THE BOOK OF
ESTHER
Esther 3 ©
Haman is highly advanced by the king, v. 1. All the courtiers bow themselves before him, except Mordecai¸ 2. At this Haman is greatly incensed, 5. He seeks to destroy not only Mordecai, but all the Jews likewise, 6. And he causes the lot to be cast for this end, 7. He accuses the Jews unto the king, 8. And requests that all the Jews might be destroyed, 9. Whereunto the king consents, 10. This is written to all the princes in all the countries, 12. And posts are sent abroad with this precept, 13. The king and Haman sit down and drink, but the city of Shushan is perplexed, 15.
AFTER these things 1did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the 2Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat 3above all the princes that were with him.
And 4all the king's servants, that were in the king’s gate, 5bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded 6concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, 7Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not 8unto them, that they told Haman, to see 9whether Mordecai’s matters would stand: for 10he had told them 11that he was a Jew.
And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
And he 12thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai 13alone; for they had shewed him the 14people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
¶In the first month, that is, the month 15Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast 16Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman 17from day to day, and from month to month, 18to the twelfth month, that is, the month 19Adar.
¶And Haman 20said 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 21keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer 22them.
If it please the king, let it be written that 23they may be destroyed: 24and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands 25of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s 26treasuries.
And the king took 27his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
And the king said unto Haman, The 28silver is given to thee, 29the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the 30first month, and there was written 31according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king’s lieutenants,a and to the governors 32that 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.
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 33spoil of them for a prey.
The 34copy of the writing for a commandment 35to be given 36in every province was published unto all people, that they should be 37ready 38against that day.
The posts went out, being hastened 39by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman 40sat down to drink; but 41the city Shushan was 42perplexed.