Esther 8:13

13 And the short sentence of the epistle was this, that it were made known in all lands and (to all) peoples, that were subject to the empire of king Ahasuerus, that the Jews be ready that day to take vengeance of their enemies. (And in short, the sentence of the letter was this, that it should be made known in all the lands and to all the peoples, that were subject to the rule of King Ahasuerus, that the Jews be ready that day to take vengeance on all their enemies.)

Esther 8:13 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 8:13

The copy of the writing, for a commandment to be given in
every province, was published to all people
A copy of the letters sent to the governors of provinces; the sum and substance of them was published by an herald, or fixed in public places, that all might know the contents thereof; and take care not to assault the Jews, as it would be to their peril:

and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves
on their enemies;
Abendana thinks this is to be restrained to those that were of the seed of Amalek, who were their principal enemies; but no doubt it includes all that should rise up against them.

Esther 8:13 In-Context

11 To whom the king commanded, that they should call together the Jews, and command them to be gathered together by all cities, and that they should stand together for their lives; and that they should slay, and do away, all their enemies, with their wives, and with their children, and with all their households. (In which letters, the king granted permission to the Jews, in every city, to call themselves together, and to unite themselves, and to defend their own lives; and so they could kill, and do away with, all their enemies, along with their wives, and their children, and all their households.)
12 And one day of vengeance, that is, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month of Adar, that is, March, was ordained by all provinces. (And one day of vengeance was ordained in all the provinces, that is, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, that is Adar, or March.)
13 And the short sentence of the epistle was this, that it were made known in all lands and (to all) peoples, that were subject to the empire of king Ahasuerus, that the Jews be ready that day to take vengeance of their enemies. (And in short, the sentence of the letter was this, that it should be made known in all the lands and to all the peoples, that were subject to the rule of King Ahasuerus, that the Jews be ready that day to take vengeance on all their enemies.)
14 And the messengers went out, before-bearing swift messages; and this same behest of the king hanged in the city of Susa. (And the messengers quickly went out, bearing the messages; and the king's order was also hung up in the capital city of Susa.)
15 And Mordecai went out of the king's palace and of the king's sight, and he shined in the king's clothes, that is, (clothes the colour) of jacinth, and (the) colour of the air, and he bare a golden crown on his head, and was clothed with a mantle of silk and of purple; and all the city fully joyed, and was glad. (And Mordecai went out from the king's palace, and from before the king, and he shone in the king's robes, that is, in his robes of blue and white, and he wore a gold crown on his head, and he also wore a cloak of silk and purple; and all the city rejoiced, and was glad.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.