Esther 3:6-15

6But he 1disdained to 2lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were; therefore Haman 3sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

7In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, 4Pur, that is the lot, was 5cast before Haman from day to day and from month to month, 6until the twelfth month, that is 7the month Adar. 8Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; 8their laws are different from those of all other people and they do not observe the king’s laws, so it is not in the king’s interest to let them remain. 9If it is pleasing to the king, let it be 9decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry on the king’s business, to put into the king’s treasuries.” 10Then 10the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha 11the Agagite, 12the enemy of the Jews. 11The king said to Haman, “The silver is 13yours, and the people also, to do with them as you please.”

1214Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written just as Haman commanded to 15the king’s satraps, to the governors who were over each province and to the princes of each people, each province according to its script, each people according to its language, being written 16in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13Letters were sent by 17couriers to all the king’s provinces 18to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, 19in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to 20seize their possessions as plunder. 1421A copy of the edict to be 22issued as law in every province was published to all the peoples so that they should be ready for this day. 15The couriers went out impelled by the king’s command while the decree was 23issued at the citadel in Susa; and while the king and Haman sat down to drink, 24the city of Susa was in confusion.