Esther 9:20 - Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both near and far,

Generated Verse: Esther 9:20

What does "Esther 9:20" mean?


Esther 9:20, "Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both near and far," is a pivotal verse in the Book of Esther. Let's break down its meaning:

"Mordecai wrote these things...": This refers to the events of the Purim story, specifically the decrees authorizing the Jews to defend themselves and kill their enemies, the subsequent Jewish victory, and the establishment of Purim as a recurring celebration. Mordecai, being a respected and influential figure in the Persian court, took the initiative to formalize and disseminate these events.

"...and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus...": This indicates a widespread and intentional effort to communicate with the entire Jewish population across the vast Persian empire. The Persian Empire was divided into provinces, and Mordecai reached out to Jews in all of them.

"...both near and far": This emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the distribution. No Jewish community, regardless of its distance from the capital city of Susa, was excluded. This was important for several reasons:

Notification and Encouragement: To inform all Jews of their miraculous deliverance from Haman's plot and to encourage them to celebrate Purim.
Standardization: To ensure that all Jewish communities celebrated Purim on the same dates and in the same manner, as instructed in the letters.
Unity: To foster a sense of unity and solidarity among the Jewish people throughout the diaspora.

In essence, this verse marks the formal establishment and dissemination of the Purim festival as a mandated observance for Jews throughout the Persian Empire. It highlights Mordecai's role in preserving the memory of the Jewish people's deliverance and ensuring its perpetuation through generations. The far-reaching distribution of the letters demonstrates the significance of the event and the desire to unite the Jewish community in celebration and remembrance.

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