Read & explore together
The First Decree in Greek Esther
This verse in Greek Esther includes both a summary of a decree and the letter itself. It helps readers notice not only the violent order, but also the official language used to present that order as reasonable.
Understanding the passage
Understanding the passage
Esther (Greek) 3:13 says couriers carried a message through Ahasuerus’s kingdom to destroy the Jews and plunder their goods. The same verse then gives a copy of the letter, addressed to rulers and governors across 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia.
Esther (Greek) 3:13Main takeaway
This passage shows a decree commanding great violence while presenting itself as a plan for peace and order.
Explore the teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The message announcedThe verse opens with a clear summary before the copied letter begins. Couriers are sent throughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus with orders to utterly destroy the race of the Jews on the first day of the twelfth month, Adar, and to plunder their goods.
Explanation
The verse opens with a clear summary before the copied letter begins. Couriers are sent throughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus with orders to utterly destroy the race of the Jews on the first day of the twelfth month, Adar, and to plunder their goods. The aim of the decree is stated immediately and plainly.
02A formal royal voiceThe letter presents itself as coming from “the great King Ahasuerus” to officials in 127 provinces, from India to Ethiopia.
Explanation
The letter presents itself as coming from “the great King Ahasuerus” to officials in 127 provinces, from India to Ethiopia. It speaks in a formal royal style, stressing wide rule and claiming moderation, gentleness, tranquillity, order, and peace. These descriptions belong to the letter’s self-presentation.
03Haman’s advice and the accusationsThe letter says the king asked his counsellors how to keep the kingdom quiet, and that Haman, praised as faithful and second in the kingdom, gave counsel.
Explanation
The letter says the king asked his counsellors how to keep the kingdom quiet, and that Haman, praised as faithful and second in the kingdom, gave counsel. The letter accuses a certain scattered people of opposing other nations, neglecting the king’s commands, and threatening stable rule. In this passage, these are claims made in the decree.
04The command in the letterUsing those accusations, the letter instructs officials to destroy them all utterly with their wives and children, without pity or sparing, on the fourteenth day of Adar.
Explanation
Using those accusations, the letter instructs officials to destroy them all utterly with their wives and children, without pity or sparing, on the fourteenth day of Adar. It says this violent act will secure a quiet and well-constituted state. The passage lets readers hear the wording of the decree for themselves.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What two actions are named in the opening summary before the copied letter starts?
Look for the direct statement about what was to happen to the Jews and then to their goods.
02How does the letter describe the king and his rule before giving any accusation?
Notice the titles, the size of the kingdom, and the words about moderation, gentleness, peace, and order.
03Which parts of the verse are accusations within the letter, and what command follows from them?
Trace the letter’s claims about the scattered people and then read the instruction to destroy without pity or sparing.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Esther (Greek) 3:13
13The message was sent by couriers throughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus, to utterly destroy the race of the Jews on the first day of the twelfth month, which is Adar, and to plunder their goods. [The following is the copy of the letter. “From the great King Ahasuerus to the rulers and the governors under them of one hundred twenty-seven provinces, from India even to Ethiopia, who hold authority under him: “Ruling over many nations and having obtained dominion over the whole world, I was determined (not elated by the confidence of power, but ever conducting myself with great moderation and gentleness) to make the lives of my subjects continually tranquil, desiring both to maintain the kingdom quiet and orderly to its utmost limits, and to restore the peace desired by all men. When I had asked my counselors how this should be brought to pass, Haman, who excels in soundness of judgment among us, and has been manifestly well inclined without wavering and with unshaken fidelity, and had obtained the second post in the kingdom, informed us that a certain ill-disposed people is scattered among all the tribes throughout the world, opposed in their law to every other nation, and continually neglecting the commands of the king, so that the united government blamelessly administered by us is not quietly established. Having then conceived that this nation is continually set in opposition to every man, introducing as a change a foreign code of laws, and injuriously plotting to accomplish the worst of evils against our interests, and against the happy establishment of the monarchy, we instruct you in the letter written by Haman, who is set over the public affairs and is our second governor, to destroy them all utterly with their wives and children by the swords of the enemies, without pitying or sparing any, on the fourteenth day of the twelfth month Adar, of the present year; that the people aforetime and now ill-disposed to us having been violently consigned to death in one day, may hereafter secure to us continually a well constituted and quiet state of affairs.”]