the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.
20 Esther had not yet revealed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther performed the commandment of Mordecai, as when she was brought up with him.
21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those who kept the door, were angry, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. [1] [2]
22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it to Esther the queen; and Esther informed the king of it in Mordecai’s name.
23 And when enquiry was made of the matter, it was discovered; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
CHAP. 3.
After these things king Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
2 And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and paid honour to Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did pay him honour.
3 Then the king’s servants, who were in the king’s gate, said to Mordecai, Why dost thou transgress the king’s commandment?
4 Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he hearkened not to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s reason would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did pay him honour, then was Haman full of wrath.
6 And he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made known to him the people of Mordecai: therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.
8 And Haman said to king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are different from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to allow them to remain . [3]
9 If it shall please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries. [4] [5]
10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy. [6]
11 And the king said to Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
12 Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded to the king’s satraps, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the princes of every people of every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring. [7]
13 And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to plunder them for spoil.
14 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was proclaimed to all people, that they should be ready for that day.
15 The posts departed, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.
CHAP. 4.
When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
2 And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.
3 And in every province, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. [8]
4 So Esther’s maids and her chamberlains came and told it to her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he accepted it not. [9]
5 Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to learn what it was, and why it was . [10]
6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai
- ↑ Bigthan: also called, Bigthana
- ↑ the door: Heb. the threshold
- ↑ for the...: Heb. meet or, equal, etc
- ↑ that they...: Heb. to destroy them
- ↑ pay: Heb. weigh
- ↑ enemy: or, oppressor
- ↑ scribes: or, secretaries
- ↑ many...: Heb. sackcloth and ashes were laid under many
- ↑ chamberlains: Heb. eunuchs
- ↑ appointed...: Heb. set before her
