Esther 3

After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

Following these events, King Ahasuerus, filled with admiration, elevated Haman, Hammedatha the Agagite's son, to a position of great honor. He placed him above all other nobles, a testament to his high regard for Haman.

And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

Every servant in the king's court was ordered to show respect to Haman, and they did. But Mordecai, he stood tall, refusing to bow or honor him.

Then the king’s servants, which were in the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king’s commandment?

The king's aides, standing at the palace entrance, questioned Mordecai, "Why are you disobeying the king's orders?"

Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

Despite their daily pleas, he ignored them. So, they turned to Haman, curious if Mordecai's claims would hold up. After all, Mordecai had openly admitted he was a Jew.

And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

When Haman noticed Mordecai's refusal to bow or show him respect, he was consumed by anger.

And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

Haman felt it beneath him to harm just Mordecai. After learning about Mordecai's people, he decided to annihilate all the Jews in King Ahasuerus's kingdom, including Mordecai's kin.

In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.

In the first month, the month of Nisan, in King Ahasuerus' twelfth year, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman to pick the day, going day after day and month after month, until it fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them.

Haman told King Ahasuerus, "There's a group of people, spread out across your kingdom, who follow different laws than ours. They don't obey your laws, which isn't beneficial for you, King."

If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.

If the king agrees, let a decree be written that they be destroyed. I'll personally pay ten thousand talents of silver to those in charge of the work, to be added to the king's treasury.

And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy.

So the king removed his signet ring and handed it to Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the notorious enemy of the Jews.

And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.

The king told Haman, "The wealth and the people are yours, use them as you see fit."

Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring.

On the thirteenth day of the first month, the king's writers were summoned. They penned down all that Haman had ordered, addressing the king's deputies, the provincial governors, and the leaders of each ethnic group in their own language. This was all done under King Ahasuerus' name and sealed with his royal ring.

And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

Messages were dispatched across the king's lands, bearing a chilling command: to annihilate all Jews - the young, the old, women, and children - all in one day, specifically on the 13th day of the month Adar. Their possessions were to be seized as spoils.

The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.

The decree was shared across all regions, urging everyone to prepare for the impending day.

The posts went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.

The king's urgent orders were swiftly dispatched from Shushan palace. As the king and Haman relaxed with their drinks, the city of Shushan was left in a state of confusion and unease.