The other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together and stood for their lives. —Esther 9:16.

Queen Esther carried a legal fight to the highest judicial figure of the empire, King Ahasuerus himself. The wicked persecutor Haman was hanged on gallows he had built for Mordecai, and Mordecai was advanced to higher office. By the emperor's authority he wrote a law into the government statutes, providing for the Jews on the fixed day of assault by their foes “to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them”. Did the Jews pacifistically refuse to act upon this law for their self-defense by force of arms? No! On the 13th and 14th days of Adar they fought valiantly for the defense of their own lives and those of their brothers. Jehovah God was with them in this and handed them the victory. The Jews, his witnesses, he used as executioners of the enemies. W 2/1