So the Jews made a great slaughter of their enemies, and killed them, repaying according to what they had prepared to do to them:

And the Jews smite among all their enemies, a smiting of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and do with those hating them according to their pleasure,

So the Jews overcame all their attackers with the sword and with death and destruction, and did to their haters whatever they had a desire to do.

Thus the Jews smote all their (c) enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.
(c) Who had conspired their death by the permission of the wicked Haman.

Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction,.... Some with swords, and others with clubs, and staves; as the Targum; and such like slaughtering weapons of destruction:
and did what they would unto those that hated them; being then entirely at their will, and under their power.

Thus the Jews smote all their enemies--The effect of the two antagonistic decrees was, in the meantime, to raise a fierce and bloody war between the Jews and their enemies throughout the Persian empire; but through the dread of Esther and Mordecai, the provincial governors universally favored their cause, so that their enemies fell in great numbers.

Thus supported, the Jews inflicted defeat upon their enemies with the sword, and with slaughter and destruction. הכּה with בּ, to deal a blow upon or against some one, to cause or bring about upon enemies a defeat; comp. e.g., 2-Samuel 23:10; 2-Samuel 24:17; Numbers 22:6. The notion is strengthened by וגו מכּת־חרב, literally, to strike a stroke of the sword, and of slaughter, and of destruction, in accordance with the decree, Esther 8:11. "And did according to their will to those that hated them," i.e., retaliated upon their enemies at their discretion.