And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
In every province and every city where the king's command and decree reached, the Jews celebrated with joy and gladness, feasting and making it a holiday. Many people from other nations converted to Judaism because they were afraid of the Jews' newfound power.
This verse describes how the Jews celebrated everywhere when they heard the king's new decree, and how many non-Jews converted to Judaism out of fear of their rising influence.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Esther, set during the Persian Empire under King Ahasuerus in the 5th century BC, the Jewish people were initially threatened by a decree from the king's advisor Haman to annihilate them. Through the bravery of Queen Esther, a Jewish woman who had become queen, and her cousin Mordecai, they exposed the plot and persuaded the king to issue a new decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves. This reversal of fate brought widespread joy and celebration among the Jews, leading some from other nations to convert due to fear of the Jews' strengthened position.
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