In the court of Queen Esther and King Ahasuerus was a man called Haman. He was a wicked man and cared only for himself. However, he made the king think that he was a fine man. The king promoted him above all the princes and others at the court. The king even gave orders that everyone should bow to Haman as he passed through the gates or the streets.

Haman's heart became puffed up with pride when he saw all the people bowing to him. However, one thing did not please him. When he passed Mordecai (Esther's Uncle) as he went in and out of the palace, Mordecai would not bow to him. Even though the king had commanded it, he would not do it, for he knew that Haman was a wicked man and was not worthy of honour.

When Haman saw this m he hated Mordecai and he was furiously angry. Satan filled his mind with a terrible plot to get rid of the whole Jewish nation. If the whole race could be done away with, then God's Word could not come true and the Saviour could not come into the world. Probably Haman thought this was his own plan, but at the back of it was Satan.

Haman knew that Mordecai was a Jew. He went to the king and said something like this, "There are a certain people scattered throughout your kingdom who are trouble makers. They do not keep your laws, for they have laws of their own that are different. It would be well to have them all destroyed. If you will order this to be done, I will pay a large sum of money into your treasury so that you do not suffer loss from their taxes."

The king listened and agreed to do this. He took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman to seal the orders in his name. So letters were written and sent our all over the land, saying that the Jews, men, women and children should all be put to death on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month. Riders on very fast horses and camels carried these letters everywhere throughout the kingdom, even to Egypt and to Jerusalem.

They were posted for everyone to see. This dreadful news meant that all the Jews in all the world were to be killed. There was great weeping and sorrow in every land and praying to God for deliverance. Even in Jerusalem, where they were rebuilding the temple, the decree was posted.

When Mordecai heard this decree, he tore his clothes as people did to show their grief. Then he dressed in sackcloth with ashes on his head. He went through the streets of the city crying and wailing loudly. Then he came and sat down before the kings gate, for no one could come inside the gate dressed in sackcloth.