Esther 3:7-15
English Standard Version
7 In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, (A)they cast Pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman day after day; and they cast it month after month till the twelfth month, which is (B)the month of Adar. 8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. (C)Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king's laws, so that it is not to the king's profit to tolerate them. 9 If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents[a] of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king's business, that they may put it into the king's treasuries.” 10 (D)So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman (E)the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, (F)the enemy of the Jews. 11 And the king said to Haman, “The money is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.”
12 (G)Then the king's scribes 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 (H)satraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the officials of all the peoples, (I)to every province in its own script and every people in its own language. It was written (J)in the name of King Ahasuerus (K)and sealed with the king's signet ring. 13 Letters were sent (L)by couriers to all the king's provinces with instruction (M)to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, (N)in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, (O)and to plunder their goods. 14 (P)A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day. 15 (Q)The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, (R)but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.
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- Esther 3:9 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms
Esther 3:7-15
Holman Christian Standard Bible
7 In the first month, the month of Nisan,[a] in King Ahasuerus’s twelfth year,[b](A) 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](C) 8 Then Haman informed King Ahasuerus, “There is one ethnic group, scattered throughout the peoples in every province of your kingdom,(D) yet living in isolation. 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[d] the accountants for deposit in the royal treasury.”(G)
10 The king removed his signet ring(H) from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jewish people.(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.[e]
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)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Esther 3:7 = March–April; called Abib in the pre-exilic period; Ex 13:4; Dt 16:1
- Esther 3:7 474 b.c.
- Esther 3:7 = February–March
- Esther 3:9 Lit will weigh 10,000 silver talents on the hands of
- Esther 3:13 LXX adds the text of Ahasuerus’s letter here.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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