Discovery BoxEsther 3:10-13 
Context3:10 So the king removed his signet ring 1 from his hand and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, who was hostile toward the Jews. 3:11 The king replied to Haman, “Keep your money, 2 and do with those people whatever you wish.” 3
3:12 So the royal scribes 4 were summoned in the first month, on the thirteenth day of the month. Everything Haman commanded was written to the king’s satraps 5 and governors who were in every province and to the officials of every people, province by province according to its script and people by people according to its language. In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 3:13 Letters were sent by the runners to all the king’s provinces stating that 6 they should destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews, from youth to elderly, both women and children, 7 on a particular day, namely the thirteenth day 8 of the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar), and to loot and plunder their possessions.
1 sn Possessing the king’s signet ring would enable Haman to act with full royal authority. The king’s ring would be used to impress the royal seal on edicts, making them as binding as if the king himself had enacted them.
2 tn Heb “the silver is given to you”; NRSV “the money is given to you”; CEV “You can keep their money.” C. A. Moore (Esther [AB], 40) understands these words somewhat differently, taking them to imply acceptance of the money on Xerxes’ part. He translates, “Well, it’s your money.”
3 tn Heb “according to what is good in your eyes”; NASB “do with them as you please.”
4 tn Or “secretaries” (so NIV, NRSV, NLT).
5 tn Or “princes” (so NLT); CEV “highest officials.”
6 tn The words “stating that” are not in the Hebrew text but have been supplied in the translation for clarity.
7 tn Heb “children and women.” The translation follows contemporary English idiom, which reverses the order.
8 tc The LXX does not include the words “on the thirteenth day.”
