| Chapter 3
|
| 1 | After these
things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and
advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. |
| 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 | Then the
king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why
transgressest thou the king's commandment? |
| 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 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 9 | If it 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. |
| 10 | And the
king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha
the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. |
| 11
| And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people
also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. |
|
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 unto 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 thereof, and to every people after their language; in
the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring. |
| 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. |
| 14 | The 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. |
| 15 | The
posts went out, 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. |
