45 The populace, one hundred and twenty thousand strong, massed in the center of the city in an attempt to kill the king.
46 So the king took refuge in the palace, while the populace gained control of the main streets of the city and prepared for battle.
47 Then the king called the Jewish force to his aid. They all rallied around him and spread out through the city. On that day they killed about a hundred thousand in the city.
48 At the same time, they set the city on fire and took much spoil. Thus they saved the king.
49 When the populace saw that the Jewish force controlled the city, they lost courage and cried out to the king in supplication,
50 “Extend the hand of friendship to us, and make the Jews stop attacking us and the city.”
51 So they threw down their weapons and made peace. The Jews thus gained honor in the eyes of the king and all his subjects, and they became renowned throughout his kingdom. Finally they returned to Jerusalem with much plunder.