Esther 3:12-14

Expanded Bible

¹² On the thirteenth day of the first month [^CApril 17], the royal ·secretaries [scribes] were called, and they wrote out all of Haman’s ·orders [commands]. They wrote to the king’s governors and to the ·captains of the soldiers [high officials] in each ·state [province] and to the ·important men [nobles] of each ·group of people [nation]. The ·orders [edicts; decrees] were written in the ·writing [script] of each ·state [province] and in the language of each people. They were written in the name of King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] and sealed with his signet ring. ¹³ ·Letters [Dispatches; Scrolls] were sent by ·messengers [couriers] to all the king’s ·empire [^Lprovinces] ordering them to destroy, kill, and ·completely wipe out [annihilate] all the Jews, young and old, including women and little children. It was to happen on a single day—the thirteenth day of the twelfth month [^CMarch 7, about twelve months later], which was Adar. And they could ·take [plunder; confiscate] ·everything the Jewish people owned [^Ltheir possessions]. ¹⁴ A copy of the ·order [edict; decree] was given out as a law in every ·state [province] so all the ·people [nations; ^Lpeoples] would be ready for that day.