1After these things King Xerxes promoted Haman, son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, and advanced him above all the other nobles who were with him. 2And all the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, bowed, and did obeisance to Haman; as the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow, nor did obeisance to him. 3Then the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the king's commandment?” 4And when they spoke to him daily, and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's words would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5And then, when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow, nor did him obeisance, then Haman was full of wrath. 6But he disdained killing only Mordecai; for they had told him that Mordecai was a Jew. And so, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes - all the people of Mordecai. 7In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Xerxes, 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. Haman was determined to destroy Mordecai and the Jews; and so, he called together his diviners, to find out what day would be most ‘lucky’ for putting his plot into execution. The way of divination among the eastern people back then was by casting lots; and having first tested each month, and then each day of each month, the diviners finally concluded that the 13th day of the 12th month would be best for their bloody execution. This casting of lots by Haman was begun in the first month of the year; and so the time for the execution of the Jews was delayed till the last month of that year; so that almost a year lapsed from hatching their plot (v12) to its execution (v13), giving Mordecai time to inform Queen Esther about it, and for her to intercede with the king to revoke or suspend the decree, and thereby thwarting and foiling the conspiracy. 8Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; and their laws are different from all people; nor do they keep the king's laws. Therefore, it is not in the king's interest to tolerate them. 9If it pleases the king, let it be decreed that they may be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents (about 660,000 pounds) of silver into the king's treasuries to pay those who have charge of the business. 10And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman, son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. 11And the king said to Haman, “Keep your silver; and do with the people as it seems good to you.” 12Then the king's scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and the royal secretaries were summoned; and they wrote a decree of all that Haman had dictated unto the king's deputies, written in their own language to the governors over every province, to the leaders of every people of every province, and all the people. It was written in the name of King Xerxes, and sealed with the king's ring. 13And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, kill, and cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, all in one day, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to seize their property for spoil. 14A copy of this decree was to be issued as law in every province and published to all people, that they should be ready for that day. 15The posts went out hurriedly 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 of Susa (Shushan) was perplexed.
Glossary • World History Overview • Deep Purple Registry Reader-Friendly Bible: Purple Letter Edition |
    |