And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
Letters were sent by messengers to every province in the king's empire, commanding them to destroy, kill, and wipe out all Jewish people, young and old, little children and women, all in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (called Adar), and to take all their possessions as plunder.
This verse describes the horrific decree sent throughout the Persian Empire ordering the complete extermination of all Jewish people on a single day, along with the seizure of their belongings.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Esther, set in the Persian Empire during the 5th century BC, Haman, a high-ranking official, manipulated King Ahasuerus into issuing a decree to annihilate the Jewish people after Mordecai refused to bow to him. This verse details the letters dispatched by royal messengers to all provinces, commanding the destruction of Jews of all ages on a specific date in the month of Adar, including the seizure of their possessions. It underscores the escalating threat of anti-Jewish sentiment that drives the narrative toward divine intervention through Esther and Mordecai.
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