Esther 3
3
Haman’s Conspiracy Against the Jews
1After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the #Num. 24:7; 1 Sam. 15:8Agagite, and #Esth. 5:11advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. 2And all the king’s servants who were #Esth. 2:19, 21, 5:9within the king’s gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai #Esth. 3:5; Ps. 15:4would not bow or pay homage. 3Then the king’s servants who were within the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the #Esth. 3:2king’s command?” 4Now it happened, when they spoke to him daily and he would not listen to them, that they told it to Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand; for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew. 5When Haman saw that Mordecai #Esth. 3:2, 5:9did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was #Dan. 3:19filled with wrath. 6But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman #Ps. 83:4; (Rev. 12:1–17)sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus—the people of Mordecai.
7In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, #Esth. 9:24–26they cast Pur (that is, the lot), before Haman to determine the day and the month, until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.
8Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; #Ezra 4:12–15; Acts 16:20, 21their laws are different from all other people’s, and they do not keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. 9If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.”
10So the king #Gen. 41:42took #Esth. 8:2, 8his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the #Esth. 7:6enemy of the Jews. 11And the king said to Haman, “The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you.”
12#Esth. 8:9Then the king’s scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and a decree was written according to all that Haman commanded—to the king’s satraps, to the governors who were over each province, to the officials of all people, to every province #Esth. 1:22according to its script, and to every people in their language. #1 Kin. 21:8; Esth. 8:8–10In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13And the letters were #2 Chr. 30:6; Esth. 8:10, 14sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, #Esth. 8:12in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and #Esth. 8:11, 9:10to plunder their possessions. 14#Esth. 8:13, 14A copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province, being published for all people, that they should be ready for that day. 15The couriers went out, hastened by the king’s command; and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but #Esth. 8:15; (Prov. 29:2)the city of Shushan was perplexed.
Currently Selected:
Esther 3: NKJV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Esther 3
3
1After these things king Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. 2And all the king's servants that were in the king's gate bowed and did Haman reverence, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. 3Then the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, said to Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment? 4And it came to pass as they spoke daily to him, and he hearkened not to them, that they informed Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, Haman was full of fury. 6But he scorned to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made known to him the people of Mordecai; therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were in all the kingdom of Ahasuerus — the people of Mordecai.
7In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman for each day and for each month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar. 8And Haman said to king Ahasuerus, There is a 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, and they keep not the king's laws; and it is not for the king's profit to suffer them. 9If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those that have charge of the affairs, to bring it into the king's treasuries. 10And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. 11And the king said to Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as seems good to thee. 12Then were the king's scribes called, in the first month, on the thirteenth day of the month, and there was written according to all that Haman commanded unto the king's satraps, and to the governors over every province, and to the princes of every people; to every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people according to their language: in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring. 13And the letters were sent by couriers 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, upon the thirteenth of the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey. 14That the decree might be given in every province, a copy of the writing was published to all peoples, that they should be ready against that day. 15The couriers went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the fortress. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was in consternation.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.