Haman’s Plot against the Jews

After these events King Ahasuerus (A)honored Haman, the son of Hammedatha (B)the Agagite, and (C)promoted him and [a]established his authority over all the officials who were with him. All the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid [b]homage to Haman; for so the king had commanded regarding him. But (D)Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid [c]homage. Then the king’s servants who were at (E)the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “(F)Why are you violating 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 [d]stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew. When Haman saw that (G)Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid [e]homage to him, Haman was filled with rage. But he [f]considered it beneath his dignity to [g]kill Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were; so Haman (H)sought to annihilate all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were found throughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus.

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Footnotes

  1. Esther 3:1 Lit set his seat
  2. Esther 3:2 I.e., great respect and honor to a superior
  3. Esther 3:2 I.e., great respect and honor to a superior
  4. Esther 3:4 I.e., as valid
  5. Esther 3:5 I.e., great respect and honor to a superior
  6. Esther 3:6 Lit despised in his eyes
  7. Esther 3:6 Lit send a hand against

Haman Undertakes to Destroy the Jews

After these things King Ahasu-e′rus promoted Haman the Ag′agite, the son of Hammeda′tha, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. 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 Mor′decai did not bow down or do obeisance. Then the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mor′decai, “Why do you transgress the king’s command?” And when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mor′decai’s words would avail; for he had told them that he was a Jew. And when Haman saw that Mor′decai did not bow down or do obeisance to him, Haman was filled with fury. But he disdained to lay hands on Mor′decai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mor′decai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mor′decai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasu-e′rus.

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