Esther 3:4

3:4 And after they had spoken to him day after day ¹  without his paying any attention to them, they informed Haman to see whether this attitude on Mordecai’s part would be permitted. ²  Furthermore, he had disclosed to them that he was a Jew. ³ 

Esther 3:13

3:13 Letters were sent by the runners to all the king’s provinces stating that ⁴  they should destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews, from youth to elderly, both women and children, ⁵  on a particular day, namely the thirteenth day ⁶  of the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar), and to loot and plunder their possessions.

Esther 9:1

The Jews Prevail over Their Enemies

9:1 In the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar), on its thirteenth day, the edict of the king and his law were to be executed. It was on this day that the enemies of the Jews had supposed that they would gain power over them. But contrary to expectations, the Jews gained power over their enemies.

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¹ sn Mordecai’s position in the service of the king brought him into regular contact with these royal officials. Because of this association the officials would have found ample opportunity to complain of Mordecai’s refusal to honor Haman by bowing down before him.

² tn Heb “Will the matters of Mordecai stand?”; NASB “to see whether Mordecai’s reason would stand.”

³ sn This disclosure of Jewish identity is a reversal of the practice mentioned in 1:10, 20.

⁴ tn The words “stating that” are not in the Hebrew text but have been supplied in the translation for clarity.

⁵ tn Heb “children and women.” The translation follows contemporary English idiom, which reverses the order.

⁶ tc The LXX does not include the words “on the thirteenth day.”