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.
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
.
Then the king's servants
, which were in the king's
gate
, said
unto Mordecai
, Why transgressest
thou the king's
commandment
?
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
.
And when Haman saw
that Mordecai
bowed
not, nor did him reverence
, then was Haman
full
of wrath
.
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
.
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
.
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.
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
.
And the king took
his ring
from his hand
, and gave
it unto Haman
the son
of Hammedatha
the Agagite
, the Jews
' enemy
.
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.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
.