Haman Conspires to Destroy the Jews

3 Some time later^[a] King Ahasuerus promoted^[b] Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, exalting him and setting his position^[c] above that of all the officials who were with him.

¹⁰ So the king removed his signet ring^[a] from his hand and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, who was hostile toward the Jews.

³ Then Esther again spoke with the king, falling at his feet. She wept and begged him for mercy, that he might nullify the evil of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had intended against the Jews.^[a]

⁵ She said, “If the king is so inclined, and if I have met with his approval, and if the matter is agreeable to the king, and if I am attractive to him, let an edict be written rescinding those recorded intentions of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite,^[a] which he wrote in order to destroy the Jews who are throughout all the king’s provinces.

²⁴ For Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised plans against the Jews to destroy them. He had cast pur (that is, the lot) in order to afflict and destroy them.