1 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that [were] with him.
2 And all the king's servants, that [were] in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did [him] reverence.
3 Then the king's servants, which [were] in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
4 Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he [was] a Jew.
5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that [were] throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, [even] the people of Mordecai.
7 In the first month, that [is], the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that [is], the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, [to] the twelfth [month], that [is], the month Adar.
8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws [are] diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it [is] not for the king's profit to suffer them.
9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring [it] into the king's treasuries.
10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver [is] given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
12 Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that [were] over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and [to] every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.
13 And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, [even] upon the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and [to take] the spoil of them for a prey.
14 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.
15 The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.
Versículos relacionados com Esther, 3:
Esther 3 is the chapter in which the character Haman, one of the Persian king's advisers, elaborates a plan to exterminate all the Jews from the kingdom. He can convince the king to issue a decree authorizing the killing, generating great anguish and fear among the Jewish people. Following, five verses related to the topics covered in Esther 3:
Proverbs 29:2: "When the righteous are magnified, the people rejoice, but when the wicked dominates, the people moan." Esther's book clearly portrays this reality: the people suffers the consequences of Haman's wickedness and greed, an wicked man who has achieved great power in the kingdom.
Isaiah 10:1-2: "Woe to those who decree unfair laws, those who write laws of oppression to deny justice to the poor, to snatch the right of the afflicted of my people, to strip the widows and steal from orphans!" Haman's decree was an example of an unfair law that aimed to oppress and eliminate a specific group of people.
Psalm 37:7: "Rest in the Lord and wait for him with patience; do not irritate you because of the one who thrives in his way, because of the man who carries out his evil designs." This psalm brings a message of trust in God, even when the wicked prosper and promote injustice. This is an important message to the Jews of Esther 3, who had to trust that God would take care of them and that Haman would not have the last word.
Proverbs 26:27: "What makes a pit, it will fall into it; and who rolls a stone, for her to return." This proverb talks about the fact that the evil that a person eventually sows returns to him. This principle applies to Haman, who planned the extermination of the Jews, but was eventually hanged in the gallows he had prepared for the Jewish Mordecai leader.
Romans 12:19: "Beloved, never seek to take revenge, but leave with God the wrath, for it is written, 'My is revenge; I will return,' says the Lord." This verse highlights the importance of not seeking personal revenge, but trusting that God is just and will bring justice at the right time. This is a lesson that Esther 3 Jews needed to learn, as they were initially encouraged to fight their enemies, but were eventually told to trust that God would fight for them.
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