5When Haman saw that Mordecai was not bowing down or paying him homage, he was filled with rage.3:5 Est 1:12; 2:21; 7:7; Dn 3:19

6And when he learned of Mordecai’s ethnic identity, it seemed repugnant to Haman to do away with3:6 Lit to stretch out a hand against Mordecai alone. He planned to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews,3:6 Est 6:10 throughout Ahasuerus’s kingdom.3:6 Est 9:24; Ps 83:2–4

7In the first month, the month of Nisan, in King Ahasuerus’s twelfth year,3:7 Est 1:2; 2:16 the pur — that is, the lot — was cast before Haman for each day in each month, and it fell on the twelfth month,3:7 Est 9:24–28 the month Adar.3:7 Ezr 6:15

8Then Haman informed King Ahasuerus, “There is one ethnic group, scattered throughout the peoples in every province of your kingdom,3:8 Est 1:1; 8:11,17; 9:2 keeping themselves separate. Their laws are different from everyone else’s and they do not obey the king’s laws.3:8 Jr 29:7; Ac 16:20–21 It is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.3:8 Ezr 4:12–15

9If the king approves, let an order be drawn up authorizing their destruction, and I will pay 375 tons of silver to3:9 Lit will weigh 10,000 silver talents on the hands of the officials for deposit in the royal treasury.”3:9 Est 4:7

10The king removed his signet ring3:10 Gn 41:42; Est 8:2,8,10; Hg 2:23 from his hand and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.3:10 Est 7:6; 9:10

11Then the king told Haman, “The money and people are given to you to do with as you see fit.”

12The royal scribes were summoned3:12 Est 8:9 on the thirteenth day of the first month, and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded. It was intended for the royal satraps,3:12 Ezr 8:36 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.3:12 Est 1:22; 8:9 It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus3:12 1Kg 21:8 and sealed with the royal signet ring.3:12 Est 8:10

13Letters were sent by couriers3:13 2Ch 30:6; Est 8:14 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,3:13 Est 8:11–13; 9:10 the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.3:13 LXX adds the text of Ahasuerus’s letter here.

14A 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.

15The couriers left, spurred on by royal command, and the law was issued in the fortress of Susa.3:14–15 Est 8:13–14 The king and Haman sat down to drink, while the city of Susa was in confusion.3:15 Est 7:1; 8:15