4. Mordecai and Esther issue a new decree. Verses 9,10 The scribes assembled to copy the decree Once again the scribes were called to issue another decree. This occurred on the 23rd day of the third month. This means it was two months and ten days since the original decree had been issued (3:7,12). This decree was also to be sent to the Jews and to all the rulers in all the prov-inces, according to their own language, just as had been done with the original decree (3:12). In addition, we are given further information regarding the size of the empire: it included 127 prov-inces from India to Ethiopia. The decree was written again in the king’s name, sealed with his ring, and sent out by his couriers, who rode swiftly on royal horses. This was also how the first decree had gone out (3:15). |