So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.
So the messengers riding on mules and camels went out quickly, hurried along by the king's command. The official order was announced at the palace in Susa.
The writer is describing how King Xerxes' new decree was urgently sent out by royal messengers throughout his empire, starting from his palace.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Esther, the Jewish people faced imminent destruction due to a decree from the evil Haman, but Queen Esther's courage led King Ahasuerus to issue a counter-decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves. This verse describes the rapid dispatch of royal messengers on mules and camels from the palace in Shushan to spread the new order across the Persian Empire, emphasizing the urgency and the king's authority in reversing the threat. The historical setting reflects the vast administrative system of the Persian Empire in the 5th century BC, where such decrees were crucial for governance and could affect entire populations.
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