Esther 3:12

“Then were the king’s scribes called, on the thirteenth day of the first month, etc.] The month Nisan, (<170307>Esther 3:7), after Haman had leave and power from the king to destroy the Jews, and his ring given him in token of it; the king’s scribes or secretaries of state were called together on that day, to write the letters for that purpose: and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded; whatever he would have done; he had an unlimited power to do what he pleased, and he made use of it, and directed the scribes what they should write: unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province; the deputy governors of the one hundred and twenty seven…”

“Then were the king's scribes called . . . and there was written--The government secretaries were employed in making out the proclamation authorizing a universal massacre of the Jews on one day. It was translated into the dialects of all the people throughout the vast empire, and swift messengers were sent to carry it into all the provinces. On the day appointed, all Jews were to be put to death and their property confiscated; doubtless, the means by which Haman hoped to pay his stipulated tribute into the royal treasury. To us it appears unaccountable how any sane monarch could have given his consent to the extirpation of a numerous class of his subjects. But such acts of frenzied barbarity…”

“On the thirteenth day - Haman had, apparently (compare Esther 3:7 with Esther 3:13), obtained by his use of the lot the 13th day of Adar as the lucky day for destroying the Jews. This may have caused him to fix on the 13th day of another month for the commencement of his enterprise. So, the Jews throughout the empire had from 9 to 11 months of warning of the peril which threatened them. return to 'Top of Page'”

“3:12 So on April 17: Haman’s choice of the day before the Jewish Passover began (see Exod 12:6) was probably calculated to terrorize and demoralize the Jews. But as he did at the Exodus, God would deliver the Jews miraculously from a tyrant who was trying to destroy them.”

“Then were: Est 8:9-17 scribes: or, secretaries according: Est 1:22, Est 8:9, Est 9:27 in the name: Kg1 21:8; Dan 6:8, Dan 6:12, Dan 6:15 sealed: Est 8:2, Est 8:8, Est 8:10 Esther 3:13”

“Haman, without delay, causes the necessary writings to be prepared, and sent into all the provinces of the kingdom. Est 3:12. "Then were called the king's scribes in the first month, on the thirteenth day of it (בּו, in it, in the said month); and there was written according to all that Haman commanded, to the satraps of the king, and to the governors who (were placed) over every province, and to the rulers of every people, to each several province according to its writing, and to each different people according to their language (comp. rem. on Est 1:22); in the name of King Ahashverosh was it written, and sealed with the king's seal." אחשׁדּרפּנים and פּחות placed in juxtaposition, as in…”