2. The Jews assembled in their cities in all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them, because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of them.
3. And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and the king’s administrators helped the Jews, because fear of Mordecai had seized them.
4. Mordecai was prominent in the palace; his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful.
5. The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them.
6. In the citadel of Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men.
7. They also killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,