Esther 3

The king promotes Haman the Agagite above all officials, and all bow to him except Mordecai, who will not. Enraged, and learning that Mordecai is a Jew, Haman resolves to destroy not just him but every Jew in the empire. He casts Pur (the lot) to set the date, slanders the Jews to the king as a lawless people, and buys a decree sealed with the royal ring ordering the annihilation of all Jews — young and old, women and children — on a single day, while the city of Susa is thrown into confusion.