Literary Context
This verse sits inside the opening movement of the crisis (Esther 3), after Haman’s rise and his anger at Mordecai’s refusal to bow. The narrative is building toward an official decree against the Jews, but first it explains how the chosen date was determined. The careful calendar details slow the pace and show planning, not a sudden outburst. The mention of “Pur” also plants a term that will matter later in the book’s memory of these events, even though the verse itself simply reports the procedure and result.