² The Jewish people assembled in their towns throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus to strike out against those who intended to harm them, and no one could oppose them because all the people had come to fear the Jews.^{[a] 3} All the provincial officials, the regional authorities,^[b] the governors, and those doing the king’s work supported the Jewish people because the fear of Mordecai had come over^[c] them. ⁴ Indeed, Mordecai was a powerful^[d] official in the palace and his fame spread throughout the provinces. Indeed, the man Mordecai grew more and more powerful.^[e]