Jews in every
city, and to command them to gather themselves together, and to stand
for their lives, and to kill and destroy all their enemies with their
wives and children and all their houses, and to take their spoil.

8:12. And one day of revenge was appointed through all the provinces, to
wit, the thirteenth of the twelfth month Adar.

8:13. And this was the content of the letter, that it should be notified
in all lands and peoples that were subject to the empire of king
Assuerus, that the Jews were ready to be revenged of their enemies.

8:14. So the swift posts went out carrying the messages, and the king's
edict was hung up in Susan.

8:15. And Mardochai going forth out of the palace, and from the king's
presence, shone in royal apparel, to wit, of violet and sky colour,
wearing a golden crown on his head, and clothed with a cloak of silk and
purple. And all the city rejoiced, and was glad.

8:16. But to the Jews, a new light seemed to rise, joy, honour, and
dancing.

8:17. And in all peoples, cities, and provinces, whithersoever the
king's commandments came, there was wonderful rejoicing, feasts and
banquets, and keeping holy day: Insomuch that many of other nations and
religion, joined themselves to their worship and ceremonies. For a great
dread of the name of the Jews had fallen upon all.

Esther Chapter 9

The Jews kill their enemies that would have killed them. The days of
Phurim are appointed to be kept holy.

9:1. So on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which as we have
said above is called Adar, when all the Jews were designed to be
massacred, and their enemies were greedy after their blood, the case
being altered, the Jews began to have the upper hand, and to revenge
themselves of their adversaries.

To revenge, etc... The Jews on this occasion, by authority from the
king, were made executioners of the public justice, for punishing by
death a crime worthy of death, viz., a malicious conspiracy for
extirpating their whole nation.

9:2. And they gathered themselves together in every city, and town, and
place, to lay their hands on their enemies, and their persecutors. And
no one durst withstand them, for the fear of their power had gone
through every people.

9:3. And the judges of the provinces, and the governors, and
lieutenants, and every one in dignity, that presided over every place
and work, extolled the Jews for fear of Mardochai:

9:4. For they knew him to be prince of the