Esther 8:11

11 saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city ¹to gather and defend their lives, ²to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, ³and to plunder their goods,

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 The king’s scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language.

10 And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king’s signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king’s service, bred from the royal stud,

11 saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods,

12 on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.

13 A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies.

Cross References

• 1. 8:11 ch. 9:2, 15, 16, 18
• 2. 8:11 ch. 3:13; 7:4
• 3. 8:11 [ch. 9:10, 15, 16]