Esther 8:9

A COUNTER-EDICT WAS SENT FORTH BY MORDECAI

"Then were the king's scribes called at Then were the king's scribes called at that time, in the third month, which is the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof, and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, a hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language. And he wrote in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, riding on swift steeds that were used in the king's service, bred of the stud: wherein the king granted the Jews that were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey, upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published unto all the peoples, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 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."

"In the third month, which is the month Sivan" (Esther 8:9). "The name Sivan is another Babylonian name, the third month being sacred to the moon god. It corresponded to our May-June."[9] "The date was June 25,474 B.C., a little over two months after the first decree was issued,"[10] thus allowing over eight months for the Jews to prepare their defenses.

"To destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish" (Esther 8:11). This decree followed very closely the language of the edict of Haman (Esther 3:13) in order to nullify it to the fullest extent possible. "The exact treatment intended for the Jews was to be meted out for their enemies."[11] "The irrevocability of Haman's decree made it necessary for Mordecai to duplicate in reverse all of its provisions, thus inevitably giving the impression of a very harsh decree. When the day came, it stressed that the Jews did not plunder their enemies."[12]

The Jews were authorized to take the property of their attackers, but when the time came they waived that right.

"All the power of the people and province" (Esther 8:11). "This is a reference to the military forces."[13]