²⁴ Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples but could not speak Hebrew.^[a](A)

²² He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each ethnic group in its own language,^(A) that every man should be master of his own house and speak in the language of his own people.

¹² The royal scribes were summoned^(A) on the thirteenth day of the first month, and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded. It was intended for the royal satraps,^(B) the governors of each of the provinces, and the officials of each ethnic group and written for each province in its own script and to each ethnic group in its own language.^(C) It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus^(D) and sealed with the royal signet ring.^(E)