He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by courier on horseback, riding on royal horses that were bred from swift steeds. In those letters, the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together, and to defend their life, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to plunder their possessions, on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that the Jews should be ready for that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. So the couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. The decree was given out in the citadel of Susa.
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Esther 8:10-14 sits inside this longer paragraph.
Then the king’s scribes were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month Sivan, on the twenty-third day of the month; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the local governors, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, and to the Jews in their writing, and in their language. He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by courier on horseback, riding on royal horses that were bred from swift steeds. In those letters, the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together, and to defend their life, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to plunder their possessions, on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that the Jews should be ready for that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. So the couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. The decree was given out in the citadel of Susa.
Parallel Translations
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He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by courier on horseback, riding on royal horses that were bred from swift steeds.
In those letters, the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together, and to defend their life, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to plunder their possessions,
on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that the Jews should be ready for that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
So the couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. The decree was given out in the citadel of Susa.
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And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus’ name, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:
Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
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.
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And they wrote in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, riding on swift steeds that were used in the king's service, bred of the stud;
that the king had granted the Jews that were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, and to slay, and to cause to perish, all the forces of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
The copy of the writing, to be given out for a decree in every province, was to be published unto all the peoples, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
So the posts that rode upon swift steeds that were used in the king's service went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment; and the decree was given out in Shushan the castle.
Cross-references (38)
- Psalms 37:14-15 (vv11, 13) The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright on the path.…
- Esther 3:13 (v11) 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,…
- Esther 9:1 (v12) Now in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the month, when the king’s commandment and his decree came near…
- Psalms 146:6-9 (v11) who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives…
- Ezekiel 39:10 (v11) so that they will take no wood out of the field, and not cut down any out of the forests; for they will make fires with the weapons. They…
Show all 37 cross-references
- Esther 9:2-16 (v11) the Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus, to lay hands on those who wanted…
- Psalms 137:8 (v11) Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, he will be happy who repays you, as you have done to us.
- Esther 3:14 (v13) A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that they should be ready…
- Psalms 68:3 (v11) But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God. Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.
- Revelation 6:10 (v13) They cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the…
- Judges 16:28 (v13) Samson called to Yahweh, and said, “Lord Yahweh, remember me, please, and strengthen me, please, only this once, God, that I may be at once…
- Esther 3:13-15 (v12) 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,…
- Esther 3:15 (v14) The couriers went out in haste by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given out in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down…
- Psalms 68:23 (v13) that you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”
- Psalms 92:10-11 (v13) But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox. I am anointed with fresh oil. My eye has also seen my enemies. My ears have heard of…
- Psalms 149:6-9 (v13) May the high praises of God be in their mouths, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments…
- Ecclesiastes 8:4 (v10) for the king’s word is supreme. Who can say to him, “What are you doing?”
- Isaiah 10:6 (v11) I will send him against a profane nation, and against the people who anger me I will give him a command to take the plunder and to take the…
- Isaiah 60:6 (v10) A multitude of camels will cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah. All from Sheba will come. They will bring gold and frankincense,…
- Isaiah 66:20 (v10) They shall bring all your brothers out of all the nations for an offering to Yahweh, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, and on…
- Jeremiah 2:23 (v10) “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled. I have not gone after the Baals’? See your way in the valley. Know what you have done. You are a swift…
- Jeremiah 51:21 (v10) With you I will break in pieces the horse and his rider.
- Daniel 4:1 (v10) Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
- Daniel 8:2 (v14) I saw the vision. Now it was so, that when I saw, I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision, and…
- Luke 18:7 (v13) Won’t God avenge his chosen ones who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?
- Exodus 15:9-10 (v12) The enemy said, ‘I will pursue. I will overtake. I will divide the plunder. My desire will be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword. My…
- Judges 1:6-7 (v12) But Adoni-Bezek fled. They pursued him, caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his big toes. Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings, having their…
- 1 Kings 4:28 (v10) They also brought Barley and straw for the horses and swift steeds to the place where the officers were, each man according to his duty.
- 1 Kings 21:8 (v10) So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles who were in his…
- 2 Chronicles 30:6 (v10) So the couriers went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of…
- Esther 2:3 (v14) Let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins to the…
- Esther 3:12-13 (v10) Then the king’s scribes were called in on the first month, on the thirteenth day of the month; and all that Haman commanded was written to…
- Job 9:25 (v10) “Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good.
- Ecclesiastes 9:10 (v14) Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor plan, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are…
- 1 Samuel 21:8 (v14) David said to Ahimelech, “Isn’t there here under your hand spear or sword? For I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me,…
- Nehemiah 1:1 (v14) The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the palace,
- Esther 1:2 (v14) in those days, when the King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Susa the palace,
37 distinct cross-references across this passage (38 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (17 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv10–13 Or, mules.
Or, mules.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv10–14 Est 8:10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus’…
Est 8:10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus’ name, and sealed [it] with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, [and] riders on mules, camels, [and] young dromedaries:
Ver. 10. And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus’s name] For he knew that "where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?" Ecc 8:4; see Dan 5:19. Mordecai, as he was careful not to abuse his authority, so he spareth not to improve it to the utmost for the Church’s good. We may also lawfully and comfortably improve the benefits and privileges granted us by princes and other benefactors. Constantine’s donation and Peter’s patrimony is much boasted of by that antichrist of Rome. A mere fiction, as various learned men of their own side have proved (Cusanus, Ficinus, Volater, Otho Frising). But if it were never so true, what power had Constantine to give away and alienate such a considerable part of the empire (might he not well have been therefore called Pupillus, as he was in scorn by some heathen historians for his bounty to poor Christians)? or with what conscience could the bishop of Rome have accepted of such a gift, and left it to his successors. But it was neither so nor so. Not Constantine, but Pepin, enlarged the pope’s territories; as not Peter, but Phocas, is the right craggy rock upon which is founded the pope’s supremacy.
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And sealed it with the king’s ring] See Est 3:12, and observe what a strange turn of things here was all on the sudden. Merlin from this clause gathereth, that the king perused and approved whatsoever the scribes wrote by the appointment of Mordecai, he saw it, and signed it.
And sent letters by posts] See Est 3:15. That was a witty speech of him, who said of secretaries that pretend much to Scripture: they were like posts, that bring truth in their letters and lies in their mouths. And of another, that they do angariare, make posts of the Holy Scriptures; compelling them to go two miles, which of themselves would go but one.
And riders on mules] Which are counted swifter than horses, and yet a horse is so swift a creature, that the Argives consecrated a horse to the sun, as the swiftest beast to the swiftest planet, Equitantes in equis angariis riding on the public couriers horse (Tremel.), O ταχιστος τω ταχυτατω.
Camels] These were large strong beasts, that could endure long and hard travel. It is said of them, that they do drink, in praesens et in posterum, for the present and the future, and can hold out travelling three days together without food.
And young dromedaries] These were also swift beasts, Jer 2:23, and therefore it is by antiphrasis that among us a slow person is called a dromedary, Ut lucus a non lucendo, bellum quasi minime bellum.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv10, 11, 14 Which were not employed in the sending of the…
Which were not employed in the sending of the former letter; but this coming later required more care and speed, that the Jews might be eased from the torment of their present fears, and have time to furnish themselves with necessaries for their own defence.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv10–14 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in…
Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together,.... In some part of the city they should choose, and remain in a body, being sufficiently armed:
and to stand for their life; to defend themselves, and fight for their life, should any attack them, or attempt to take it away; in such case they might act offensively:
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so as to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them; every army of them, or as many as should join in a body to attack them, any mighty or powerful mob; and not men only:
but both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey; the same words are used, and the same power is given them as were to their enemies, Est 3:13, not that they made use of it to the utmost extremity, it is certain they did not in one point, in taking the spoil, Est 9:10, and, since they spared that, it is highly probable they spared women and children.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv10–11 Riders - Which were not employed in sending the…
Riders - Which were not employed in sending the former letter: but this coming later required more care and speed, that the Jews might be eased from their present fears, and have time to provide for their own defense.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv10, 11, 14 Verse 10. On mules, camels, and young dromedaries] What…
Verse 10. On mules, camels, and young dromedaries] What these beasts were is difficult to say. The word רכש rechesh, which we translate mules, signifies a swift chariot horse.
The strange word אחשתרנים achashteranim is probably a Persian word, but perhaps incurably corrupted. The most likely derivation is that of Bochart, from the Persian [Persian] akhash, huge, large, rough, and [Persian] aster, a mule; large mules.
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The words בני הרמכים beney harammachim, the sons of mares, which we translate dromedaries, are supposed to signify mules, produced between the he ass and the mare, to distinguish them from those produced between the stallion and the ass, But there is really so much confusion about these matters, and so little consent among learned men as to the signification of these words, and even the true knowledge of them is of such little importance, that we may well rest contented with such names as our modern translations have given us. They were, no doubt, the swiftest and hardiest beasts that the city or country could produce.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv10–12 Est 8:10. And he wrote in King Ahasuerus’s name…
Est 8:10. And he wrote in King Ahasuerus’s name — Josephus has given us a true copy, as he says, of this decree; or, as he terms it, of the letters which Artaxerxes sent to all nations which lie between India and Ethiopia; wherein he represents the abuse which favourites are wont to make of their power and credit with their prince, by insulting their inferiors, by flying in the face of those who raised them, and, to gratify their resentments, calumniating the innocent, and putting honest men in danger of their lives, &c. And sent letters by posts, and riders on mules, &c. — Which were not employed in the sending of the former letters; but these, coming later, required more care and speed, that the Jews might be eased from their present fears, and have time to provide for their own defence.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv10, 11, 14 Riders on mules, camels and young dromedaries - Most…
Riders on mules, camels and young dromedaries - Most moderns translate “riders upon coursers and mules, the offspring of mares;” but the words translated “mules” and “mares,” are of very doubtful signification, since they scarcely occur elsewhere. The real meaning of the clause must remain doubtful; perhaps the true translation is, “riders upon coursers of the king’s stud, offspring of high-bred steeds.” So Est 8:14.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv10–11 Posts, who had a right to make use of…
Posts, who had a right to make use of any person’s horse, &c. (Menochius) --- Who. Protestants, "on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries." (Haydock) --- The original terms greatly embarrass interpreters. (Calmet) --- Septuagint have simply, "he sent the writings by letter-carriers, ordering them to follow their own laws in every city, to help themselves, and treat their adversaries and opponents as they pleased, on one day....the 13th....of Adar. This is a copy," &c., chap. xvi. (Haydock)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv10–11 sent . . . by posts . . .…
sent . . . by posts . . . and riders on . . . camels, and young dromedaries--The business being very urgent, the swiftest kind of camel would be employed, and so the word in the original denotes the wind-camel. Young dromedaries also are used to carry expresses, being remarkable for the nimbleness and ease of their movements. Animals of this description could convey the new rescript of Ahasuerus over the length and breadth of the Persian empire in time to relieve the unhappy Jews from the ban under which they lay.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv10, 11, 14 10. Posts on horseback — See notes on Est_1:22;…
10. Posts on horseback — See notes on Est_1:22; Est_3:13.
Riders on mules — Rather, on swift coursers. See note on 1Ki_4:28. The word is here a collective.
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Camels — The word אחשׁתרנים is of Persian origin, and means royal, or pertaining to the government. The most probable meaning is royal steeds. The word occurs only here and in Est_8:14.
Young dromedaries — Hebrews sons of the rammachim. The word רמכים is found only here, and is of doubtful meaning. According to Gesenius and Furst, it means mares. But, as it has the masculine termination, others understand it to mean stallions. Rawlinson gives it the more general sense of highbred steeds. Perhaps the best version of all the words would be, riders of the swift coursers, the royal steeds, offspring of the thoroughbreds.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv10, 11, 14 10. riding on swift steeds] As time was an…
10. riding on swift steeds] As time was an object, it was important that the messengers should be well mounted. Both Herodotus (viii. 98) and Xenophon (Cyrop. viii. 6. 17) speak of horses only as being used in Persia to carry despatches.
that were used in the king’s service] This corresponds to but one word in the original, which occurs only in this passage, and is a Hebraised form adapted from the Persian khshatra, lordship, realm, or khshatram, a crown, which is also the source of kether, a crown (Est_1:11, Est_2:17, Est_6:8), and of the Greek κίδαρις.
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bred of the stud] perhaps literally, sons of the (royal) mares. The word rendered ‘stud’ occurs here only in the Bible. In later Hebrew it means a mule born of a mare and he-ass. The LXX. and Vulgate, probably having no clue to the meaning of the words, much abbreviate the latter part of this verse, having merely, they sent the letters (Vulg. the letters were sent) by couriers.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv10, 11, 13, 14 (10) Posts.—The posts. Literally, the runners. (See Note on…
(10) Posts.—The posts. Literally, the runners. (See Note on Est_1:22.)
Riders on mules.—Rather, on horses of great speed; the “swift beast “of Mic_1:13.
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Camels, and young dromedaries.—The words thus translated occur only here, and there is much doubt as to the meaning. It may suffice to mention two renderings :—(1) “Mules, the offspring of royal mares “—so Gesenius; or (2) we may connect the former word with the Persian word meaning royal—so Canon Rawlinson, who translates the whole clause, riders upon coursers of the king’s stud, offspring of high-bred steeds.”
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv10, 11, 13, 14 He wrote in the king"s name. As Haman had…
He wrote in the king"s name. As Haman had done. (Est_2:12) And riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries. There is no "and" before "riders" in the original, and the clause is clearly exegetical of the preceding, Neither "mules," nor "camels," nor "young dromedaries" are mentioned in it, and the best translation would seem to be riders on coursers of the royal stud, the offspring of thoroughbreds." It is noticeable that both Herodotus (8:98) and Xenophon ("Cyrop.," 8:6, speak of horses as alone employed in carrying the Persian despatches.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v12 twelfth month
twelfth month
i.e. March; also Est 8:15; Est 8:17.
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv10, 13 wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus
wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus
Writing something in the king's name represents writing it with his authority, or writing it as his representative. (See: Metonymy)
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signet ring
See how you translated this phrase in Esther 8:2
couriers
people who carry messages
bred from the royal stud
The royal stud was the king's best male horse. The horses that were used in the king's service were its offspring. AT: "the offspring of the king's best horse" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
gave to the Jews ... permission to gather
"told the Jews ... that he was allowing them to gather"
make a stand
This is a metaphor for fighting back and not running away. AT: "fight back" (See: Metaphor)
the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar
See how you translated this in Esther 3:13
translationWords
seal
people group
possess
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv11–13 8:11 The king’s decree did not permit the Jewish…
8:11 The king’s decree did not permit the Jewish people to start a war but to defend themselves and plunder the property of those who attacked them (reversing the decree in 3:13). • The phrase kill, slaughter, and annihilate is an ironic repetition of the words in Haman’s original edict (3:13; see also 9:5).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.