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 who were with him. 2 All the king’s servants, who were in the
king’s gate, bowed down, and did reverence to Haman; for the king had so
commanded concerning him. But Mordecai didn’t bow down, nor did him
reverence. 3 Then the king’s servants, who were in the king’s gate, said
to Mordecai, Why disobey you the king’s commandment? 4 Now it came to
pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he didn’t listen to them, that they
told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s matters would stand: for he had told
those who he was a Jew. 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai didn’t bow down,
nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. 6 But he scorned the
thought of laying hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made known to him the
people of Mordecai: therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were
throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
7 In the first month, which 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, which is
the month Adar. 8 Haman said to king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people
scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your
kingdom; and their laws are diverse from those of every people;
neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit
to allow them. 9 If it please 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 have the charge of the king’s business, to bring it into
the king’s treasuries. 10 The king took his ring from his hand, and gave
it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy. 11 The
king said to Haman, The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with
them as it seems good to you. 12 Then were the king’s scribes called in
the first month, on the thirteenth day of it; and there was written according
to all that Haman commanded to the king’s satraps, and to the governors who
were over every province, and to the princes of every people, to every
province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their
language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and it was sealed
with the king’s ring. 13 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 on the thirteenth
day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the
spoil of them for a prey. 14 A copy of the writing, that the decree should
be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that they
should be ready against that day. 15 The posts went forth in haste by the
king’s commandment, and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace. The
king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.
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