Book 34 : KETUVIM - MEGILOT - ESTHER - Chapter 003
03:001
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
03:002
And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate,
bowed down, and prostrated themselves before Haman; for the king had so
commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not down, nor prostrated himself
before him
03:003
Then the king's servants, that were in the king's gate,
said unto Mordecai: 'Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
03:004
Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily unto him, and he
hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's words
would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew
03:005
And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not down, nor
prostrated himself before him, then was Haman full of wrath
03:006
But it seemed contemptible in his eyes to lay hands on
Mordecai alone; for they had made known to 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
03:007
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
03:008
And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus: 'There is a certain
people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of
thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from those of every people; neither keep
they the king's laws; therefore it profiteth not the king to suffer them
03:009
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
that have the charge of the king's business, to bring it into the king's
treasuries.
03:010
And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto
Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy
03:011
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.
03:012
Then were the king's scribes called in the first month, on
the thirteenth day thereof, and there was written, according to all that Haman
commanded, unto the king's satraps, and to the governors that were over every
province, and to the princes of every people; to every province according to the
writing thereof, 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
03:013
And letters were sent by posts into all the king's
provinces, to destroy, to slay, 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
03:014
The copy of the writing, to be given out for a decree in
every province, was to be published unto all peoples, that they should be ready
against that day
03:015
The posts went forth in haste by the king's commandment,
and the decree was given out in Shushan the castle; and the king and Haman sat
down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed
Book 34 : KETUVIM - MEGILOT - ESTHER - Chapter 003
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