1
Now in the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar) on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them (though it was turned to the contrary, so that the Jews had rule over those who hated them),
2
the Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on such as sought their hurt; and no man could withstand them, for the fear of them fell upon all people.
3
And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants and the deputies, and those who did the business that belonged to the king, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.
4
For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.
5
Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword and slaughter and destruction, and did what they would unto those who hated them.
6
And in the palace in Shushan the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.
7
And Parshandatha and Dalphon and Aspatha,
8
and Poratha and Adalia and Aridatha,
9
and Parmashta and Arisai and Aridai and Vajezatha
10
(the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews) they slew; but on the spoil they laid not their hand.
11
On that day the number of those who were slain in the palace at Shushan was brought before the king.
12
And the king said unto Esther the queen, "The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in the palace in Shushan, and the ten sons of Haman. What have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? Now what is thy petition? And it shall be granted thee. Or what is thy further request? And it shall be done."
13
Then said Esther, "If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows."
14
And the king commanded it so to be done; and the decree was given at Shushan, and they hanged Haman's ten sons.
15
For the Jews who were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month of Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the spoil they laid not their hand.