But the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,
The other Jewish people living throughout the king's empire came together and fought to defend their lives. They found relief from their enemies and killed seventy-five thousand of those who opposed them, but they didn't take any of their possessions.
The writer is describing how Jews throughout the Persian empire successfully defended themselves against their enemies, killing many attackers but refusing to take their belongings.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Esther, the Jews were living in exile under Persian rule when a high official named Haman plotted to destroy them all through a royal decree. This led to a reversal of fortunes when Queen Esther revealed her Jewish identity and persuaded King Ahasuerus to allow the Jews to defend themselves, resulting in a day of conflict where they overcame their enemies without seizing any spoils. The event highlights the Jews' restraint and commitment to moral principles amid their fight for survival.
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