¶ After these acts did the king promote Haman the son of Amadatha the Agagite, and set him high, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
And all the king's servants that were in the gate, bowed their knees, and did reverenced unto Haman: for the king had so commanded. But Mardocheus bowed not the knee, and worshiped him not.
Then the king's servants which were in the king's gate, said unto Mardocheus: Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
And when they spake this daily unto him and he followed them not, they told Haman, that they might see whether Mardocheus' matters would endure: for he had told them, that he was a Iew.
And when Haman saw, that Mardocheus bowed not the knee unto him, nor worshipped him, he was full of indignation
and thought it too little to lay hands onely on Mardocheus: for they had shewed him the nation of Mardocheus, but he sought to destroy all the Iews the nation of Mardocheus, that were in the whole empire of Ahasuerus.
¶ In the first month (that is the month Nisan) in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus they cast Phur, (that is a lot) before Haman, on what day and what month this should be done: and it went out the twelfth month that is the month Adar.
And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus: There is a people scattered abroad and dispersed among all people in all the lands of thine empire, and their law is contrary unto all people, and they do not after the king's laws, neither is it the king's profit to suffer them after this manner.
If it please the king, let him write, that they may be destroyed, and so will I weigh down ten thousand talents of silver, under the hands of the workmen, to be brought into the king's chamber.
Then took the king his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Amadatha the Agagite, the Iews' enemy.
And the king said unto Haman: Let the silver be given thee, and that people also, to do with all what pleaseth thee.
Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written (according as Haman commanded) unto the king's princes, and to the captains everywhere in the lands, and to the rulers of every people in the countries on every side, according to the writing of every nation, and after their language in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed with the king's ring.
And the writings were sent by posts in to all the king's lands, to root out, to kill, and to destroy all Iews, both young and old, children and women in one day, (namely upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar) and to spoil their goods.
This was the sum of the writing, that there should be a commandment given in all lands, to be published unto all people, that they should be ready against the same day.
And the posts went in all the haste according to the king's commandment. And in the castle of Susan was the commandment devised. And the king and Haman sat and drank. But the city Susan was disquieted.
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Praise the Everlasting Lord for His Faithful Word.