3:1 After these things king Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of
Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat
above all the princes that [were] with him.
3:2 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.
3:3 Then the king's servants who [were] in the king's gate, said
to Mordecai, Why dost thou transgress the king's commandment?
3:4 Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he
hearkened not to them, that they told Haman, to see whether
Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he
[was] a Jew.
3:5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him
reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
3:6 And he scorned to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had
shown 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.
3:7 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.
3:8 And Haman said to 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.
3:9 If it shall 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.
3:10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to
Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews enemy.
3:11 And the king said to Haman, The silver [is] given to thee,
the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
3:12 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 to 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 of it,
and [to] every people after their language; in the name of king
Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.
3:13 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.
3:14 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in
every province, was published to all people, that they should
be ready against that day.
3:15 The posts departed, 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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