11 In these documents the king granted permission to the Jews in all the different cities to gather together and defend their lives* and to annihilate, kill, and destroy any forces of any people or province* that might attack them, including women and children, and to seize their possessions.+ 12 This was to occur on the same day in all the provinces* of King A·has·u·eʹrus, on the 13th day of the 12th month, that is, the month of Aʹdar.*+