Esther 3

Haman Gets Promoted

1 Some time later, King Ahasuerus gave a big promotion to Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite, making him the top official over all the other nobles.

2 The king ordered that everyone at the palace gate bow down and show respect to Haman. Everybody did, except Mordecai.

3 The king’s officials at the gate asked Mordecai, “Why are you breaking the king’s command?”

4 Day after day they pressed him, but he would not listen. He told them he was a Jew, so they went and told Haman to see if Mordecai’s excuse would hold up.

Haman’s Anger Turns Into a Plot

5 When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or show him respect, he got heated.

6 But he thought it was beneath him to just go after Mordecai alone. Once he found out Mordecai’s people were Jews, he plotted to wipe out all the Jews in the kingdom of Ahasuerus.

Casting Lots for the Date

7 In the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, in the first month (the month of Nisan), they cast the Pur, that is like rolling dice, to choose the day and month. It landed on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

Haman Manipulates the King

8 Haman told King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain group of people scattered across your empire. They have got their own rules, they do not follow your laws, and it is not in your best interest to let them stick around.”

9 “If it pleases you, sign an order to destroy them, and I will drop 10,000 talents of silver into the royal treasury for those who handle it.”

10 The king took his signet ring off his finger and handed it to Haman, enemy of the Jews.

11 The king said, “The silver is yours, and the people too. Do whatever you want with them.”

The Death Decree

12 On the thirteenth day of the first month, the royal secretaries were called in. Haman’s orders were written out exactly as he told them, to all the king’s governors, officials, and leaders of each province in their own language. It was sealed with the king’s ring.

13 Letters were sent out to every province, telling people to wipe out, kill, and destroy all the Jews, young and old, women and children, on one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, and take all their stuff.

14 A copy of the order was made public in every province so everyone would be ready for that day.

15 The king and Haman sat down for drinks while the city of Susa was in total confusion.