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Esther 3:12-15

King James Version (KJV)

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— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

12. Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors that [were] over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and [to] every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring. 13. 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. 14. The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day. 15. The posts went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.

Esther 3:12-15 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Esther 3:12

Theological / Devotional

The king’s scribes. Herodotus says that “scribes” were in attendance on Xerxes throughout the Grecian war. Such persons would also be at hand in the palace, ready to draw up royal edicts.

Lieutenants. Heb., ’achashdarpenim, “satraps,” a Hebrew transliteration of the Persian khshatrapdvan, from which our “satrap” is derived. According to Herodotus, there were 20 satrapies in the time of Darius I. These were major divisions of the empire, each composed of several provinces.

The governors. That is, of the 127 provinces (see eh. 1:1). Several “governors” were responsible to each satrap.

The rulers. Or, “princes,” as in eh. 1:3; etc. These would be the native rulers or the head men of conquered tribes, who enjoyed considerable local autonomy.

By SdaBc