Esther 3:7-9

Expanded Bible

⁷ It was in the first month [^CApril] of the twelfth year [^Cabout 474 bc; approximately a year later] of King ·Xerxes’ [^LAhasuerus’s] ·rule [reign]—the month of Nisan. Pur (that is, the lot [^Cdice-like objects]) was thrown before Haman to choose a day and a month. ·So […and; …until] the twelfth month, the month of Adar, was chosen.

⁸ Then Haman said to King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus], “There is ·a certain group of [^Lone] people ·scattered [dispersed and spread] among the ·other people [nations; ^Lpeoples] in all the ·states [provinces] of your ·kingdom [empire]. Their ·customs [laws] are different from those of all the other ·people [nations; ^Lpeoples], and they do not ·obey [observe; keep] the king’s laws. It is not ·right for you [in the king’s interest] to allow them to ·continue living in your kingdom [remain; ^Lcause them to rest]. ⁹ If it ·pleases [^Lis good to] the king, let ·an order be given [it be decreed] to destroy those people. Then I will pay ·seven hundred fifty thousand pounds [^Lten thousand talents] of silver to ·those who do the king’s [the officials who carry out this] business, and they will put it into the royal treasury.”