Esther 3

Haman Plots Against the Jews

1 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the a Agagite, and b advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. 2 And all the king's servants who were c within the king's gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai d would not bow or pay homage. 3 Then the king's servants who were within the king's gate said to Mordecai, "Why do you transgress the e king's command?" 4 Now it happened, when they spoke to him daily and he would not listen to them, that they told it to Haman, to see whether Mordecai's words would stand; for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew. 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai f did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was g filled with wrath. 6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman h sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus - the people of Mordecai.

7 In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, i they cast Pur (that is, the lot), before Haman 1 to determine the day and the 2 month, 3 until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; j their laws are different from all other people's, and they do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. 9 "If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king's treasuries." 10 So the king k took l his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the m enemy of the Jews. 11 And the king said to Haman, "The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you."

12 n Then the king's scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and a decree was written according to all that Haman commanded - to the king's satraps, to the governors who were over each province, to the officials of all people, to every province o according to its script, and to every people in their language. p In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king's signet ring. 13 And the letters were q sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, r in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and s to plunder their 4 possessions. 14 t A copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province, being published for all people, that they should be ready for that day. 15 The couriers went out, hastened by the king's command; and the decree was proclaimed in 5 Shushan the 6 citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but u the city of Shushan was 7 perplexed.

  1. Cross References
    Numbers 24:7
    He shall pour water from his buckets, And his seed shall be in many waters. "His king shall be higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted.
    1 Samuel 15:8
    He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
  2. Cross References
    Esther 5:11
    Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king.
  3. Cross References
    Esther 2:19
    When virgins were gathered together a second time, Mordecai sat within the king's gate.
    Esther 2:21
    In those days, while Mordecai sat within the king's gate, two of the king's eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.
    Esther 5:9
    So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai.
  4. Cross References
    Esther 3:5
    When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath.
    Psalms 15:4
    In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change.
  5. Cross References
    Esther 3:2
    And all the king's servants who were within the king's gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage.
  6. Cross References
    Esther 3:2
    And all the king's servants who were within the king's gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage.
    Esther 5:9
    So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai.
  7. Cross References
    Daniel 3:19
    Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and AbedNego'. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.
  8. Cross References
    Psalms 83:4
    They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.
    Revelation 12:1 - 17
    Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.
  9. Cross References
    Esther 9:24 - 26
    Because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to annihilate them, and had cast Pur (that is, the lot), to consume them and destroy them.
  10. Cross References
    Ezra 4:12 - 15
    Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem, and are building the rebellious and evil city, and are finishing its walls and repairing the foundations.
    Acts 16:20
    And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, "These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city.
    Acts 16:21
    "and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe."
  11. Cross References
    Genesis 41:42
    Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph's hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.
  12. Cross References
    Esther 8:2
    So the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai; and Esther appointed Mordecai over the house of Haman.
    Esther 8:8
    "You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's signet ring; for whatever is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's signet ring no one can revoke."
  13. Cross References
    Esther 7:6
    And Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!" So Haman was terrified before the king and queen.
  14. Cross References
    Esther 8:9
    So the king's scribes were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day; and it was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded, to the Jews, the satraps, the governors, and the princes of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven provinces in all, to every province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language.
  15. Cross References
    Esther 1:22
    Then he sent letters to all the king's provinces, to each province in its own script, and to every people in their own language, that each man should be master in his own house, and speak in the language of his own people.
  16. Cross References
    1 Kings 21:8
    And she wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who were dwelling in the city with Naboth.
    Esther 8:8 - 10
    "You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's signet ring; for whatever is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's signet ring no one can revoke."
  17. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 30:6
    Then the runners went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the king and his leaders, and spoke according to the command of the king: "Children of Israel, return to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel; then He will return to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria.
    Esther 8:10
    And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, sealed it with the king's signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses bred from swift steeds.
    Esther 8:14
    The couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king's command. And the decree was issued in Shushan the citadel.
  18. Cross References
    Esther 8:12
    On one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.
  19. Cross References
    Esther 8:11
    By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and protect their lives - to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions.
    Esther 9:10
    The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews - they killed; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.
  20. Cross References
    Esther 8:13
    A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province and published for all people, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
    Esther 8:14
    The couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king's command. And the decree was issued in Shushan the citadel.
  21. Cross References
    Esther 8:15
    So Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, with a great crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
    Proverbs 29:2
    When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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