8:11 The king thereby allowed the Jews who were in every city to assemble and to stand up for themselves – to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any army of whatever people or province that should become their adversaries, including their women and children, 2 and to confiscate their property. 8:12 This was to take place on a certain day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus – namely, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar). 8:13 A copy of the edict was to be presented as law throughout each and every province and made known to all peoples, so that the Jews might be prepared on that 3 day to avenge themselves from their enemies.
8:14 The couriers who were riding the royal horses went forth with the king’s edict without delay. 4 And the law was presented in Susa the citadel as well.
1 tn Heb “He”; the referent (Mordecai) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 tn Heb “children and women.” As in 3:13, the translation follows contemporary English idiom, which reverses the order.
3 tn Heb “this” (so NASB); most English versions read “that” here for stylistic reasons.
4 tn Heb “making haste and hurrying”; KJV, ASV “being hastened and pressed.”