⁵ When Haman saw that Mordecai was not bowing down or paying him homage, he was filled with rage.^{(A) 6} And when he learned of Mordecai’s ethnic identity, it seemed repugnant to Haman to do away with^[a] Mordecai alone. He planned to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews,^(B) throughout Ahasuerus’s kingdom.^(C)

⁸ Then Haman informed King Ahasuerus, ‘There is one ethnic group, scattered throughout the peoples in every province of your kingdom,^(A) keeping themselves separate. Their laws are different from everyone else’s and they do not obey the king’s laws.^(B) It is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.^{(C) 9} If the king approves, let an order be drawn up authorising their destruction, and I will pay 345 tonnes of silver to^[a] the officials to deposit in the royal treasury.’^(D)