Esther 9:2

2. No man could withstand them One explanation of their power and success is given in the next sentence, for the fear of them fell upon all people. A general terror spread from a feeling that the Jews were the special favourites of the most high God; and while this feeling disheartened and unnerved their enemies, it gave inspiration and power to the Jews.

Rawlinson thinks that the Jews did not remain wholly on the defensive, but sometimes commenced the attack. We may, indeed, very naturally suppose that Jewish antipathy and anger would, at least in some cases, lead them to assault their foes, but of this we have no evidence in this history. The nearest approach to it is Esther’s request in Esther 9:13, where see note.