country and people,
according to his commandment. For whatsoever he commanded, Esther
observed: and she did all things in the same manner as she was wont at
that time when he brought her up a little one.

2:21. At that time, therefore, when Mardochai abode at the king's gate,
Bagathan and Thares, two of the king's eunuchs, who were porters, and
presided in the first entry of the palace, were angry: and they designed
to rise up against the king, and to kill him.

2:22. And Mardochai had notice of it, and immediately he told it to
queen Esther: and she to the king in Mardochai's name, who had reported
the thing unto her.

2:23. It was inquired into, and found out: and they were both hanged on
a gibbet. And it was put in the histories, and recorded in the
chronicles before the king.

Esther Chapter 3

Aman, advanced by the king, is offended at Mardochai, and therefore
procureth the king's decree to destroy the whole nation of the Jews.

3:1. After these things, king Assuerus advanced Aman, the son of
Amadathi, who was of the race of Agag: and he set his throne above all
the princes that were with him.

3:2. And all the king's servants, that were at the doors of the palace,
bent their knees, and worshipped Aman: for so the emperor had commanded
them, only Mardochai did not bend his knee, nor worship him.

3:3. And the king's servants that were chief at the doors of the palace,
said to him: Why dost thou alone not observe the king's commandment?

3:4. And when they were saying this often, and he would not hearken to
them, they told Aman, desirous to know whether he would continue in his
resolution: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

3:5. Now when Aman had heard this, and had proved by experience that
Mardochai did not bend his knee to him, nor worship him, he was
exceeding angry.

3:6. And he counted it nothing to lay his hands upon Mardochai alone:
for he had heard that he was of the nation of the Jews, and he chose
rather to destroy all the nation of the Jews that were in the kingdom of
Assuerus.

3:7. In the first month (which is called Nisan) in the twelfth year of
the reign of Assuerus, the lot was cast into an urn, which in Hebrew is
called Phur, before Aman, on what day and what month the nation of the
Jews should be destroyed: and there came out the twelfth month, which is
called Adar.

3:8. And Aman said to king Assuerus: There is a people scattered through
all the provinces of thy kingdom, an