Discovery BoxEsther 8:10-14 
Context8:10 Mordecai 1 wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king’s signet ring. He then sent letters by couriers on horses, who rode royal horses that were very swift.
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.”
