13 The letters were sent by means of couriers to all the king’s provinces,* giving the order to annihilate, to kill, and to destroy all the Jews, young and old alike, children and women, on a single day, on the 13th day of the 12th month, that is, the month of Aʹdar,+ and to seize their possessions.+

15 The couriers went out quickly+ by order of the king; the law was issued in Shuʹshan*+ the citadel.* The king and Haʹman then sat down to drink, but the city of Shuʹshan* was in confusion.