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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Esther 3 Christian Standard Bible</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/esther/3.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/esther/3-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CSB</a> > Esther 3</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="../menu.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../esther/2.htm" title="Esther 2">◄</a> Esther 3 <a href="../esther/4.htm" title="Esther 4">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">Christian Standard Bible</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/csb/esv/esther/3.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Verses"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><section epub:type="chapter" id="csb-Esther.3" /><h3 class="head1">Haman’s Plan to Kill the Jews</h3><p class="noind"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.3.1" /><A name="2"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/3-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>After all this took place, King Ahasuerus honored Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.1.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> He promoted him in rank and gave him a higher position than all the other officials.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.1.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.3.2" /> <A name="3"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/3-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>The entire royal staff at the King’s Gate<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.2.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded this to be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.2.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.3.3" /> <A name="4"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/3-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>The members of the royal staff at the King’s Gate asked Mordecai, “Why are you disobeying the king’s command? ” <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.3.4" /> <A name="5"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/3-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>When they had warned him day after day<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.4.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> and he still would not listen to them, they told Haman in order to see if Mordecai’s actions would be tolerated, since he had told them he was a Jew.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.3.5" /> <A name="6"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/3-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>When Haman saw that Mordecai was not bowing down or paying him homage, he was filled with rage.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.5.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.3.6" /> <A name="7"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/3-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>And when he learned of Mordecai’s ethnic identity, it seemed repugnant to Haman to do away with<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Esther.3.6.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> Mordecai alone. He planned to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.6.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> throughout Ahasuerus’s kingdom.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.6.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a></p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.3.7" /> <A name="8"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/3-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>In the first month, the month of Nisan, in King Ahasuerus’s twelfth year,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.7.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> the <span class="italic">pur</span> — that is, the lot — was cast before Haman for each day in each month, and it fell on the twelfth month,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.7.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> the month Adar.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.7.3"><span class="xrfAlphabet">c</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.3.8" /> <A name="9"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/3-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Then Haman informed King Ahasuerus, “There is one ethnic group, scattered throughout the peoples in every province of your kingdom,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.8.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> keeping themselves separate. Their laws are different from everyone else’s and they do not obey the king’s laws.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.8.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> It is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.8.3"><span class="xrfAlphabet">c</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.3.9" /> <A name="10"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/3-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>If the king approves, let an order be drawn up authorizing their destruction, and I will pay 375 tons of silver to<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Esther.3.9.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> the officials for deposit in the royal treasury.”<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.9.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.3.10" /> <A name="11"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/3-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>The king removed his signet ring<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.10.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> from his hand and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.10.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.3.11" /> <A name="12"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/3-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Then the king told Haman, “The money and people are given to you to do with as you see fit.”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.3.12" /> <A name="13"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/3-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>The royal scribes were summoned<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.12.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> on the thirteenth day of the first month, and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded. It was intended for the royal satraps,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.12.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> 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.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.12.3"><span class="xrfAlphabet">c</span></a> It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.12.4"><span class="xrfAlphabet">d</span></a> and sealed with the royal signet ring.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.12.5"><span class="xrfAlphabet">e</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.3.13" /> <A name="14"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/3-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Letters were sent by couriers<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.13.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> 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,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.13.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Esther.3.13.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a></p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.3.14" /> <A name="15"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/3-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>A 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. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.3.15" /> <span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/3-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>The couriers left, spurred on by royal command, and the law was issued in the fortress of Susa.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.15.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> The king and Haman sat down to drink, while the city of Susa was in confusion.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.3.15.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a></p><br /><section id="footnotes-Esther.3" class="fnSection"><aside id="fn.Esther.3.6.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.6">3:6</a></span> Lit <span class="italic">to stretch out a hand against</span></aside><aside id="fn.Esther.3.9.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.9">3:9</a></span> Lit <span class="italic">will weigh 10,000 silver talents on the hands of</span></aside><aside id="fn.Esther.3.13.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.13">3:13</a></span> LXX adds the text of Ahasuerus’s letter here.</aside><br /><section id="cross-references-Esther.3" class="xrfSection"><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.1.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.1">3:1</a></span> Ex 17:8–16; 1Sm 15:20</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.1.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.1">3:1</a></span> Est 1:3,21; 2:18</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.2.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.2">3:2</a></span> Est 2:19,21</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.2.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.2">3:2</a></span> Est 5:9</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.4.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.4">3:4</a></span> Gn 39:10</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.5.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.5">3:5</a></span> Est 1:12; 2:21; 7:7; Dn 3:19</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.6.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.6">3:6</a></span> Est 6:10</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.6.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.6">3:6</a></span> Est 9:24; Ps 83:2–4</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.7.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.7">3:7</a></span> Est 1:2; 2:16</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.7.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.7">3:7</a></span> Est 9:24–28</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.7.3"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.7">3:7</a></span> Ezr 6:15</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.8.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.8">3:8</a></span> Est 1:1; 8:11,17; 9:2</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.8.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.8">3:8</a></span> Jr 29:7; Ac 16:20–21</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.8.3"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.8">3:8</a></span> Ezr 4:12–15</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.9.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.9">3:9</a></span> Est 4:7</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.10.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.10">3:10</a></span> Gn 41:42; Est 8:2,8,10; Hg 2:23</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.10.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.10">3:10</a></span> Est 7:6; 9:10</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.12.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.12">3:12</a></span> Est 8:9</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.12.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.12">3:12</a></span> Ezr 8:36</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.12.3"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.12">3:12</a></span> Est 1:22; 8:9</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.12.4"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.12">3:12</a></span> 1Kg 21:8</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.12.5"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.12">3:12</a></span> Est 8:10</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.13.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.13">3:13</a></span> 2Ch 30:6; Est 8:14</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.13.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.13">3:13</a></span> Est 8:11–13; 9:10</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.15.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.14">3:14-15</a></span> Est 8:13–14</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.3.15.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.3.15">3:15</a></span> Est 7:1; 8:15</aside><br /><section id="study-notes-Esther.3" class="snSection"><br /></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Christian Standard Bible. 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