On the 13th day of the 12th month, the month of Adar, when the king's command and his law were to be enforced, on the day that the enemies of the Jews had expected to rule over them, the situation was reversed, and it was the Jews themselves who ruled over those who hated them.

The Jews gathered themselves in their cities in all the provinces of Ahashverosh the king, to lay their hands on those who sought to harm them, and no man could stand before them, for fear of them had fallen on all the peoples. And all the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and those who conduct the king's affairs supported the Jews, because the fear of Mordechai had fallen upon them. For great was Mordechai in the king's house, and his reputation had gone out to all the provinces, for the man Mordechai grew greater and greater.

The Jews struck at all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying, and they did as they pleased to those who hated them. And in Susa the capital the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men – along with Parshandata, Dalphon, Asphata, Porata, Adalia, Aridata, Parimashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizata, the ten sons of Haman, son of Hamedata, the persecutor of the Jews. But the spoils they did not touch.

That day the number of those killed in Susa the capital was reported to the king.

The king said to Esther the queen: “In Susa the capital the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men, and the ten sons of Haman. What have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? – and whatever your wish, it will be given you, and whatever more you may request, it will be done.”

Esther said: “If it please the king, let the Jews in Susa do tomorrow according to the law for today, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged on the gallows.”