During those days while Mordecai was sitting at the King’s Gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchsw who guarded the entrance, became infuriated and planned to assassinateB King Ahasuerus. 22 When Mordecai learned of the plot, he reported it to Queen Esther, and she told the king on Mordecai’s behalf.x 23 When the report was investigated and verified, both men were hanged on the gallows.y This event was recorded in the Historical Record in the king’s presence.

HAMAN’S PLAN TO KILL THE JEWS

3 After all this took place, King Ahasuerus honored Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite.z He promoted him in rank and gave him a higher position than all the other officials.aa 2 The entire royal staff at the King’s Gateab bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded this to be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.a 3 The members of the royal staff at the King’s Gate asked Mordecai, “Why are you disobeying the king’s command?” 4 When they had warned him day after dayb and he still would not listen to them, they told Haman in order to see if Mordecai’s actions would be tolerated, since he had told them he was a Jew.

5 When Haman saw that Mordecai was not bowing down or paying him homage, he was filled with rage.c 6 And when he learned of Mordecai’s ethnic identity, it seemed repugnant to Haman to do away withA Mordecai alone. He planned to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews,d throughout Ahasuerus’s kingdom.e