Esther 3

1After these events King Ahasuerus exalted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, lifted him up, and set his throne above all the princes who were with him.

2All the king's servants at the king's gate bowed and prostrated themselves to Haman, for so the king had commanded about him. But Mordecai did not bow or prostrate himself.

3The king's servants at the king's gate said to Mordecai, "Why do you transgress the king's commandment?"

4Day by day, as they spoke to him, he paid no attention to them, so they informed Haman to see whether Mordecai's words would stand, because he had declared to them that he was a Jew.

5When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or prostrate himself before him, wrath filled Haman.

6He considered it despicable in his sight to send a hand against Mordecai alone, for they had informed him of Mordecai's people, so Haman sought to annihilate all the Jews throughout Ahasuerus' entire kingdom—Mordecai's people.

7In the first month, which is Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, which is the lot, before Haman from day to day and from month to month to the twelfth month, which is Adar.

8Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples throughout all the provinces of your kingdom, whose laws differ from every other people's, and who do not keep the king's laws; it does no good for the king to let them remain."

9If it seems good to the king, let it be written for their destruction, and I will weigh out ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those doing the king's business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.

10The king removed his ring from his hand and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, adversary of the Jews.

11The king said to Haman, "The silver is given to you, and the people, to do with them as is good in your eyes."

12The king's scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and all that Haman commanded was written to the royal satraps, to the governors over every province, and to the rulers of every people, province by province and people by people, according to each one's script and language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king's ring.

13Letters were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces to destroy, kill, and annihilate every Jew, from boy to elder, children and women, in one day, the thirteenth of the twelfth month—Adar—and to plunder their goods.

14A copy of the document, for issuing the decree in every province, was published to all the peoples to be ready for that day.

15The couriers set out, driven by the king's command, and the decree was issued in Shushan's citadel. The king and Haman sat to drink, but the city Shushan was bewildered.