Misled by the false statements of Haman, Xerxes was induced to issue a decree providing for the massacre of all the Jews "scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces" of the Medo-Persian kingdom. Verse 8. A certain day was appointed on which the Jews were to be destroyed and their property confiscated. Little did the king realize the far-reaching results that would have 601 accompanied the complete carrying out of this decree. Satan himself, the hidden instigator of the scheme, was trying to rid the earth of those who preserved the knowledge of the true God.

Xerxes blev ført bag lyset af Haman og gik med til at udstede en befaling om, at alle de jøder, som boede spredt og levede for sig selv iblandt folkene i alle rigets dele, skulle udryddes. 8. vers. Der blev fastsat en dag, da jøderne skulle slås ihjel og deres ejendom konfiskeres. Kongen var ikke til fulde klar over, hvilke vidtrækkende følger det ville få at gennemføre denne plan i hele sin udstrækning. Det var Satan, der stod bagved, og han forsøgte at udrydde de mennesker, som besad kundskaben om den sande Gud.