10 ^dAnd he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus ^eand sealed it with the king’s signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on ^fswift horses that were used in the king’s service, bred from the royal stud,

6 ^eSo couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his princes, as the king had commanded, saying, “O people of Israel, ^freturn to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may turn again to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of ^gthe kings of Assyria.