Esther 3

1 After these actes, dyd king Ahasuerus promote Haman the sonne of Amadatha the Agagite, and set hym on hie, and set his seate aboue all the princes that he had with hym.

2 And al the kinges seruauntes that were in the kinges gate, bowed their knees, and reuerenced Haman, for the king had so commaunded concerning hym: But Mardocheus bowed not the knee, neither dyd hym reuerence.

3 Then the kinges seruauntes whiche were in the kinges gate, said vnto Mardocheus: Why transgressest thou the kinges commaundement?

4 And though they spake this dayly vnto hym, yet woulde he not heare them, therfore they tolde Haman, that they might see howe Mardocheus matters woulde stande, for he had tolde them that he was a Iewe.

5 And when Haman sawe that Mardocheus bowed not the knee vnto him, nor dyd reuerence vnto hym, he was full of indignation,

6 And thought it to litle to lay handes onely on Mardocheus, for they had shewed him the nation of Mardocheus: wherefore he sought to destroy all the Iewes that were throughout the whole empire of Ahasuerus, and that were of the nation of Mardocheus.

7 In the first moneth (that is, the moneth Nisan) in the twelfth yere of king Ahasuerus, they cast Phur, that is a lot, before Haman from day to day, and from moneth to moneth to the twelfth moneth, that is, the moneth Adar.

8 And Haman sayde vnto king Ahasuerus: There is here a people scattred abrode, and dispearsed among all people in all the prouinces of thyne empire, and their lawes are diuers from all people, and do not after the kinges lawes, therefore it is not the kinges profite to suffer them after this maner.

9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and so wyll I waye downe ten thousand talents of siluer by the handes of them that haue the charge of this busines, to bring it into the kinges treasurie.

10 And the king toke his ring from his hand, & gaue it vnto Haman the sonne of Amadatha the Agagite, the Iewes enemie.

11 And the king saide vnto Haman: Let the siluer be thyne, & do with that people as it pleaseth thee.

12 Then were the kinges scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first moneth, & there was written according as Haman commaunded vnto all the kinges officers, and to the captaynes that were ouer euery prouince, and to the rulers of euery people in the countryes on euery side according to the writing therof, and to euery nation after their language, in the name of king Ahasuerus was it writen, and sealed with the kinges ring.

13 And the letters were sent by postes into all the kinges prouinces, to roote out, to kill, and to destroy all Iewes both young and olde, children and women in one day [namely] vpon the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth (which is the moneth Adar) & to spoyle the as a pray. (13:1) The great kyng Artaxerxes, whiche raigneth from India vnto Ethiopia ouer an hundred and twentie and seuen landes, sendeth his frendly salutation vnto all the princes and deputies of the countrey, whiche be subiect vnto his dominion. (13:2) When I was made lorde ouer many people, and had subdued the whole earth vnto my dominion, my minde was not with crueltie and wrong to exalt my selfe by the reason of my power: but purposed with equitie alway and gentlenes to gouerne those that be vnder my iurisdiction, and wholly to set them in a peaceable lyfe, and thereby to bryng my kyngdome vnto tranquilitie, that men might safely go thorowe on euery side, and to renue peace agayne, whiche all men desire. (13:3) Nowe when I asked my counsellours howe these thinges myght be brought to a good ende, there was one by vs excellent in wisdome, whose good wyll, trueth, and faythfulnesse hath oft ben shewed and proued (whiche was also the principall and next vnto the kyng) Aman by name, (13:4) Whiche certified vs, howe that in all landes there was scattered abrode a rebellious folke, that made statutes and lawes against all other people, & haue alway despised the proclaymed commaundementes of kynges, and howe that for this cause it were not to be suffred, that suche rule should continue by you, and not to be put downe. (13:5) Seeing nowe we perceaue the same, that this people alone are contrary vnto euery man, vsing straunge and other maner of lawes, and withstande our statutes and doynges, and go about to stablyshe shrewde matters, that our kyngdome shoulde neuer come to good estate [and stedfastnesse:] (13:6) Therefore haue we commaunded, that all they that are appointed in wrytyng and shewed vnto you by Aman, whiche is ordayned and set ouer all our landes, and the most principall next vnto the kyng, and in maner as a father: shall with their wiues and chyldren be destroyed & rooted out with the sworde of their enemies and aduersaries, and that there shalbe no mercy shewed, and no man spared: And this shalbe done the fourteenth day of the moneth called Adad of this yere. (13:7) That they whiche of olde and nowe also, haue euer ben rebellious, may in one day with violence be thrust downe into the hell, to the intent that after this maner our empire may haue peace and tranquilitie.

14 This was the summe of the writing, that there should be a commaundement geuen in al prouinces, and published vnto all people, that they should be redy against the same day.

15 And the postes went in all the haste according to the kinges commaundement, and in Susan the chiefe citie was the commaundement deuised: And the king and Haman sate and dranke, when in the meane time the citie of Susan was disquieted.