Keraia
Esther 8

Esther 8:9

The Decree of Xerxes · Esther 8:7–17
Read Esther 8

Translations

Modern
At once the royal scribes were summoned, and on the twenty-third day of the third month (the month of Sivan), they recorded all of Mordecai’s orders to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and princes of the 127 provinces from India to Cush—writing to each province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language.
Traditional
Then were the king’s scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
Literal
And the scribes of the king were called at that time, in the third month (it is the month of Sivan), on the three and twentieth day in it, and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors, and the officials of the provinces that are from India even as far as Cush, seven and twenty and a hundred provinces—province by province according to its writing, and people by people according to its tongue, and to the Jews according to their writing and according to their tongue.
Latin
Accitisque scribis et librariis regis (erat autem tempus tertii mensis, qui appellatur Siban) vigesima et tertia die illius scriptæ sunt epistolæ, ut Mardochæus voluerat, ad Judæos, et ad principes, procuratoresque et judices, qui centum viginti septem provinciis ab India usque ad Æthiopiam præsidebant: provinciæ atque provinciæ, populo et populo juxta linguas et litteras suas, et Judæis, prout legere poterant et audire.

Original

Hebrew
English
At once the royal scribes were summoned, and on the twenty-third day of the third month (the month of Sivan), they recorded all of Mordecai’s orders to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and princes of the 127 provinces from India to Cush—writing to each province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language.

Notes

Esther 8:9

on the twenty-third day of the third month: The process of writing and sending the new decree intentionally mirrors the account of sending the original decree in Esther 3:12.

Theme notes and profiles

Esther Ancient Law Codes

People

Judah: Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province Mordecai: Esther's cousin, a Jewish leader in the Persian court Sivan: The third month of the Jewish calendar

Places

Cush: Ancient region in Africa; associated with Egypt and Babylon India: The eastern extent of Ahasuerus' Persian Empire

Glossary

Book of Esther Calendars (Ancient and Modern) Ethiopia Haggai, Book of India Sivan

Topics

Babylon: Empire of At the Time of Ahasuerus India: Probably the Eastern Limit of the Kingdom of Ahasuerus Month: Sivan: (June) Months: Names of the Twelve: Third, Sivan Ring: Given As a Token Scribe(s): The King's Secretary (Official Recordist) Secretary (Recordist): General Scriptures Concerning Sivan: Third Month (June)