1After these events, King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite. He elevated Haman and gave him a position of authority above all the other officials.
2All the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and showed respect to Haman, because the king had commanded it. But Mordecai did not bow down or show him respect.
3Then the king’s servants, who were at the king’s gate, asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?”
4When they spoke to him day after day and he still would not listen, they told Haman to see if Mordecai’s explanation would be accepted, because he had told them he was a Jew.
5When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or show him respect, he became furious.
6But he thought it beneath him to punish Mordecai alone, because he had been told who Mordecai’s people were. So Haman looked for a way to destroy all the Jews throughout King Ahasuerus’s entire kingdom—Mordecai’s people.
7In the first month, which is Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast lots (Pur) before Haman, day by day and month by month, and the lot fell on the twelfth month, which is Adar.
8Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain group of people scattered throughout all the provinces of your kingdom, separate from everyone else. Their laws are different from those of any other people, and they do not obey the king's laws. It is not in the king's best interest to tolerate them.
9If it pleases the king, let a decree be written to destroy them. I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the officials in charge of the king's business, to be put into the royal treasury."
10The king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
11The king said to Haman, “The money is yours, and you can do with the people whatever you think is best.”
12So on the thirteenth day of the first month, the king’s secretaries were called. They wrote out all of Haman’s commands to the king’s satraps, the governors of every province, and the officials of every people. The decree was written for each province in its own script and for each people in their own language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring.
13Couriers delivered letters to all the king’s provinces. These letters ordered the destruction, killing, and annihilation of all Jews—young and old, little children and women—on a single day: the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is Adar. Their belongings were also to be taken as loot.
14A copy of this decree was to be issued in every province and made public to all people, so they would be ready for that day.
15The couriers left quickly, as the king commanded, and the decree was issued in Susa’s fortress. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was confused and troubled.