And as news of the king’s decree reached all the provinces, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and wailed, and many people lay in burlap and ashes.
On this second occasion, while they were drinking wine, the king again said to Esther,“ Tell me what you want, Queen Esther. What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!”
he called for Queen Esther. He said,“ The Jews have killed 500 men in the fortress of Susa alone, as well as Haman’s ten sons. If they have done that here, what has happened in the rest of the provinces? But now, what more do you want? It will be granted to you; tell me and I will do it.”