Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to
gather themselves together
In some part of the city they should choose, and remain in a body, being sufficiently armed:
and to stand for their life;
to defend themselves, and fight for their life, should any attack them, or attempt to take it away; in such case they might act offensively,
so as to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the
people and province that would assault them;
every army of them, or as many as should join in a body to attack them, any mighty or powerful mob; and not men only,
but both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a
prey;
the same words are used, and the same power is given them as were to their enemies, ( Esther 3:13 ) , not that they made use of it to the utmost extremity, it is certain they did not in one point, in taking the spoil, ( Esther 9:10 Esther 9:15 Esther 9:16 ) , and, since they spared that, it is highly probable they spared women and children.