Esther 3

Haman's Plot against the Jews

1 After these events King Ahasuerus 1promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha 2the Agagite, and 3advanced him and established his authority over * all the princes who were with him.
2 All the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman; for so the king had commanded concerning him. But 4Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage.
3 Then the king's servants who were at 5the king's gate said to Mordecai, "6Why are you transgressing the king's command?"
4 Now it was when they had spoken daily to him and he would not listen to them, that they told Haman to see whether Mordecai's reason would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew.
5 When Haman saw that 7Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage to him, Haman was filled with rage.
6 But he disdained * to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were; therefore Haman 8sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.
7 In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth * year of King Ahasuerus, Pur, that is the lot, was 9cast before Haman from day to day and from month to month, until the twelfth * month, that is 10the month Adar.
8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; 11their laws are different from those of all other people and they do not observe the king's laws, so it is not in the king's interest to let them remain.
9 "If it is pleasing to the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry on the king's business, to put into the king's treasuries."
10 Then 12the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha 13the Agagite, 14the enemy of the Jews.
11 The king said to Haman, "The silver is yours, and the people also, to do with them as you please *."
12 15Then the king's scribes were summoned on the thirteenth * day of the first month, and it was written just * as Haman commanded to 16the king's satraps, to the governors who were over each province and to the princes of each people, each province according to its script, each people according to its language, being written 17in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king's signet ring.
13 Letters were sent by 18couriers to all the king's provinces 19to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, 20in one day, the thirteenth * day of the twelfth * month, which is the month Adar, and to 21seize their possessions as plunder.
14 22A copy of the edict to be issued as law in every province was published to all the peoples so that they should be ready for this day.
15 The couriers went out impelled by the king's command while the decree was issued at the citadel in Susa; and while the king and Haman sat down to drink, 23the city of Susa was in confusion.

Cross References 23

Footnotes 10

Esther 3 Commentaries

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