3Then Esther addressed the king again.8:3 Est 7:3–4,6 She fell at his feet, wept, and begged8:3 Est 7:7 him to revoke the evil of Haman the Agagite8:3 Ex 17:8–16; Est 3:1 and his plot he had devised against the Jews.8:3 Est 3:5–6,8–15

4The king extended the gold scepter8:4 Est 4:11; 5:2 toward Esther, so she got up and stood before the king.

5She said, “If it pleases the king and I have found favor with him, if the matter seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes,8:5 Est 2:17; 5:8; 7:3 let a royal edict be written. Let it revoke the documents the scheming Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces.8:5 Est 3:13–14

6For how could I bear to see the disaster that would come on my people?8:6 Est 4:13–14; 7:3–4 How could I bear to see the destruction of my relatives?” 8:6 Est 3:13

7King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, “Look, I have given Haman’s estate to Esther,8:7 Est 3:9; 5:11; 8:1; Pr 13:22 and he was hanged on the gallows because he attacked8:7 Lit stretched out his hand against the Jews.8:7 Est 7:9–10

8Write in the king’s name whatever pleases you8:8 Est 3:11 concerning the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring.8:8 Est 3:10,12; 8:2; Hg 2:23 A document written in the king’s name and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.”8:8 Est 1:19; Dn 6:8,12

9On the twenty-third day of the third month8:9 Est 3:7,12 — that is, the month Sivan — the royal scribes were summoned. Everything was written exactly as Mordecai8:9 Est 3:12 commanded for the Jews, to the satraps,8:9 Ezr 8:36 the governors, and the officials of the 127 provinces from India to Cush.8:9 Est 1:1; 3:13; 9:30 The edict was written for each province in its own script, for each ethnic group in its own language,8:9 Neh 13:24; Est 1:22; 3:12 and to the Jews in their own script and language.

10Mordecai wrote in King Ahasuerus’s name and sealed the edicts with the royal signet ring. He sent the documents by mounted couriers,8:10 Est 3:12–13 who rode fast horses8:10 1Kg 4:26,28 bred in the royal stables.

11The king’s edict gave the Jews in each and every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate every ethnic and provincial army hostile to them, including women and children, and to take their possessions as spoils of war.8:11 Est 3:13; 9:10

12This would take place on a single day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month Adar.8:12 Est 3:7

13A copy of the text, issued as law throughout every province, was distributed to all the peoples8:13 Est 3:14 so the Jews could be ready to avenge themselves against their enemies on that day.

14The couriers rode out in haste on their royal horses at the king’s urgent command. The law was also issued in the fortress of Susa.8:14 Est 3:15

15Mordecai went from the king’s presence clothed in royal blue and white, with a great gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen.8:15 Gn 41:42; Est 5:11; Dn 5:29 The city of Susa shouted and rejoiced,8:15 Est 3:15

16and the Jews celebrated8:16 Lit had light with gladness, joy, and honor.8:16 Ezr 4:1–3; Ps 97:11

17In every province and every city where the king’s command and edict reached, gladness and joy took place among the Jews. There was a celebration and a holiday.8:17 Lit good day8:17 Est 4:3 And many of the ethnic groups of the land professed themselves to be Jews because fear of the Jews8:17 Dt 11:25; Est 9:3 had overcome them.