Esther 3:14-15

3:14 A copy of this edict was to be presented as law throughout every province; it was to be made known to all the inhabitants, ¹  so that they would be prepared for this day. 3:15 The messengers ²  scurried forth ³  with the king’s order. ⁴  The edict was issued in Susa the citadel. While the king and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa was in an uproar! ⁵ 

¹ tn Heb “peoples” (so NASB, NRSV).

² tn Heb “runners.” So also in 8:10, 14. Cf. NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV “couriers.”

³ tn Or “went forth in haste” (so ASV).

⁴ tn Heb “with the word of the king.”

⁵ sn The city of Susa was in an uproar. This final statement of v. 15 is a sad commentary on the pathetic disregard of despots for the human misery and suffering that they sometimes inflict on those who are helpless to resist their power. Here, while common people braced for the reckless loss of life and property that was about to begin, the perpetrators went about their mundane activities as though nothing of importance was happening.