¹⁰ Mordecai wrote ·orders [edicts; decrees] in the name of King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] and sealed the ·letters [dispatches; scrolls] with the king’s signet ring. Then he sent the king’s ·orders [edicts; decrees] by ·messengers [couriers] on fast horses, horses that were ·raised [bred] ·just [especially] for the king.

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.