Esther 3
Haman's Plot to Destroy
the Jews |
1 |
After these things did king Ahasue'rus
promote Haman the son of Hammeda'tha the A'gagite, and advanced him,
and set his seat above all the princes that were with
him.
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2 |
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 Mor'decai bowed not, nor
did him reverence.
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3 |
Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mor'decai, Why
transgressest thou the king's commandment?
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4 |
Now it came to pass, when they spake
daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told
Haman, to see whether Mor'decai's matters would stand: for he had
told them that he was a Jew.
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5 |
And when Haman saw that Mor'decai bowed
not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
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6 |
And he thought scorn to lay hands on
Mor'decai alone; for they had showed him the people of Mor'decai:
wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasue'rus, even the people
of Mor'decai.
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7 |
In the first month, that is, the
month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasue'rus, 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.
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8 |
And Haman said unto king Ahasue'rus,
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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9 |
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.
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10 |
And the king took his ring from his hand,
and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammeda'tha the A'gagite, the
Jews' enemy.
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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.
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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 Ahasue'rus was it written, and
sealed with the king's ring.
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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.
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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.
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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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