Reformation Directory

1 Hamán, after he was exalted, obtained of the King, that all the Jews should be put to death, because Mordecái had not done him worship as other had.

1.After these things did King Ahashuerósh promote Hamán the son of Hammedátha the Agagite, and exalted him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

2.And all the King’s servants that were at the King’s gate, bowed their knees, and reverenced Hamán: for the King had so commanded concerning him: but Mordecái ^abowed not the knee, neither did reverence.

3.Then the King’s servants which were at the King’s gate said unto Mordecái, Why transgressest thou the King’s commandment?

4.And albeit they spake daily unto him, yet he would not hear them: therefore they ^btold Hamán, that they might see how Mordecái’s matter would stand: for he had told them, that he was a Jew.

5.And when Hamán saw that Mordecái bowed not the knee unto him, nor did reverence unto him, then Hamán was full of wrath.

6.Now he ^thought it too little to lay hands only on Mordecái: and because they had shewed him the people of Mordecái, Hamán sought to destroy all the Jews, that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahashuerósh, even the people of Mordecái.

7.In the first month (that is the month ^cNisán) in the twelft year of King Ahashuerósh, they cast Pur (that is a lot) ^dbefore Hamán, from day to day, and from month to month, unto the twelft month, that is the month ^eAdár.

8.Then Hamán said unto King Ahashuerósh, There is a people scattered, and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom, and their laws are divers from all people, and they do not observe the ^fKing’s laws: therefore it is not the King’s profit to suffer them.

9.If it please the King, let it be written that they may be destroyed, and I will ^pay ten thousand talents of silver by the hands of them that have the charge of this business to bring it into the King’s treasury.

10.Then the King took his ring from his hand and gave it unto Hamán the son of Hammedátha the Agagite the Jew’s adversary.

11.And the King said unto Hamán, Let the silver be thine, and the people to do with them as it pleaseth thee.

12.Then were the King’s ^scribes called on the thirtent day of the first month, and there was written (according to all that Hamán commanded) unto the King’s officers, and to the captains that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people and to every province, according to the writing thereof, and to every people according to their language: in the name of King Ahashuerósh was it written, and sealed with the King’s ring.

13.And the letters were sent ^by posts into all the King’s provinces, to root out, to kill and to destroy all the Jews, both young and old, children and women, in one day upon the thirtent day of the twelft month, (which is the month Adar) and to spoil them as a prey.

14.The contents of the writing was, that there should be given a commandment in all provinces, and published unto all people, that they should be ready against the same day.

15.And the posts compelled by the King’s commandment went forth, and the commandment was given in the palace at Shushán: and the King and Hamán sate drinking, but the ^gcity of Shushán was in perplexity.

Esther 3

Notes