Esther 3:10-15

10 Then ¹the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha ²the Agagite, ³the 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 ⁴Then the king's scribes were summoned on the thirteenth * day of the first month, and it was written just * as Haman commanded to ⁵the 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 ⁶in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king's signet ring.

13 Letters were sent by ⁷couriers to all the king's provinces ⁸to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, ⁹in one day, the thirteenth * day of the twelfth * month, which is the month Adar, and to ¹⁰seize their possessions as plunder.

14 ¹¹A 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.

15 The couriers went out impelled by the king's command while the decree was issued at the citadel in Susa; and while the king and Haman sat down to drink, ¹²the city of Susa was in confusion.

Esther 3:10-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ESTHER 3

This chapter gives an account of the promotion of Haman, and of the mortification of him by Mordecai, who refused to bow to him, upon which he vowed revenge on him, and on all his people the Jews, Es 3:1-6, for which purpose, through a false representation of them, he obtained letters of the king, and sent to the deputies of all the provinces to destroy them all on a certain day fixed, Es 3:7-15.

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 41:42; Esther 8:2
• 2. Esther 3:1
• 3. Esther 7:6
• 4. Esther 8:9
• 5. Ezra 8:36
• 6. 1 Kings 21:8; Esther 8:8, 10
• 7. 2 Chronicles 30:6; Esther 8:10, 14
• 8. Esther 7:4
• 9. Esther 8:12
• 10. Esther 8:11; Esther 9:10
• 11. Esther 8:13, 14
• 12. Esther 8:15

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "given to you"
• [b]. Lit "given"
• [c]. Lit "given"