² And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and did obeisance to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or do obeisance.^(A)

Mordecai Discovers a Plot

¹⁹ When the virgins were being gathered together,^[a] Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.

⁴³ He had him ride in the chariot of his second-in-command, and they cried out in front of him, “Bow the knee!”^[a] Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt.^(A)

Haman Plans to Have Mordecai Hung

⁹ Haman went out that day happy and in good spirits, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was infuriated with Mordecai;^(A)

⁵ When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or do obeisance to him, Haman was infuriated.^(A)

Haman Undertakes to Destroy the Jews

3 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite and advanced him and set his seat above all the officials who were with him.

²¹ In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the threshold, became angry and conspired to kill^[a] King Ahasuerus.^(A)

³ Now go and attack Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.”^(A)