Esther

Esther 3 ©

1 Haman, advanced by the king, hath great respect paid him by all but Mordecai, on whose account he seeketh revenge upon the whole Jewish nation. 7 He casteth lots to fix the time for executing his purposes. 8 By falsely accusing the Jews he obtaineth a commission from the king to destroy them.

1

AFTER these things did king aAhasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the bAgagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

a Ps. 12.8. Mal. 3.15. Pr. 29.2.
b Nu. 24.7. 1Sa. 15.8.
2

And all the king's servants, that were cin the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

c ch. 2.19.
3

Then the dking's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?

d v.2.
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 eNisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast fPur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month gAdar.

e Ne. 2.1.
f ch. 9.24,26. Eze. 21.21.
g Ezr. 6.15.
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 htheir laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not 1for the king's profit to suffer them.

h Ezr. 4.12,13. Ac. 16.20,21.
9

If it please the king, let it be written 2that they may be destroyed: and I will 3pay 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 itook his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' 4enemy.

i Ge. 41.42. ch. 8.2.
11

And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do jwith them as it seemeth good to thee.

j Jn. 19.10. Ps. 73.7. Je. 18.23; 7.10.
12

Then were the king's 5scribes called on the thirteenth day of the kfirst month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's l*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; min the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.

k v.7.
l Ezr. 8.36.
m ch. 8.8-10. 1Ki. 21.8. Da. 6.8,12,15.
13

And the letters were sent by nposts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, oto kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in pone day, even upon the qthirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month rAdar, and to take the spoil of them for a *prey.

n 2Ch. 30.6. ch. 8.10,14. Ro. 3.15. Pr. 1.16; 4.16. Is. 59.7.
o 1Sa. 22.18. Ps. 83.4,5. Mat. 2.16. Ex. 1.16,22.
p Job 39.30. Ps. 36.4. Ja. 2.13.
q ch. 8.11,12; 9.1,16,17.
r Ezr. 6.15.
14

sThe 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.

s ch. 8.13,14.
15

The posts went out, tbeing hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman usat down to drink; but the vcity Shushan was perplexed.

t Ro. 3.15. Pr. 1.16; 4.16. Is. 59.7.
u Ge. 37.25. Mat. 14.6. Jn. 16.20. Re. 11.10.
v ch. 4.16; 8.15.