10. They wrote in the name of the king and sealed the order with the king’s royal ring. They sent the letters out by messengers on horseback.
11. Mordecai ordered the Jews to live according to their own laws and to defend themselves. He allowed them to do as they wished to their attackers and opponents
12. throughout Artaxerxes’ entire kingdom, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar).