in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the fortress,

In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the threshold, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

And Haman said to king Ahasuerus, There is a people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from those of every people, and they keep not the king's laws; and it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.

If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those that have charge of the affairs, to bring it into the king's treasuries.

And the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword and slaughter and destruction, and did what they would to those that hated them.

On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the fortress was brought before the king.