Esther 3:7

In the first moneth (that is, the moneth Nisan) in the twelfth yeere of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman, from day to day, and from moneth to moneth, to the twelfth moneth, that is the moneth Adar. Esther 3:7 (KJV)

The verse belongs to the book of Esther in the Old Testament and supplies the historical framework for the drama that follows. It tells us that the events occur in the first month, Nisan, during the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus’ reign, and that the casting of Pur (the lot) continues from day to day and from month to month until the twelfth month, Adar. This precise dating anchors the narrative in a real calendar and underscores the seriousness of the plot being devised.

Casting lots was a common ancient method for seeking divine guidance or making decisions. In this passage the lot, called Pur, is used by Haman, a high‑ranking Agagite official, to determine the most advantageous day for carrying out his hostile scheme against the Jews. Haman’s hatred toward Mordecai, a Jewish court official, fuels his desire to annihilate all the Jews throughout the Persian Empire. By letting the lot decide the timing, Haman attempts to legitimize his plan and to ensure that every detail is carefully arranged.

The description that the lot was cast “from day to day and from month to month” reveals the extensive planning behind Haman’s plot. It was not a single impulsive decision but a prolonged process that allowed Haman to prepare his decree and to coordinate the execution of his murderous intent over an extended period, culminating in the month of Adar.

This verse therefore sets the stage for the subsequent events in Esther, where Queen Esther, a Jewish woman, bravely intercedes with the king to thwart Haman’s evil design. The tension created by Haman’s calculated scheme heightens the narrative’s drama and prepares the reader for the providential intervention that ultimately leads to Haman’s downfall and the deliverance of the Jewish people.