“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, 8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizatha, 10 the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But they did not lay their hands on the plunder.”NIV

As anticipated, there were those who took advantage of Haman’s earlier edict. They hated the Jews and sought to kill them. But as we have seen, by a further edict, God’s people were now allowed to arm and defend themselves on this one particular day. That is what they did, and people died, including Haman’s ten sons.

‘The enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them by the former edict. If they had attempted nothing against the people of God, they would not themselves have suffered. The Jews, acting together, strengthened one another. Let us learn to stand fast in one spirit, and with one mind, striving together against the enemies of our souls, who endeavour to rob us of our faith, which is more precious than our lives.’ Matthew Henry.

It is worth noting that they would have nothing to do with ‘’the plunder’’. They did not want to be at war with these people – to kill and steal from them. They simply reserved the right to defend themselves, and they did no more.