Esther 3

Haman Is Exalted

1After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite and exalted him. He set his seat above all the officials who were with him. 2All the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and prostrated themselves before Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow down or prostrate himself. 3Then the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why are you transgressing the king’s command?” 4When they spoke to him day after day and he did not listen to them, they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Judean.

Haman Seeks to Destroy the Judeans

5When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or prostrate himself before him, Haman was filled with fury. 6But it was contemptible in his eyes to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had made known to him Mordecai’s people. So Haman sought to destroy all the Judeans who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, the people of Mordecai.

Pur Is Cast

7In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, Pur—that is, the lot—was cast before Haman, day by day and month by month, until the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.

Haman Accuses a Scattered People

8Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is one people scattered and separated among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every people, and they do not carry out the king’s laws, so it is not worthwhile for the king to leave them alone. 9If it is good to the king, let it be written that they be destroyed, and I will weigh out ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry out the king’s business, to bring into the king’s treasuries.” 10Then the king removed his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, enemy of the Judeans. 11The king said to Haman, “The silver is given to you, and the people also, to do with them as is good in your eyes.”

The Decree of Destruction

12Then the king’s scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written according to all that Haman commanded to the king’s satraps, to the governors who were over each province, and to the officials of each people, to every province according to its script and every people according to its language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13Letters were sent by the hand of couriers to all the king’s provinces, to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Judeans, from young to old, little children and women, in one day—the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar—and to plunder their possessions. 14A copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province, publicly displayed to all peoples so that they would be ready for that day. 15The couriers went out hurried by the king’s command, and the law was issued in the citadel of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.