10 When they’d received this letter, they didn’t hurry to depart immediately. They petitioned the king to be allowed to inflict fitting punishment on those of their race who’d willingly transgressed the holy god, and God’s law. 11 They alleged that men who had for their bellies’ sake transgressed the ordinances of God, would never be faithful to the interests of the king. 12 The king admitted the truth of this reasoning, and commended them. Full power was given them, without warrant or special commission, to destroy those who’d transgressed God’s law boldly in every part of the king’s dominions. 13 Their priests, then, as it was appropriate, saluted him with good wishes, and all the people echoed with the “Hallelujah!” Then they joyfully departed. 14 Then they punished and shamefully destroyed every polluted Yehudi (Jew) that fell in their way, 15 slaying this way, in that day, more than three hundred men, and esteeming this destruction of the wicked a season of joy.