3
Then Esther spoke to the king again, throwing herself at his feet. She begged him to do something to stop the evil plot that Haman had made against the Jews.
4
The king held out the gold scepter to her, so she stood up
5
and said, "If it please Your Majesty and if you care about me, please issue a proclamation to keep Haman's orders from being carried out - those orders he gave for the destruction of all the Jews in the empire.
6
How can I endure it if this disaster comes on my people? How can I go on living if my whole nation is destroyed?"
7
Then the king said to Esther, "I have hanged Haman for his plot against the Jews, and I have given you his property. If that is not enough,
8
you may write to the Jews whatever you like; and you may write it in my name and stamp it with the royal seal, for a proclamation issued in the king's name and stamped with the royal seal cannot be revoked."
1
9
On the twenty-third day of the first month, the month of Nisan, the king's secretaries were called and letters were written to the Jews and to the governors and administrators of all 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia. The letters were written to each province in its own language.
10
They were written in the name of the king and stamped with the royal seal and they were delivered by runners.
11
These letters explained that the king would allow the Jews in every city of the empire to live by their own laws and organize for self-defense. They were permitted to treat their opponents and enemies in any way they liked.
12
This decree was to take effect throughout the Persian Empire on the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.
13
This is a copy of the decree: "Greetings from King Xerxes the Great to the governors of the 127 provinces, which extend from India to Ethiopia, and to all those who are loyal to us. %0