1
After these things, King Achashverosh promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite. He exalted him and set his seat above all the rulers who were with him.
2
And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and prostrated themselves before Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordekhai would not bow down and would not prostrate himself.
3
Then the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordekhai: “Why do you transgress the commandment of the king?”
4
And it came to pass, when they spoke to him day after day and he did not listen to them, that they told Haman, to see whether the words of Mordekhai would stand, for he had told them that he was a Yehudi.
5
And Haman saw that Mordekhai would not bow down and would not prostrate himself before him. And Haman was filled with wrath.
6
But it was contemptible in his eyes to stretch out his hand against Mordekhai alone, for they had made known to him the people of Mordekhai. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Yehudim who were throughout the whole Kingdom of Achashverosh— the people of Mordekhai.
7
In the first month— that is, the month Nisan— in the twelfth year of King Achashverosh, they cast Pur— that is, the lot— before Haman from day to day and from month to month, until the twelfth month— that is, the month Adar.
8
And Haman said to King Achashverosh: “There is one people scattered and separated among the peoples throughout all the provinces of your Kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not perform the laws of the king. Therefore it is not profitable for the king to leave them.
9
If it is good before the king, let it be written that they be destroyed, and I will weigh out ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who perform the work, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.”
10
Then the king removed his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the adversary of the Yehudim.
11
And the king said to Haman: “The silver is given to you, and the people also, to do with them as is good in your eyes.”
12
Then the king’s scribes were called in the first month, on the thirteenth day of it. And it was written according to all that Haman commanded to the king’s satraps, 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 according to its tongue. It was written in the name of King Achashverosh and sealed with the king’s signet ring.
13
And sefarim were sent by the hand of couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish all the Yehudim, from young to old, little ones and women, in one day— on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar— and to plunder their possessions.
14
A copy of the writing was to be given as law in every province, published to all peoples, that they should be ready for that day.
15
The couriers went out hastened by the Word of the King, and the decree was given in Shushan the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was thrown into confusion.