Esther 3
1 2
3 4 5
6 7 8
9 10
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, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded
concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
3 Then the king’s servants, which were
in the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king’s
commandment?
4 Now 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.
5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed
not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
6 And 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.
7 In the first month, that 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, that is, the month Adar.
8 And 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 their laws are diverse from all 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 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.
10 And the king took his ring from his
hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’
enemy.
11 And the king said unto Haman, The
silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth
good to thee.
12 Then were the king’s scribes called
on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all
that Haman had commanded unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors
that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every
province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after
their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with
the king’s ring.
13 And the letters were sent by posts into
all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, 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 The 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.
15 The 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 the city Shushan was perplexed.
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