Esther 3:13

3:13 Letters were sent by the runners to all the king’s provinces stating that ¹  they should destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews, from youth to elderly, both women and children, ²  on a particular day, namely the thirteenth day ³  of the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar), and to loot and plunder their possessions.

Esther 7:4

7:4 For we have been sold ⁴  – both I and my people – to destruction and to slaughter and to annihilation! If we had simply been sold as male and female slaves, I would have remained silent, for such distress would not have been sufficient for troubling the king.”

Esther 8:11

8:11 The king thereby allowed the Jews who were in every city to assemble and to stand up for themselves – to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any army of whatever people or province that should become their adversaries, including their women and children, ⁵  and to confiscate their property.

¹ tn The words “stating that” are not in the Hebrew text but have been supplied in the translation for clarity.

² tn Heb “children and women.” The translation follows contemporary English idiom, which reverses the order.

³ tc The LXX does not include the words “on the thirteenth day.”

⁴ sn The passive verb (“have been sold”) is noncommittal and nonaccusatory with regard to the king’s role in the decision to annihilate the Jews.

⁵ tn Heb “children and women.” As in 3:13, the translation follows contemporary English idiom, which reverses the order.