Esther 8:14
in Esther 8The couriers rode out in haste on their royal horses, pressed on by the command of the king. And the edict was also issued in the citadel of Susa.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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 palace.
KJV
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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This verse in Esther 8
Commentary
6 notes on this verseSo the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out,.... Or on the mules, which in the Persian language were called "ahashteranim"; See Gill on Est 8:10, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment; who gave them a special order to make what haste they could, that the Jews might have time to prepare for their defence, and their enemies be the more intimidated: and the decree was given at Shushan the palace; the king's counsellors agreeing to it, and perhaps signing it, as they did the former; see Est 3:15.
This site's exposition
By these letters the king permitted
on Esther 8:11-14
The decree uses the words of Haman's decree at 3:13, "to destroy, kill, and annihilate," with the target reversed. The Jews may "assemble and defend themselves". It grants them leave "to plunder their possessions," so the refusal of plunder three times in chapter 9 is a chosen restraint.
This site's exposition
The couriers rode out in haste
The couriers had more than eight months in hand, yet they rode in haste. Barnes explains the speed as a guard against any misunderstanding, and Henry as the king's fear that the first decree would be acted on early. Susa received it as it had received Haman's decree.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
Moreover, what follows next—"And the king's edict was published in Shushan"— means that the domain of the heavenly king rules over and governs the entire world: "everything has been placed under his jurisdiction, and there is no one who can resist his will" (Esther 13); …
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The decree was given at Shushan - The contrary effect which it was to produce considered, this decree was in every respect like the former. See Est 3:8-15.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Being hastened - Between Sivan, the third month (June), when the posts went out, and Adar, the twelfth month (March), when the struggle was to take place, the interval would be one of more than 8 months; but all haste was made, with the object of their being no misunderstanding.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Rushed. They hastened them to act swiftly, because they had no time, for they had to get ahead of the first couriers to overtake them.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
And a cloak of linen. A wrap of linen, a shawl in which to enwrap oneself.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הָרָצִ֞ים | haratzim | the couriers | H7323 → | 103 times |
| רֹכְבֵ֤י | rokhevei | [the] riders of | H7392 → | 78 times |
| הָרֶ֙כֶשׁ֙ | harekhesh | the steed[s] | H7409 → | |
| הָֽאֲחַשְׁתְּרָנִ֔ים | haachashteranim | <the> royal | H327 → | |
| יָֽצְא֛וּ | yatzeu | they went out | H3318 → | 1067 times |
| מְבֹהָלִ֥ים | mevohalim | hastened | H926 → | 39 times |
| וּדְחוּפִ֖ים | udechufim | and hurried | H1765 → | 4 times |
| בִּדְבַ֣ר | bidvar | at [the] word of | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ | hamelekh | the king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| וְהַדָּ֥ת | vehadat | and the law | H1881 → | 22 times |
| נִתְּנָ֖ה | nitenah | it was given | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ן | beshushan | in Susa | H7800 → | 21 times |
| הַבִּירָֽה׃ פ | habirah | the citadel | H1002 → | 16 times |
הָרָצִ֞יםthe couriers
haratzimH7323 →103 times
רֹכְבֵ֤י[the] riders of
rokheveiH7392 →78 times
הָרֶ֙כֶשׁ֙the steed[s]
harekheshH7409 →
הָֽאֲחַשְׁתְּרָנִ֔ים<the> royal
haachashteranimH327 →
יָֽצְא֛וּthey went out
yatzeuH3318 →1067 times
מְבֹהָלִ֥יםhastened
mevohalimH926 →39 times
וּדְחוּפִ֖יםand hurried
udechufimH1765 →4 times
בִּדְבַ֣רat [the] word of
bidvarH1697 →1440 times
הַמֶּ֑לֶךְthe king
hamelekhH4428 →2525 times
וְהַדָּ֥תand the law
vehadatH1881 →22 times
נִתְּנָ֖הit was given
nitenahH5414 →2011 times
בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ןin Susa
beshushanH7800 →21 times
הַבִּירָֽה׃ פthe citadel
habirahH1002 →16 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
it leads to
- Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men,
- Ephesians 5:16
redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
- Romans 12:11
Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
- Psalms 6:5
For there is no mention of You in death; who can praise You from Sheol?
- Ecclesiastes 11:6
Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hands in the evening, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper.
- Colossians 3:23
Through
Esther 3:15The couriers left, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was…
it leads to
- Esther 8:15
Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal garments of blue and white, with a large gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa shouted…
- Esther 8:15
Through
Daniel 8:2And in the vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa, in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision that I was beside the Ulai Canal.
it leads to
- Nehemiah 1:1
These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,
- Esther 1:2
In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.
- Nehemiah 1:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Esther
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil, The Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Esther and W. F. Adeney, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther (Expositor's Bible).