How did the sons of Haman die? (Chronology of Esther chapter 9)

Question

The 10 sons of Haman were hanged as we read in the Megillah. (Esther 9:14)

But it appears they were killed by the sword. Is this a correct chronology of the story / facts?

• Haman was hanged on or around 16th Nisan
• The decree was overturned in Sivan
• The Jews were armed to defend themselves
• Around 13th-14th Adar of the following year, the sons of Haman and their followers ignored the fact the decree had been overturned and tried to carry it out anyway
• Having been armed the Jews successfully defended themselves and killed their enemies, including the sons of Haman, by the sword
• The sons of Haman were then hung (whilst already dead) to show the public what happened to those who were enemies of the Jews.

The alternative is that:

• Sons of Haman did not accept the decree had been overturned and so led many people to fight against the Jews
• This was was unsuccessful and many people were killed by the sword but not the sons of Haman themselves
• Esther requests that the sons, for their part in starting this rebellion, should be hanged. (9:13)
• They were. (9:14)

In which case they were hanged, probably around 14th Adar.

Which of these is accurate?

Answer 1

You're mixing up one important point: the original decree was not overturned. Achashverosh says explicitly that it cannot be overturned (8:8). The second decree in Sivan merely gave the Jews the right of self-defense, to stand up and kill anyone who tries to attack them (8:11).

Indeed when the day came the enemies tried to attack per the first decree and the Jews defended per the second decree, killing thousands of attackers including the 10 sons of Haman (9:12). Esther arranges for an extra day of defensive warfare and for the public hanging of Haman's 10 sons' bodies the next day (9:13).

So, no, Haman's sons were not hanged. They were hung.