Esther 8:11

11 wherein he charged them to use their laws in every city, and to help each other, and to treat their adversaries, and those who attacked them, as they pleased,

Esther 8:11 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 8:11

Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to
gather themselves together
In some part of the city they should choose, and remain in a body, being sufficiently armed:

and to stand for their life;
to defend themselves, and fight for their life, should any attack them, or attempt to take it away; in such case they might act offensively,

so as to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the
people and province that would assault them;
every army of them, or as many as should join in a body to attack them, any mighty or powerful mob; and not men only,

but both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a
prey;
the same words are used, and the same power is given them as were to their enemies, ( Esther 3:13 ) , not that they made use of it to the utmost extremity, it is certain they did not in one point, in taking the spoil, ( Esther 9:10 Esther 9:15 Esther 9:16 ) , and, since they spared that, it is highly probable they spared women and children.

Esther 8:11 In-Context

9 So the scribes were called in the first-month, which is Nisan, on the three and twentieth day of the same year; and were written to the Jews, whatever commanded to the local governors and chiefs of the satraps, from India even to Ethiopia, a hundred and twenty-seven satraps, according to the several provinces, according to their dialects.

10 And they were written by order of the king, and sealed with his ring, and they sent the letters by the posts:

11 wherein he charged them to use their laws in every city, and to help each other, and to treat their adversaries, and those who attacked them, as they pleased,

12 on one day in all the kingdom of Artaxerxes, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is Adar.

13 And let the copies be posted in conspicuous places throughout the kingdom, and let all the Jews be ready against this day, to fight against their enemies. And the following is the copy of the letter of the orders. [The great king Artaxerxes sends greetings to the rulers of provinces a hundred and twenty-seven satrapies, from India to Ethiopia, even to those who are faithful to our interests. Many who have been frequently honored by the most abundant kindness of their benefactors have conceived ambitious designs, and not only endeavour to hurt our subjects, but moreover, not being able to bear prosperity, they also endeavour to plot against their own benefactors. And they not only would utterly abolish gratitude from among men, but also, elated by the boastings of men who are strangers to all that is good, they supposed that they shall escape the sin-hating vengeance of the ever-seeing God. And oftentimes exhortation has made partakers of the guilt of shedding innocent blood, and has involved in irremediable calamities, many of those who had been appointed to offices of authority, who had been entrusted with the management of their friends' affairs; while , by the false sophistry of an evil disposition, have deceived the simple candour of the ruling powers. And it is possible to see , not so much from more ancient traditionary accounts, as it is immediately in your power by examining what things have been wickedly perpetrated by the baseness of men unworthily holding power. And to take heed with regard to the future, that we may maintain the government in undisturbed peace for all men, adopting changes, and ever judging those cases which come under our notice, with truly equitable decision. For whereas Aman, a Macedonian, the son of Amadathes, in reality an alien from the blood of the Persians, and differing widely from our mild course of government, having been hospitable entertained by us, obtained so large a share of our universal kindness, as