Esther 3:12

12 1Then the king's scribes were summoned on the thirteenth * day of the first month, and it was written just * as Haman commanded to 2the king's satraps, to the governors who were over each province and to the princes of each people, each province according to its script, each people according to its language, being written 3in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king's signet ring.

Esther 3:12 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 3:12

Then were the king's scribes called, on the thirteenth day of
the first month
The month Nisan, ( Esther 3:7 ) , after Haman had leave and power from the king to destroy the Jews, and his ring given him in token of it; the king's scribes or secretaries of state were called together on that day, to write the letters for that purpose:

and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded;
whatever he would have done; he had an unlimited power to do what he pleased, and he made use of it, and directed the scribes what they should write:

unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every
province;
the deputy governors of the one hundred and twenty seven provinces, ( Esther 1:1 )

and to the rulers of every people of every province;
it seems there were different people in every province, which had their rulers; and these were sent to:

according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their
language;
and letters were written in the language, and character of the language, each people spoke, that they might be understood by them:

in the name of King Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the
king's ring.
All this Haman took care to have done so early as the thirteenth of Nisan, though the execution was not to be until the thirteenth of Adar, eleven months after; partly that there might be time enough to send the letters everywhere, even to the most distant parts; and chiefly lest Ahasuerus should change his mind, and be prevailed upon to revoke his grant; and, it may be, either to keep the Jews in continual dread, or cause them to flee.

Esther 3:12 In-Context

10 Then the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
11 The king said to Haman, "The silver is yours, and the people also, to do with them as you please ."
12 Then the king's scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written just as Haman commanded to the king's satraps, to the governors who were over each province and to the princes of each people, each province according to its script, each people according to its language, being written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king's signet ring.
13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to seize their possessions as plunder.
14 A copy of the edict to be issued as law in every province was published to all the peoples so that they should be ready for this day.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Esther 8:9
  • 2. Ezra 8:36
  • 3. 1 Kings 21:8; Esther 8:8, 10
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