哈曼图谋灭绝犹太人

后来,亚哈随鲁王擢升亚甲人哈米大他的儿子哈曼,使他的权位高过他所有的同僚。 王命令所有在宫门供职的臣仆都要向哈曼跪拜,但末底改不肯跪拜。 在宫门供职的臣仆问末底改:“你为何违抗王的命令?” 他们天天劝他,他却不听。他们便把这件事告诉哈曼,想看看末底改这样做是否能站得住,因为末底改已告诉他们自己是犹太人。 哈曼见末底改不肯向他跪拜,就怒气填胸。 他得知末底改是犹太人后,便不屑于只害末底改一人,而是要铲除亚哈随鲁王国内所有的犹太人,即末底改的同胞。

亚哈随鲁王十二年一月,即尼散月,有人在哈曼面前抽普珥,也就是抽签,来决定哪月哪日下手,结果抽中十二月,即亚达月。

哈曼对亚哈随鲁王说:“有一个民族散居在王境内各省的众民族中,他们的律例与各族的律例不同,他们不遵守王的律例,所以容忍他们对王不利。 王若愿意,就请降旨消灭他们。我愿捐三百四十五吨银子交给管理国事的人,纳入王的库房。” 10 于是,王摘下手上的戒指,交给犹太人的仇敌——亚甲人哈米大他的儿子哈曼, 11 对他说:“这些银子归你,这个民族也交给你,随你处置。”

12 一月十三日,王的书记被召来,他们以亚哈随鲁王的名义,照哈曼的吩咐,用各省的文字和各族的语言写谕旨,用王的戒指盖印,送交各总督、各省省长和各族首领。 13 谕旨由信差送到王的各省,限令在一天之内,即十二月,也就是亚达月十三日,把犹太人的男女老少全部铲除、杀光、灭尽,并夺取他们的财物。 14 谕旨的抄本作为法令颁布到各省,通知各族为那天做好准备。 15 信差奉王的命令急忙上路,谕旨也在书珊城里颁布了。王和哈曼坐下饮酒,书珊城一片慌乱。

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

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

And all the king’s servants that were at the king’s gate, bowed their knees, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him: but Mordecai [a]bowed not the knee, neither did reverence.

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

And albeit they spake daily unto him, yet he would not hear them: therefore they [b]told Haman, that they might see how Mordecai’s matters would stand: for he had told them, that he was a Jew.

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

Now he [c]thought it too little to lay hands only on Mordecai: and because they had showed him the people of Mordecai, 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 [d]Nisan) in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is a lot) [e]before Haman, from day to day, and from month to month unto the twelfth month, that is the month [f]Adar.

Then Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, 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 [g]King’s laws: therefore it is not the king’s profit to suffer them.

If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed, and I will [h]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 Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite the Jews’ adversary.

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

12 Then were the king’s [i]Scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written (according to all that Haman 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 Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring.

13 And the letters were sent [j]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 thirteenth day of the twelfth 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 Shushan: and the king and Haman sat drinking, but the [k]city of Shushan was in perplexity.

Footnotes

  1. Esther 3:2 The Persians’ manner was to kneel down and reverence their kings, and such as he appointed in chief authority, which Mordecai would not do to this ambitious and proud man.
  2. Esther 3:4 Thus we see that there is none so wicked, but they have their flatterers to accuse the godly.
  3. Esther 3:6 Hebrew, despised in his eyes.
  4. Esther 3:7 Which answereth to part of March and part of April.
  5. Esther 3:7 To know what month and day should be good to enterprise this thing, that it might have good success: but God disappointed their lots, and expectation.
  6. Esther 3:7 Containing part of February and part of March.
  7. Esther 3:8 These be the two arguments which commonly the worldlings and the wicked use toward princes against the godly, that is, the contempt of their laws, and diminishing of their profit: without respect how God is either pleased or displeased.
  8. Esther 3:9 Hebrew, weigh.
  9. Esther 3:12 Or, secretaries.
  10. Esther 3:13 Hebrew, the hands of posts.
  11. Esther 3:15 To wit, the Jews that were in Shushan.