Esther 3:12-15

12 Then were the king's Sofrim called in the first month, on the thirteenth day of it; and there was written according to all that Haman commanded to the king's satraps, and to the governors who were over every province, and to the princes of every people, to every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Achashverosh was it written, and it was sealed with the king's ring.

13 Letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Yehudim, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even on the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

14 A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that they should be ready against that day.

15 The posts went forth in haste by the king's mitzvah, and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

Esther 3:12-15 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.