Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, the time came for the king's command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them.

The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoils; my desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

And Adoni-Bezek fled, and they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and big toes.

And Adoni-Bezek said, Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to gather scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has repaid me. Then they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.

And the letters were sent by runners into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to exterminate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions;

The runners went out, hastened by the king's command; and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the palace. So the king and Haman sat down to drink. But the city of Shushan was perplexed.