Esther 3:13 - Letters were sent by couriers 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 on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to plunder their possessions.
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What does "Esther 3:13" mean?
This verse, Esther 3:13, describes the contents of a royal decree orchestrated by Haman, the antagonist in the Book of Esther. Let's break it down:
"Letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces..." This means that official messages were dispatched throughout the vast Persian Empire, of which King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) was the ruler. Couriers were used for rapid communication across the empire.
"...to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews..." This is the core of the decree: a command for the total annihilation of the Jewish people residing in the empire. The language is stark and unambiguous, indicating a planned genocide.
"...both young and old, little children and women..." This emphasizes the indiscriminate nature of the planned massacre. No one was to be spared based on age or gender. The intent was to completely wipe out the Jewish population.
"...in one day, even on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar..." This sets a specific date for the mass execution. The uniformity and timing suggest a coordinated, empire-wide operation. Adar is a month in the Jewish calendar, typically falling in February-March.
"...and to plunder their possessions." This reveals another motive beyond simple hatred: greed. The perpetrators were also given the right to loot the property of the Jewish people they murdered, enriching themselves in the process.
In summary, Esther 3:13 outlines a horrific royal edict calling for the systematic extermination of all Jews in the Persian Empire on a specific date, motivated by both ethnic hatred and the desire for financial gain. It sets the stage for the central conflict and suspense in the Book of Esther, as the Jewish people face imminent destruction, and Esther, the Jewish queen, must find a way to intervene.
Esther 3:13 - Letters were sent by couriers 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 on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to plunder their possessions.
What does "Esther 3:13" mean?
This verse, Esther 3:13, describes the contents of a royal decree orchestrated by Haman, the antagonist in the Book of Esther. Let's break it down:
"Letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces..." This means that official messages were dispatched throughout the vast Persian Empire, of which King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) was the ruler. Couriers were used for rapid communication across the empire.
"...to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews..." This is the core of the decree: a command for the total annihilation of the Jewish people residing in the empire. The language is stark and unambiguous, indicating a planned genocide.
"...both young and old, little children and women..." This emphasizes the indiscriminate nature of the planned massacre. No one was to be spared based on age or gender. The intent was to completely wipe out the Jewish population.
"...in one day, even on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar..." This sets a specific date for the mass execution. The uniformity and timing suggest a coordinated, empire-wide operation. Adar is a month in the Jewish calendar, typically falling in February-March.
"...and to plunder their possessions." This reveals another motive beyond simple hatred: greed. The perpetrators were also given the right to loot the property of the Jewish people they murdered, enriching themselves in the process.
In summary, Esther 3:13 outlines a horrific royal edict calling for the systematic extermination of all Jews in the Persian Empire on a specific date, motivated by both ethnic hatred and the desire for financial gain. It sets the stage for the central conflict and suspense in the Book of Esther, as the Jewish people face imminent destruction, and Esther, the Jewish queen, must find a way to intervene.