Esther:3

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* After these events did king Achashverosh make great Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite , and he advanced him ; and he placed his seat above that of all the princes that were with him . * And all the king ’s servants , that were in the king ’s gate , bent the knee and prostrated themselves to Haman ; for so had the king commanded concerning him ; but Mordecai bent not the knee nor prostrated himself . * Then said the king ’s , servants , who were in the king ’s gate , unto Mordecai , Why transgressest thou the king ’s command ? * Now it came to pass , when they spoke unto him day by day , and he hearkened not unto them , that they told it to Haman , to see whether the words of Mordecai would be able to stand ; for he had told them that be was a Jew . * And when Haman saw that Mordecai bent not the knee , nor prostrated himself to him , Haman became full of fury . * But it appeared too contemptible in his eyes to lay his hand on Mordecai alone : for they had told him of the people of Mordecai : therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout all the kingdom of Achashverosh , the people of Mordecai . * In the first month , that is the month Nissan , in the twelfth year of king Achashverosh , some one cast the Pur , that is , the lot , before Haman from day to day , and from month , to the twelfth month , which is the month Adar . * Then said Haman unto king Achashverosh , There is one people scattered yet separate among the nations in all the provinces of thy kingdom ; and their laws are different from those of every people ; while they do not execute the laws of the king ; and it is no profit for the king to tolerate them . * If it be pleasing to the king , let be written to destroy them ; and ten thousand talents of silver will I weigh out into the hands of those that have the charge of the business , to bring into the king ’s treasuries . * And the king drew his signet –ring from off his hand , and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite , the adversary of the Jews . * And the king said unto Haman , The silver is given to thee , that people also , to do therewith as it seemeth good in thy eyes . * Then were called the king ’s scribes in the first month on the thirteenth day thereof , and there was written all just as Haman had commanded unto the king ’s lieutenants , and to the governors that were over every province , and to the princes of every people , to every province according to its writing , and to every people according to its language : in the name of king Achashverosh was it written , and it was sealed with the king ’s signet –ring . * And the letters were sent by the runners unto all the king ’s provinces , to destroy , to kill , and to exterminate all the Jews , from young to old , little ones and women , on one day , on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month , which is the month Adar , and to plunder their property as spoil . * A copy of the writing , to be given out as a law in every province , was published unto all the nations , that they might be ready against that day . * The runners went out with all speed with the king ’s decree , and the law was given out in Shushan the capital : and the king and Haman sat down to drink ; but the city of Shushan was perplexed .

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