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.
02 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.
03 Then the king's servants, which were in the
king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why
transgressest thou the king's commandment?
04 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.
05 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not,
nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of
wrath.
06 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.
07 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.
08 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.
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09 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.
10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and
gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the
Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
11 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.
12 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.
13 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.
14 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.
15 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.
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