1
Now in the twelfth*month (that is, the monthAdar ), on the thirteenth*daywhen the king'scommand and edict were about to be executed, on the daywhen the enemies of the Jewshoped to gain the masteryover them, it was turned to the contrary so that the Jewsthemselvesgained the masteryover those who hated them.
2
The Jewsassembled in their cities throughout all the provinces of KingAhasuerus to layhands on those who sought their harm; and noone could standbefore them, for the dread of them had fallen on all the peoples.
3
Even all the princes of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and those who were doing the king'sbusinessassisted the Jews, because the dread of Mordecai had fallen on them.
12
The kingsaid to QueenEsther, "The Jews have killed and destroyedfivehundredmen and the tensons of Haman at the citadel in Susa. What then have they done in the rest of the king'sprovinces! Now what is your petition? It shall even be granted you. And what is your furtherrequest? It shall also be done."
13
Then saidEsther, "If it pleases* the king, let tomorrowalso be granted to the Jewswho are in Susa to do according to the edict of today; and let Haman'stensons be hanged on the gallows."
15
The Jewswho were in Susaassembledalso on the fourteenth*day of the monthAdar and killedthreehundredmen in Susa, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.
16
Now the rest of the Jewswho were in the king'sprovincesassembled, to defend their lives and ridthemselves of their enemies, and kill75,000** of those who hated them; but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.
18
But the Jewswho were in Susaassembled on the thirteenth* and the fourteenth* of the same month, and they rested on the fifteenth* day and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing.
19
Therefore* the Jews of the ruralareas, who live in the ruraltowns, make the fourteenth*day of the monthAdar a holiday* for rejoicing and feasting and sendingportions of food to oneanother.