Esther 3:10-15

Esther 3:10-15

[10] And the king  took  his ring  from his hand,  and gave  it unto Haman  the son  of Hammedatha  the Agagite,  the Jews'  enemy.  [11] And the king  said  unto Haman,  The silver  is given  to thee, the people  also, to do  with them as it seemeth  good  to thee. [12] Then were the king's  scribes  called  on the thirteenth  day  of the first  month,  and there was written  according to all that Haman  had commanded  unto the king's  lieutenants,  and to the governors  that were over every province,  and to the rulers  of every people  of every province  according to the writing  thereof, and to every people  after their language;  in the name  of king  Ahasuerus  was it written,  and sealed  with the king's  ring.  [13] And the letters  were sent  by  posts  into all the king's  provinces,  to destroy,  to kill,  and to cause to perish,  all Jews,  both young  and old,  little children  and women,  in one  day,  even upon the thirteenth  day of the twelfth  month,  Adar,  and to take the spoil  of them for a prey.  [14] The copy  of the writing  for a commandment  to be given  in every province  was published  unto all people,  that they should be ready  against that day.  [15] The posts  went out,  being hastened  by the king's  commandment,  and the decree  was given  in Shushan  the palace.  And the king  and Haman  sat down  to drink;  but the city  Shushan  was perplexed. 

What does Esther 3:10-15 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The imprint of an official"s signet ring ( Esther 3:10) was the equivalent of his signature in ancient times (cf. Genesis 41:42; Esther 8:2; Esther 8:8; Esther 8:10). Ahasuerus gave permission to Haman to confiscate the Jews" wealth and to put them to death ( Esther 3:11; cf. Proverbs 18:13). Merrill suggested that Ahasuerus viewed the Jews as a scapegoat to blame for his humiliating losses to the Greeks. [1] The words "to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate" ( Esther 3:13) probably translate the legal formula used in the decree that would have been as specific as possible. Probably the government officials and army were those who were to seize the Jews" property ( Esther 3:13) and then send some of it up the line to Haman.
"There is a skillful use of contrast in the last sentence of the chapter. While the collaborators celebrate, the city of Susa is aghast. The author is sensitive to popular reactions and notes that the ordinary citizen asked himself what lay behind such a drastic scene." [2]