Esth 3
1
After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite,
and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
2
And all the king`s servants, that were in the king`s gate, bowed down, and did reverence
to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not down,
nor did him reverence.
3
Then the king`s servants, that were in the king`s gate, said to Mordecai, Why transgress
you the king`s commandment?
4
Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he hearkened not to them, that
they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai`s matters would stand: for he had told them
that he was a Jew.
5
And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence, then was Haman
full of anger.
6
But he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made known to 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.
7
In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus,
they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month,
[to] the twelfth [month], which is the month Adar.
8
And Haman said to king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed
among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; and their laws are diverse
from [those of] every people; neither keep they the king`s laws: therefore it is not
for the king`s profit to suffer them.
9
If it please the king, let it be written that they be destroyed: and I will pay ten
thousand talents of silver into the hands of those that have the charge of the [king`s]
business, to bring it into the king`s treasuries.
10
And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha
the Agagite, the Jews` enemy.
11
And the king said to Haman, The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with
them as it seems good to you.
12
Then were the king`s scribes called in the first month, on the thirteenth day thereof;
and there was written according to all that Haman commanded to the king`s satraps,
and to the governors that were over every province, and to the princes of every people,
to every province according to its writing, and to every people after their
language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and it was sealed with the
king`s ring.
13
And letters were sent by posts into all the king`s provinces, to destroy, to slay,
and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in
one day, even upon the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar,
and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
14
A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was
published to all the peoples, that they should be ready against that day.
15
The posts went forth in haste by the king`s commandment, and the decree was given
out in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city
of Shushan was perplexed.