Esther 3:1-9 ▼

1 After these things King Achshayarsh promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the officials who were with him.

2 All the king's servants who were in the King's Gate bowed down, and paid homage to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay him homage.

3 Then the king's servants, who were in the King's Gate, said to Mordecai, |Why do you disobey the king's commandment?|

4 Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he did 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 Mordecai did not bow down, nor pay him homage, Haman was full of wrath.

6 But he scorned the thought of laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had made known to him Mordecai's people. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Achshayarsh, even Mordecai's people.

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

8 Haman said to King Achshayarsh, |There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom, and their laws are different than other people's. They do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not for the king's profit to allow them to remain.

9 If it pleases the king, let it be written that they be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who are in charge of the king's business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.|