Esther 3:13

11 “Keep your money,” said the king to Haman. “These people are given to you to do with them as you please.”

12 On the thirteenth day of the first month, the royal scribes were summoned and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded the royal satraps, the governors of each province, and the officials of each people, in the script of each province and the language of every people. It was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the royal signet ring.

And the letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces with the order to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—and to plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.

14 A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that they would be ready on that day.

15 The couriers left, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was in confusion.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
And the letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces with the order to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—and to plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.
KJV
And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
WEB
Letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, 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 plunder their possessions.
ASV
And letters were sent by posts into all the king`s provinces, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
DARBY
And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, upon the thirteenth of the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, and [to take] the spoil of them for a prey.
BLB
And the letters were sent by the hand of the runners to all the provinces of the king, to destroy, to kill, and to exterminate all of the Jews from young even to old, little children and women, in a single day, on the three and tenth [day] [of the] two [and] tenth month, it [is] the month of Adar, and to plunder their spoils.
ÅB
Så sendtes der med ilbud skrivelser til alle kongens landskaper at alle jøder skulle ødelegges, drepes og utryddes, både unge og gamle, små barn og kvinner, alle på en dag, på den trettende dag i den tolvte måned, det er måneden adar, og deres gods skulle gis til plyndring.
OTB
Utsendelser ble sendt med kurerer til alle kongens provinser med ordre om å ødelegge, drepe og utslette alle jødene—unge og gamle, kvinner og barn—på én enkelt dag, den trettende dagen i den tolvte måneden, måneden Adar, og plyndre deres eiendeler.
B1930
Så sendtes der med ilbud skrivelser til alle kongens landskaper at alle jøder skulde ødelegges, drepes og utryddes, både unge og gamle, små barn og kvinner, alle på en dag, på den trettende dag i den tolvte måned, det er måneden adar, og deres gods skulde gis til plyndring.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Chronicles 30:6

    So the couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his officials, which read: “Children of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that He may return to those of you who remain, who have escaped the grasp of the kings of Assyria.

    Read in context
  • Esther 9:10

    They killed these ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 15:3

    Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

    Read in context
  • Esther 8:10–14

    Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes and sealed it with the royal signet ring. He sent the documents by mounted couriers riding on swift horses bred from the royal mares.

    Read in context
  • Job 9:25

    My days are swifter than a runner; they flee without seeing good.

    Read in context
  • James 2:13

    For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 22:19

    He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, with its men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 51:31

    One courier races to meet another, and messenger follows messenger, to announce to the king of Babylon that his city has been captured from end to end.

    Read in context