哈曼圖謀滅絕猶太人

後來,亞哈隨魯王擢升亞甲人哈米大他的兒子哈曼,使他的權位高過他所有的同僚。 王命令所有在宮門供職的臣僕都要向哈曼跪拜,但末底改不肯跪拜。 在宮門供職的臣僕問末底改:「你為何違抗王的命令?」 他們天天勸他,他卻不聽。他們便把這件事告訴哈曼,想看看末底改這樣做是否能站得住,因為末底改已告訴他們自己是猶太人。 哈曼見末底改不肯向他跪拜,就怒氣填胸。 他得知末底改是猶太人後,便不屑於只害末底改一人,而是要剷除亞哈隨魯王國內所有的猶太人,即末底改的同胞。

亞哈隨魯王十二年一月,即尼散月,有人在哈曼面前抽普珥,也就是抽籤,來決定哪月哪日下手,結果抽中十二月,即亞達月。

哈曼對亞哈隨魯王說:「有一個民族散居在王境內各省的眾民族中,他們的律例與各族的律例不同,他們不遵守王的律例,所以容忍他們對王不利。 王若願意,就請降旨消滅他們。我願捐三百四十五噸銀子交給管理國事的人,納入王的庫房。」 10 於是,王摘下手上的戒指,交給猶太人的仇敵——亞甲人哈米大他的兒子哈曼, 11 對他說:「這些銀子歸你,這個民族也交給你,隨你處置。」

12 一月十三日,王的書記被召來,他們以亞哈隨魯王的名義,照哈曼的吩咐,用各省的文字和各族的語言寫諭旨,用王的戒指蓋印,送交各總督、各省省長和各族首領。 13 諭旨由信差送到王的各省,限令在一天之內,即十二月,也就是亞達月十三日,把猶太人的男女老少全部剷除、殺光、滅盡,並奪取他們的財物。 14 諭旨的抄本作為法令頒佈到各省,通知各族為那天做好準備。 15 信差奉王的命令急忙上路,諭旨也在書珊城裡頒佈了。王和哈曼坐下飲酒,書珊城一片慌亂。

Haman’s Plot against the Jews

After these events King Ahasuerus (A)promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha (B)the Agagite, and (C)advanced him and [a]established his authority over all the princes who were with him. All the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down [b]and paid homage to Haman; for so the king had commanded concerning him. But (D)Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage. Then the king’s servants who were at (E)the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “(F)Why are you transgressing the king’s command?” Now it was when they had spoken daily to him and he would not listen to them, that they told Haman to see whether Mordecai’s reason would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew. When Haman saw that (G)Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage to him, Haman was filled with rage. But he [c]disdained to [d]lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were; therefore Haman (H)sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, [e]Pur, that is the lot, was (I)cast before Haman from day to day and from month to month, [f]until the twelfth month, that is (J)the month Adar. Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; (K)their 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. If it is pleasing to the king, let it be [g]decreed 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.” 10 Then (L)the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha (M)the Agagite, (N)the enemy of the Jews. 11 The king said to Haman, “The silver is [h]yours, and the people also, to do with them as you please.”

12 (O)Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written just as Haman commanded to (P)the 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 (Q)in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13 Letters were sent by (R)couriers to all the king’s provinces (S)to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, (T)in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to (U)seize their possessions as plunder. 14 (V)A copy of the edict to be [i]issued as law in every province was published to all the peoples so that they should be ready for this day. 15 The couriers went out impelled by the king’s command while the decree was [j]issued at the citadel in Susa; and while the king and Haman sat down to drink, (W)the city of Susa was in confusion.

Footnotes

  1. Esther 3:1 Lit set his seat
  2. Esther 3:2 Lit and prostrated themselves before
  3. Esther 3:6 Lit despised in his eyes
  4. Esther 3:6 Lit send a hand against
  5. Esther 3:7 Lit he cast Pur...before
  6. Esther 3:7 Gr and the lot fell on the thirteenth day of
  7. Esther 3:9 Lit written
  8. Esther 3:11 Lit given to you
  9. Esther 3:14 Lit given
  10. Esther 3:15 Lit given

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

11 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.

12 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.

13 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.

14 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.

15 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.