Esther 3:1-6

Mordecai refuses to give honour to Haman

1 After some time, King Xerxes gave one of his officers greater authority. The officer's name was Haman. He was the son of Hammedatha, a descendant of Agag. Haman became the most important officer who served the king. 2 The king commanded that all the royal officers at the king's gate must bend down low to Haman. So they all gave Haman honour when he passed them. But Mordecai refused to bend down and give honour to Haman.

3 The officers at the king's gate asked Mordecai, ‘Why do you not obey the king's command?’ 4 They warned Mordecai every day. But he would not agree to bend down low to Haman. So the officers told Haman about this. Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew. So they wanted to know if Haman would allow Mordecai to do this.

Haman decides to kill all the Jews

5 When Haman realized that Mordecai would not give him honour, he became very angry. 6 But he did not want to destroy only Mordecai. Haman had discovered that Mordecai was a Jew. So he decided to destroy all the Jews who lived in Xerxes' whole kingdom.