The king inquired, "According to law, what should be done to Queen Vashti because she did not obey the order of King Ahasuerus that was delivered by the eunuchs?"

This seemed like a good idea to the king and his officials, so the king did what Memucan suggested.

Then let the young woman who pleases the king rule in place of Vashti." This advice pleased the king, and he did this.

Esther did not make known her people or heritage because Mordecai had instructed her not to make it known.

Now Esther was the daughter of Abihail, who had been Mordecai's uncle. Mordecai had taken Esther in as his own daughter. When her turn came to go in to the king, she did not want anything except what Hegai, the king's eunuch in charge of the harem, advised. Esther found favor with everyone who saw her.

Now Esther had not declared her heritage or her people, just as Mordecai had instructed her, for Esther did what Mordecai told her just as she had done when she was raised by him.

Then Mordecai left and did everything that Esther had ordered him.

Esther replied, "If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet I've prepared for him."

Haman went out that day pleased and happy, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and that he did not stand up and tremble in his presence, Haman was furious with Mordecai.

The Jewish people struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did with their enemies as they pleased.

the ten sons of Hammedatha's son Haman, the enemy of the Jewish people, but they did not lay their hands on the spoils.

Then Esther said, "If it pleases the king, let it also be granted to the Jewish people in Susa to do tomorrow what the edict allowed them to do today, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged on poles."

The Jewish people in Susa assembled again on that day, the fourteenth of Adar, and they killed 300 people in Susa, but they did not lay their hands on the spoils.

The rest of the Jewish people in the king's provinces assembled to defend themselves, and they gained relief from their enemies, killing 75,000 of those who hated them. But they did not lay their hands on the spoils.

They did this on the thirteenth day of Adar and rested on the fourteenth day, making it a day of feasting and joy.