Esther 3:7-15
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
7 In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur—which means “the lot”—before Haman for the day and for the month, and the lot fell on the thirteenth day of[a] the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.(A) 8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and separated among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king’s laws, so that it is not appropriate for the king to tolerate them.(B) 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued for their destruction, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king’s business, so that they may put it into the king’s treasuries.” 10 So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.(C) 11 The king said to Haman, “The money is given to you, and the people as well, to do with them as it seems good to you.”
12 Then the king’s secretaries were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written to the king’s satraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the officials of all the peoples, to every province in its own script and every people in its own language; it was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s ring.(D) 13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces, giving orders to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, children and women, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.(E) 14 A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation, calling on all the peoples to be ready for that day.(F) 15 The couriers went quickly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.(G)
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Esther 3:7-15
Christian Standard Bible
7 In the first month, the month of Nisan, in King Ahasuerus’s twelfth year,(A) the pur—that is, the lot—was cast before Haman for each day in each month, and it fell on the twelfth month,(B) the month Adar.(C) 8 Then Haman informed King Ahasuerus, “There is one ethnic group, scattered throughout the peoples in every province of your kingdom,(D) keeping themselves separate. Their laws are different from everyone else’s and they do not obey the king’s laws.(E) It is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.(F) 9 If the king approves, let an order be drawn up authorizing their destruction, and I will pay 375 tons of silver to[a] the officials for deposit in the royal treasury.”(G)
10 The king removed his signet ring(H) from his hand and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.(I) 11 Then the king told Haman, “The money and people are given to you to do with as you see fit.”
12 The royal scribes were summoned(J) on the thirteenth day of the first month, and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded. It was intended for the royal satraps,(K) the governors of each of the provinces, and the officials of each ethnic group and written for each province in its own script and to each ethnic group in its own language.(L) It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus(M) and sealed with the royal signet ring.(N) 13 Letters were sent by couriers(O) to each of the royal provinces telling the officials to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jewish people—young and old, women and children—and plunder their possessions on a single day,(P) the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.[b]
14 A copy of the text, issued as law throughout every province, was distributed to all the peoples so that they might get ready for that day. 15 The couriers left, spurred on by royal command, and the law was issued in the fortress of Susa.(Q) The king and Haman sat down to drink, while the city of Susa was in confusion.(R)
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