Esther 3 · אסתר

After these things king Aĥashverosh promoted Haman the son of Hammedata the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.

And all the king’s servants, who were in the king’s gate, bowed, and did obeisance to Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordokhay did not bow, or do him obeisance.

Then the king’s servants, who were in the king’s gate, said to Mordokhay, Why dost thou transgress the king’s commandment?

Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he did not hearken to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordokhay’s words would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

And when Haman saw that Mordokhay did not bow or do him obeisance, then Haman was full of wrath.

But he disdained to lay hands on Mordokhay alone; for they had told him the people of Mordokhay: so that Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Aĥashverosh, the people of Mordokhay.

In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Aĥashverosh, 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.

And Haman said to king Aĥashverosh, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are different from all people; nor do they keep the king’s laws: therefore it is of no benefit to the king to tolerate them.

If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will weigh out ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.

And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedata the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.

And the king said to Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to thee.

Then the king’s scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written according to all that Haman had commanded to the king’s satraps, and to the governors who were over every province, and to the rulers of every people; to every province according to its writing, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Aĥashverosh was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring.

And the letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, namely, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for plunder.

The copy of the writing, to be given out as a law in every province, was published to all the peoples, that they might be ready for that day.

The couriers went out in haste by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the capital. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was in consternation.