1After these events, King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and setting his position above all the officials who were with him.
2All the king's servants who were at the king's gate would bow down and pay homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage.
3Then the king's servants who were at the gate asked Mordecai, "Why do you transgress the king's command?"
4Day after day they spoke to him, but he refused to listen to them. So they reported the matter to Haman to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would stand, since he had told them that he was a Jew.
5When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage to him, he was filled with rage.
6But he considered it beneath him to attack Mordecai alone, for they had told him about Mordecai’s people. So Haman sought to destroy all the Jews throughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus, the people of Mordecai.
7In the first month, the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot) before Haman for each day and each month, until the twelfth month, the month of Adar.
8Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and separated among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws differ from those of every other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws. Therefore, it is not beneficial for the king to tolerate them.