Esther 8:11-13

Expanded Bible

¹¹ These were the king’s ·orders [edicts; decrees]: The Jews in every city have the right to ·gather together [assemble] to ·protect themselves [defend their lives]. They may destroy, kill, and ·completely wipe out [annihilate] the army of any ·state [province] or ·people [nation] who attack them [^Cthe king could not cancel his previous unalterable decree, but he could allow the Jews to defend themselves and attack], including their women and children. They may also ·take by force [plunder; confiscate] the property of their enemies. ¹² The one day set for the Jews to do this in all the ·empire [provinces] of King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month [^CMarch 7, about twelve months after Haman devised his plot], the month of Adar. ¹³ A copy of the king’s ·order [edict; decree] was to be ·sent out [issued; presented] as a law in every ·state [province]. It was to be made known to ·the people of every nation living in the kingdom [^Lall the peoples] so the Jews would be ready on that set day to ·strike back at [avenge themselves on] their enemies.