Haman Has the Decree of the Jew's Future Demise Sent to All the Provinces |
Esther 3:1-15 The Book of Esther [in Smaller Chunks] |
After these things, king Ahasuerus, [a.k.a. Xerxes, promoted] Haman, [Hammedatha's] son, the Agagite & [he was] advanced. And his seat was [put] above all the princes [who] were with him. |
And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed & [paid respect to] Haman, [as] the king had commanded [to be done, related to] him. But Mordecai [didn't] bow, nor did [he give] him [respect.] Then, the king's servants [who] were in the king's gate, said to Mordecai, Why do you [go against] the king's [command?] |
Now, it [happened,] when [the servants spoke] daily to [Mordecai,] he [didn't pay attention to] them, [so] they told Haman [this,] to see whether Mordecai’s [words] would stand: for [Mordecai] had told them that he was a Jew. |
And when Haman saw that Mordecai [didn't] bow [or pay Haman respect,] Haman was [furious & looked down] on Mordecai & thought to [seize] him [when he was] alone. |
For they had [told Haman about Mordecai's] people & [for this reason,] Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, throughout [all of Ahasuerus'] kingdom, even the people of Mordecai. |
In the 1st month, Nisan, in the 12th year king Ahasuerus [ruled,] they cast Pur, [which] is the lot, [in front of] Haman [to select a day & a] month. [The lot fell] to the 12th month, that is, the month Adar. |
And Haman said to king Ahasuerus, There is [particular] people scattered [around] & dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom. And their laws are [different] from all [the other] people. Neither [do] they keep the king's laws. Therefore, it isn't [to] the king's [benefit] to [put up with] them. |
If it [pleases] the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed. I will [even] pay 10,000 talents of silver [into] the hands of those [in] charge of [this type of] business, to bring it into the king's treasuries. |
And the king took [off] his ring from his hand & gave it to Haman, [Hammedatha's] son, the Agagite, [who was] the Jew's enemy. And the king said to Haman, The silver is given to you & the [Jewish] people also, to do with them, as seems good to you. |
Then, the king's scribes were called on the 13th day of the 1st month & all was written according to [what] Haman had commanded the king's lieutenants & the governors over every province & to every ruler of every people, of every province, to every people [in] their language. |
It was written in the name of king Ahasuerus & sealed with the king's ring. And the letters were sent by [postal messengers] into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill & to [annihilate,] all Jews, both [the] young & old, little children & women, in one day, even upon the 13th day of the 12th month, which is the month, Adar & to take the [plunder] of them for a [prize.] |
The copy of the [written command was] to be given in every province & was published to all people, [so] that they [could be prepared] against that day. The [postal messengers] went out, being [speeded] by the king's [command.] |
And the decree was given in the palace in Shushan. And the king & Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was [troubled.] |