Shushan; that
punishment being sent upon him by God, who seeth all things. And I give
you in charge, that you publicly propose a copy of this epistle through
all my kingdom, that the Jews may be permitted peaceably to use their
own laws, and that you assist them, that at the same season whereto
their miserable estate did belong, they may defend themselves the very
same day from unjust violence, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month,
which is Adar; for God hath made that day a day of salvation instead
of a day of destruction to them; and may it be a good day to those
that wish us well, and a memorial of the punishment of the conspirators
against us: and I will that you take notice, that every city, and every
nation, that shall disobey any thing that is contained in this epistle,
shall be destroyed by fire and sword. However, let this epistle be
published through all the country that is under our obedience, and let
all the Jews, by all means, be ready against the day before mentioned,
that they may avenge themselves upon their enemies."

13. Accordingly, the horsemen who carried the epistles proceeded on the
ways which they were to go with speed: but as for Mordecai, as soon as
he had assumed the royal garment, and the crown of gold, and had put the
chain about his neck, he went forth in a public procession; and when the
Jews who were at Shushan saw him in so great honor with the king, they
thought his good fortune was common to themselves also, and joy and
a beam of salvation encompassed the Jews, both those that were in the
cities, and those that were in the countries, upon the publication of
the king's letters, insomuch that many even of other nations circumcised
their foreskin for fear of the Jews, that they might procure safety
to themselves thereby; for on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month,
which according to the Hebrews is called Adar, but according to the
Macedonians, Dystrus, those that carried the king's epistle gave them
notice, that the same day wherein their danger was to have been, on that
very day should they destroy their enemies. But now the rulers of the
provinces, and the tyrants, and the kings, and the scribes, had the Jews
in esteem; for the fear they were in of Mordecai forced them to act with
discretion. Now when the royal decree was come to all the country that
was subject to the king, it fell out that the Jews at Shushan slew five
hundred of their enemies; and when the king had told Esther