Chapter 3

After these things did king Ahasuerus promote¹⁴ Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced¹⁷ him, and set⁴ his seat above all the princes that [were] with him.

And all the king's servants, that [were] in the king's gate, bowed,⁶ and reverenced¹⁰² Haman: for the king had so commanded¹⁴ concerning him. But Mordecai bowed⁴ not, nor did [him] reverence.¹⁰¹

Then the king's servants, which [were] in the king's gate, said⁴ unto Mordecai, Why transgressest⁶ thou the king's commandment?

Now it came to pass, when they spake² daily ³¹¹⁷ unto him, and he hearkened¹ not unto them, that they told⁵⁵ Haman, to see² whether Mordecai's matters would stand:⁴ for he had told⁵² them that he [was] a Jew.

And when Haman saw⁴ that Mordecai bowed⁶ not, nor did him reverence,¹⁰² then was Haman full¹¹ of wrath.

And he thought scorn⁴ to lay² hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed⁵² him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought¹⁷ to destroy⁵³ all the Jews that [were] throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, [even] the people of Mordecai.

In the first month, that [is], the month Nisan, in the twelfth ⁶²⁴⁰ year of king Ahasuerus, they cast⁵² Pur, that [is], the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, [to] the twelfth ⁶²⁴⁰ [month], that [is], the month Adar.

And Haman said⁴ unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad³⁰ and dispersed³⁰ among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws [are] diverse⁶ from all people; neither keep⁶ they the king's laws: therefore it [is] not for the king's profit⁶ to suffer⁵³ them.

If it please¹ the king, let it be written¹¹ that they may be destroyed:¹⁵ and I will pay⁴ ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge⁶ of the business, to bring⁵³ [it] into the king's treasuries.

And the king took⁵⁵ his ring from his hand, and gave⁴ it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.⁶

And the king said⁴ unto Haman, The silver [is] given⁷ to thee, the people also, to do² with them as it seemeth good to thee.

Then were the king's scribes⁶ called¹¹ on the thirteenth ⁶²⁴⁰ day of the first month, and there was written¹¹ according to all that Haman had commanded¹⁴ unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that [were] over every province, ⁴⁰⁸² and to the rulers of every people ⁵⁹⁷¹ of every province ⁴⁰⁸² according to the writing thereof, and [to] every people ⁵⁹⁷¹ after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written,¹² and sealed⁸ with the king's ring.

And the letters were sent⁹ by posts⁵ into all the king's provinces, to destroy,⁵³ to kill,² and to cause to perish,¹⁵ all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, [even] upon the thirteenth ⁶²⁴⁰ [day] of the twelfth ⁶²⁴⁰ month, which is the month Adar, and [to take] the spoil of them for a prey.²

The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given⁹ in every province ⁴⁰⁸² was published⁷ unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.

The posts⁵ went out,¹ being hastened⁷ by the king's commandment, and the decree was given⁸ in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down¹ to drink;² but the city Shushan was perplexed.¹²