John Gill Commentary Esther 8:11

"wherein the king granted the Jews that were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, [their] little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey," — Esther 8:11 (ASV)

Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to
gather themselves together

and to stand for their life ;
In some part of the city they should choose, and remain in a body, being sufficiently armed:

so as to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the
people and province that would assault them ;
to defend themselves, and fight for their life, should any attack them, or attempt to take it away; in such case they might act offensively,

but both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a
prey ;
every army of them, or as many as should join in a body to attack them, any mighty or powerful mob; and not men only,

the same words are used, and the same power is given them as were to their enemies, (Esther 3:13) , not that they made use of it to the utmost extremity, it is certain they did not in one point, in taking the spoil, (Esther 9:10Esther 9:15Esther 9:16) , and, since they spared that, it is highly probable they spared women and children.