Ester 6:12

6:12 Then Mordecai again sat at the king’s gate, while Haman hurried away to his home, mournful and with a veil over his head.

Ester 2:8

2:8 It so happened that when the king’s edict and his law became known ¹  many young women were taken to Susa the citadel to be placed under the authority of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the royal palace ²  to be under the authority of Hegai, who was overseeing the women.

Ester 3:9

3:9 If the king is so inclined, ³  let an edict be issued ⁴  to destroy them. I will pay ten thousand talents of silver ⁵  to be conveyed to the king’s treasuries for the officials who carry out this business.”

Ester 4:6

4:6 So Hathach went to Mordecai at the plaza of the city in front of the king’s gate.

Ester 5:4

5:4 Esther replied, “If the king is so inclined, ⁶  let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”

Ester 5:10

5:10 But Haman restrained himself and went on to his home.

He then sent for his friends to join him, ⁷  along with his wife Zeresh.

Ester 6:14--7:1

6:14 While they were still speaking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived. They quickly brought Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

The King Has Haman Executed

7:1 So the king and Haman came to dine ⁸  with Queen Esther.

Ester 1:1

The King Throws a Lavish Party

1:1 ⁹ The following events happened ¹⁰  in the days of Ahasuerus. ¹¹  (I am referring to ¹²  that Ahasuerus who used to rule over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces ¹³  extending all the way from India to Ethiopia. ¹⁴ )

Ester 7:7

7:7 In rage the king arose from the banquet of wine and withdrew to the palace garden. Meanwhile, Haman stood to beg Queen Esther for his life, ¹⁵  for he realized that the king had now determined a catastrophic end for him. ¹⁶ 

Ester 2:13

2:13 the woman would go to the king in the following way: Whatever she asked for would be provided for her to take with her from the harem to the royal palace.

Ester 4:2

4:2 But he went no further than the king’s gate, for no one was permitted to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.

Ester 2:16

2:16 Then Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus at his royal residence in the tenth ¹⁷  month (that is, the month of Tebeth) in the seventh ¹⁸  year of his reign.

Ester 4:7

4:7 Then Mordecai related to him everything that had happened to him, even the specific amount of money that Haman had offered to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews to be destroyed.

Ester 5:5

5:5 The king replied, “Find Haman quickly so that we can do as Esther requests.”

So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

Ester 5:12

5:12 Haman said, “Furthermore, Queen Esther invited ¹⁹  only me to accompany the king to the banquet that she prepared! And also tomorrow I am invited ²⁰  along with the king.

Ester 9:11

9:11 On that same day the number of those killed in Susa the citadel was brought to the king’s attention.

Ester 2:3

2:3 And let the king appoint officers throughout all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the attractive young women to Susa the citadel, to the harem ²¹  under the authority of Hegai, the king’s eunuch who oversees the women, and let him provide whatever cosmetics they desire. ²² 

Ester 2:14

2:14 In the evening she went, and in the morning she returned to a separate part ²³  of the harem, to the authority of Shaashgaz the king’s eunuch who was overseeing the concubines. She would not go back to the king unless the king was pleased with her ²⁴  and she was requested by name.

Ester 7:8

7:8 When the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet of wine, Haman was throwing himself down ²⁵  on the couch where Esther was lying. ²⁶  The king exclaimed, “Will he also attempt to rape the queen while I am still in the building!”

As these words left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.

Ester 2:6

2:6 who had been taken into exile from Jerusalem ²⁷  with the captives who had been carried into exile with Jeconiah ²⁸  king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken into exile.

Ester 4:1

Esther Decides to Risk Everything in order to Help Her People

4:1 Now when Mordecai became aware of all that had been done, he ²⁹  tore his garments and put on sackcloth and ashes. He went out into the city, crying out in a loud ³⁰  and bitter voice.

Ester 5:8

5:8 If I have found favor in the king’s sight and if the king is inclined ³¹  to grant my request and perform my petition, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet that I will prepare for them. At that time ³²  I will do as the king wishes. ³³ 

Ester 9:4

9:4 Mordecai was of high rank ³⁴  in the king’s palace, and word about him was spreading throughout all the provinces. His influence ³⁵  continued to become greater and greater.

Ester 9:30

9:30 Letters were sent ³⁶  to all the Jews in the hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the empire of Ahasuerus – words of true peace ³⁷  –

Ester 2:9

2:9 This young woman pleased him, ³⁸  and she found favor with him. He quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her rations; he also provided her with the seven specially chosen ³⁹  young women who were from the palace. He then transferred her and her young women to the best quarters in the harem. ⁴⁰ 

Ester 8:9

8:9 The king’s scribes were quickly ⁴¹  summoned – in the third month (that is, the month of Sivan), on the twenty-third day. ⁴²  They wrote out ⁴³  everything that Mordecai instructed to the Jews and to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces all the way from India to Ethiopia ⁴⁴  – a hundred and twenty-seven provinces in all – to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, and to the Jews according to their own script and their own language.

Ester 1:22

1:22 He sent letters throughout all the royal provinces, to each province according to its own script and to each people according to its own language, ⁴⁵  that every man should be ruling his family ⁴⁶  and should be speaking the language of his own people. ⁴⁷ 

Ester 9:25

9:25 But when the matter came to the king’s attention, the king ⁴⁸  gave written orders that Haman’s ⁴⁹  evil intentions that he had devised against the Jews should fall on his own head. He and his sons were hanged on the gallows.

Ester 5:7

5:7 Esther responded, ⁵⁰  “My request and my petition is this:

Ester 5:14

5:14 Haman’s ⁵¹  wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallows seventy-five feet ⁵²  high built, and in the morning tell the king that Mordecai should be hanged on it. Then go with the king to the banquet contented.” ⁵³ 

It seemed like a good idea to Haman, so he had the gallows built.

Ester 6:4

6:4 Then the king said, “Who is that in the courtyard?” Now Haman had come to the outer courtyard of the palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had constructed for him.

Ester 4:11

4:11 “All the servants of the king and the people of the king’s provinces know that there is only one law applicable ⁵⁴  to any man or woman who comes uninvited to the king in the inner court – that person will be put to death, unless the king extends to him the gold scepter, permitting him to be spared. ⁵⁵  Now I have not been invited to come to the king for some thirty days!”

Ester 2:11

2:11 And day after day Mordecai used to walk back and forth in front of the court of the harem in order to learn how Esther was doing ⁵⁶  and what might happen to her.

Ester 3:5

3:5 When Haman saw that Mordecai was not bowing or paying homage to him, he ⁵⁷  was filled with rage.

Ester 2:17

2:17 And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she met with his loving approval ⁵⁸  more than all the other young women. ⁵⁹  So he placed the royal high turban on her head and appointed her queen ⁶⁰  in place of Vashti.

Ester 3:13

3:13 Letters were sent by the runners to all the king’s provinces stating that ⁶¹  they should destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews, from youth to elderly, both women and children, ⁶²  on a particular day, namely the thirteenth day ⁶³  of the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar), and to loot and plunder their possessions.

Ester 3:15

3:15 The messengers ⁶⁴  scurried forth ⁶⁵  with the king’s order. ⁶⁶  The edict was issued in Susa the citadel. While the king and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa was in an uproar! ⁶⁷ 

Ester 5:1

Esther Appeals to the King for Help

5:1 It so happened that on the third day Esther put on her royal attire and stood in the inner court of the palace, ⁶⁸  opposite the king’s quarters. ⁶⁹  The king was sitting on his royal throne in the palace, opposite the entrance. ⁷⁰ 

Ester 6:9

6:9 Then let this clothing and this horse be given to one of the king’s noble officials. Let him ⁷¹  then clothe the man whom the king wishes to honor, and let him lead him about through the plaza of the city on the horse, calling ⁷²  before him, ‘So shall it be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!’”

Ester 1:11

1:11 to bring Queen Vashti into the king’s presence wearing her royal high turban. He wanted to show the people and the officials her beauty, for she was very attractive. ⁷³ 

Ester 4:5

4:5 So Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs who had been placed at her service, ⁷⁴  and instructed him to find out the cause and reason for Mordecai’s behavior. ⁷⁵ 

Ester 5:2

5:2 When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she met with his approval. ⁷⁶  The king extended to Esther the gold scepter that was in his hand, and Esther approached and touched the end of the scepter.

Ester 8:10

8:10 Mordecai ⁷⁷  wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king’s signet ring. He then sent letters by couriers on horses, who rode royal horses that were very swift.

Ester 2:12

2:12 At the end of the twelve months that were required for the women, ⁷⁸  when the turn of each young woman arrived to go to King Ahasuerus – for in this way they had to fulfill their time of cosmetic treatment: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfume and various ointments used by women –

Ester 3:12

3:12 So the royal scribes ⁷⁹  were summoned in the first month, on the thirteenth day of the month. Everything Haman commanded was written to the king’s satraps ⁸⁰  and governors who were in every province and to the officials of every people, province by province according to its script and people by people according to its language. In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written and sealed with the king’s signet ring.

Ester 4:3

4:3 Throughout each and every province where the king’s edict and law were announced ⁸¹  there was considerable ⁸²  mourning among the Jews, along with fasting, weeping, and sorrow. ⁸³  Sackcloth and ashes were characteristic ⁸⁴  of many.

Ester 6:11

6:11 So Haman took the clothing and the horse, and he clothed Mordecai. He led him about on the horse throughout the plaza of the city, calling before him, “So shall it be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!”

Ester 8:17

8:17 Throughout every province and throughout every city where the king’s edict and his law arrived, the Jews experienced happiness and joy, banquets and holidays. Many of the resident peoples ⁸⁵  pretended ⁸⁶  to be Jews, because the fear of the Jews had overcome them. ⁸⁷ 

[2:8]  ¹ tn Heb “were heard” (so NASB); NRSV “were (had been NIV) proclaimed.”

[2:8]  ² tn Heb “the house of the king.” So also in vv. 9, 13. Cf. NLT “the king’s harem.”

[3:9]  ³ tn Heb “If upon the king it is good”; KJV “If it please the king.”

[3:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “let it be written” (so KJV, ASV); NASB “let it be decreed.”

[3:9]  ⁵ sn The enormity of the monetary sum referred to here can be grasped by comparing this amount (10,000 talents of silver) to the annual income of the empire, which according to Herodotus (Histories 3.95) was 14,500 Euboic talents. In other words Haman is offering the king a bribe equal to two-thirds of the royal income. Doubtless this huge sum of money was to come (in large measure) from the anticipated confiscation of Jewish property and assets once the Jews had been destroyed. That such a large sum of money is mentioned may indicate something of the economic standing of the Jewish population in the empire of King Ahasuerus.

[5:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “If upon the king it is good”; NASB “If it please the king.”

[5:10]  ⁷ tn Heb “sent and brought.” The expression is probably a hendiadys (a figure of speech in which a single idea is expressed through two words or phrases), in which case the two verbs could be translated simply as “summoned” (so NAB) or “sent for” (NASB).

[7:1]  ⁸ tn Heb “to drink”; NASB “to drink wine.” The expression is a metaphor for lavish feasting, cf. NRSV “to feast”; KJV “to banquet.”

[1:1]  ⁹ sn In the English Bible Esther appears adjacent to Ezra-Nehemiah and with the historical books, but in the Hebrew Bible it is one of five short books (the so-called Megillot) that appear toward the end of the biblical writings. The canonicity of the book was questioned by some in ancient Judaism and early Christianity. It is one of five OT books that were at one time regarded as antilegomena (i.e., books “spoken against”). The problem with Esther was the absence of any direct mention of God. Some questioned whether a book that did not mention God could be considered sacred scripture. Attempts to resolve this by discovering the tetragrammaton (YHWH) encoded in the Hebrew text (e.g., in the initial letters of four consecutive words in the Hebrew text of Esth 5:4) are unconvincing, although they do illustrate how keenly the problem was felt by some. Martin Luther also questioned the canonicity of this book, objecting to certain parts of its content. Although no copy of Esther was found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, this does not necessarily mean that the Qumran community did not regard it as canonical. It is possible that the absence of Esther from what has survived at Qumran is merely a coincidence. Although the book does not directly mention God, it would be difficult to read it without sensing the providence of God working in powerful, though at times subtle, ways to rescue his people from danger and possible extermination. The absence of mention of the name of God may be a deliberate part of the literary strategy of the writer.

[1:1]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “it came about”; KJV, ASV “Now it came to pass.”

[1:1]  ¹¹ tn Where the Hebrew text has “Ahasuerus” (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NRSV) in this book the LXX has “Artaxerxes.” The ruler mentioned in the Hebrew text is Xerxes I (ca. 486-465 B.C.), and a number of modern English versions use “Xerxes” (e.g., NIV, NCV, CEV, NLT).

[1:1]  ¹² tn Heb “in the days of Ahasuerus, that Ahasuerus who used to rule…” The phrase “I am referring to” has been supplied to clarify the force of the third person masculine singular pronoun, which is functioning like a demonstrative pronoun.

[1:1]  ¹³ sn The geographical extent of the Persian empire was vast. The division of Xerxes’ empire into 127 smaller provinces was apparently done for purposes of administrative efficiency.

[1:1]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “Cush” (so NIV, NCV; KJV “Ethiopia”) referring to the region of the upper Nile in Africa. India and Cush (i.e., Ethiopia) are both mentioned in a tablet taken from the foundation of Xerxes’ palace in Persepolis that describes the extent of this empire. See ANET 316-17.

[7:7]  ¹⁵ sn There is great irony here in that the man who set out to destroy all the Jews now finds himself begging for his own life from a Jew.

[7:7]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “for he saw that calamity was determined for him from the king”; NAB “the king had decided on his doom”; NRSV “the king had determined to destroy him.”

[2:16]  ¹⁷ tc The Greek MSS Codex Alexandrinus (A) and Codex Vaticanus (B) read “twelfth” here.

[2:16]  ¹⁸ tc The Syriac Peshitta reads “fourth” here.

[5:12]  ¹⁹ tn Heb “caused to come”; KJV “did let no man come in…but myself.”

[5:12]  ²⁰ tn Heb “called to her”; KJV “invited unto her”; NAB “I am to be her guest.”

[2:3]  ²¹ tn Heb “the house of the women” (so KJV, ASV). So also in vv. 9, 11, 13, and 14.

[2:3]  ²² tn Heb “their ointments”; cf. NIV, CEV, NLT “beauty treatments.”

[2:14]  ²³ tn Heb “second.” The numerical adjective שֵׁנִי (sheniy, “second”) is difficult here. As a modifier for “house” in v. 14 the word would presumably refer to a second part of the harem, one which was under the supervision of a separate official. But in this case the definite article would be expected before “second” (cf. LXX τὸν δεύτερον, ton deuteron). Some scholars emend the text to שֵׁנִית (shenit, “a second time”), but this does not completely resolve the difficulty since the meaning remains unclear. The translation adopted above follows the LXX and understands the word to refer to a separate group of women in the king’s harem, a group housed apparently in a distinct part of the residence complex.

[2:14]  ²⁴ tc The LXX does not include the words “was pleased with her.”

[7:8]  ²⁵ tn Heb “falling”; NAB, NRSV “had (+ just TEV) thrown himself (+ down TEV).”

[7:8]  ²⁶ tn Heb “where Esther was” (so KJV, NASB). The term “lying” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons; cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT “was reclining.”

[2:6]  ²⁷ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[2:6]  ²⁸ sn Jeconiah is an alternative name for Jehoiachin. A number of modern English versions use the latter name to avoid confusion (e.g., NIV, NCV, TEV, NLT).

[4:1]  ²⁹ tn Heb “Mordecai.” The pronoun (“he”) was used in the translation for stylistic reasons. A repetition of the proper name here is redundant in terms of contemporary English style.

[4:1]  ³⁰ tn Heb “great.”

[5:8]  ³¹ tn Heb “if upon the king it is good.” Cf. the similar expression in v. 4, which also occurs in 7:3; 8:5; 9:13.

[5:8]  ³² tn Heb “and tomorrow” (so NASB); NAB, NRSV “and then.”

[5:8]  ³³ tn Heb “I will do according to the word of the king,” i.e., answer the question that he has posed. Cf. NCV “Then I will answer your question about what I want.”

[9:4]  ³⁴ tn Heb “great”; NRSV “powerful”; NIV “prominent”; NCV “very important.”

[9:4]  ³⁵ tn Heb “the man Mordecai” (so NASB, NRSV).

[9:30]  ³⁶ tc The present translation is based on the Niphal form וַיּשָּׁלַח (vayyishalakh, “were sent”; so also NRSV, TEV, CEV, NLT) rather than the reading of the MT וַיּשְׁלַח (vayyishlakh, Qal, “and he sent”). The subject of the MT verb would have to be Mordecai (cf. NAB, NIV, NCV), but this is problematic in light of v. 29, where both Esther and Mordecai are responsible for the letters.

[9:30]  ³⁷ tn Heb “peace and truth.” The expression is probably a hendiadys (see the note on 5:10 for an explanation of this figure).

[2:9]  ³⁸ tn Heb “was good in his eyes”; NLT “Hegai was very impressed with Esther.”

[2:9]  ³⁹ tn Heb “being looked at (with favor).”

[2:9]  ⁴⁰ tn Heb “of the house of the women” (so KJV, ASV). So also in vv. 11, 13, 14.

[8:9]  ⁴¹ tn Heb “in that time”; NIV “At once.”

[8:9]  ⁴² sn Cf. 3:12. Two months and ten days have passed since Haman’s edict to wipe out the Jews.

[8:9]  ⁴³ tn Heb “it was written”; this passive construction has been converted to an active one in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.

[8:9]  ⁴⁴ tn Heb “Cush” (so NIV), referring to the region of the upper Nile in Africa. Cf. KJV and most other English versions “Ethiopia.”

[1:22]  ⁴⁵ sn For purposes of diplomacy and governmental communication throughout the far-flung regions of the Persian empire the Aramaic language was normally used. Educated people throughout the kingdom could be expected to have competence in this language. But in the situation described in v. 22 a variety of local languages are to be used, and not just Aramaic, so as to make the king’s edict understandable to the largest possible number of people.

[1:22]  ⁴⁶ tn Heb “in his house”; NIV “over his own household.”

[1:22]  ⁴⁷ tc The final prepositional phrase is not included in the LXX, and this shorter reading is followed by a number of English versions (e.g., NAB, NRSV, NLT). Some scholars suggest the phrase may be the result of dittography from the earlier phrase “to each people according to its language,” but this is not a necessary conclusion. The edict was apparently intended to reassert male prerogative with regard to two things (and not just one): sovereign and unquestioned leadership within the family unit, and the right of deciding which language was to be used in the home when a bilingual situation existed.

[9:25]  ⁴⁸ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[9:25]  ⁴⁹ tn Heb “his”; the referent (Haman) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[5:7]  ⁵⁰ tn Heb “answered and said.” This is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified in the translation.

[5:14]  ⁵¹ tn Heb “his”; the referent (Haman) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[5:14]  ⁵² tn Heb “fifty cubits.” Assuming a standard length for the cubit of about 18 inches (45 cm), this would be about seventy-five feet (22.5 meters), which is a surprisingly tall height for the gallows. Perhaps the number assumes the gallows was built on a large supporting platform or a natural hill for visual effect, in which case the structure itself may have been considerably smaller. Cf. NCV “a seventy-five foot platform”; CEV “a tower built about seventy-five feet high.”

[5:14]  ⁵³ tn Or “joyful”; NRSV “in good spirits”; TEV “happy.”

[4:11]  ⁵⁴ tn Heb “one is his law”; NASB “he (the king NIV) has but one law”

[4:11]  ⁵⁵ tn Heb “and he will live”; KJV, ASV “that he may live”; NIV “and spare his life.”

[2:11]  ⁵⁶ tn Heb “to know the peace of Esther.”

[3:5]  ⁵⁷ tn Heb “Haman.” The pronoun (“he”) was used in the translation for stylistic reasons. Repeating the proper name here is redundant according to contemporary English style, although the name is repeated in NASB and NRSV.

[2:17]  ⁵⁸ tn Heb “grace and loyal love.” The expression is probably a hendiadys.

[2:17]  ⁵⁹ tc The LXX does not include the words “more than all the other young women.”

[2:17]  ⁶⁰ tn Heb “caused her to rule.”

[3:13]  ⁶¹ tn The words “stating that” are not in the Hebrew text but have been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[3:13]  ⁶² tn Heb “children and women.” The translation follows contemporary English idiom, which reverses the order.

[3:13]  ⁶³ tc The LXX does not include the words “on the thirteenth day.”

[3:15]  ⁶⁴ tn Heb “runners.” So also in 8:10, 14. Cf. NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV “couriers.”

[3:15]  ⁶⁵ tn Or “went forth in haste” (so ASV).

[3:15]  ⁶⁶ tn Heb “with the word of the king.”

[3:15]  ⁶⁷ sn The city of Susa was in an uproar. This final statement of v. 15 is a sad commentary on the pathetic disregard of despots for the human misery and suffering that they sometimes inflict on those who are helpless to resist their power. Here, while common people braced for the reckless loss of life and property that was about to begin, the perpetrators went about their mundane activities as though nothing of importance was happening.

[5:1]  ⁶⁸ tn Heb “of the house of the king”; NASB, NRSV “of the king’s palace.”

[5:1]  ⁶⁹ tn Heb “the house of the king”; NASB “the king’s rooms”; NIV, NLT “the king’s hall.” This expression is used twice in this verse. In the first instance, it is apparently the larger palace complex that is in view, whereas in the second instance the expression seems to refer specifically to the quarters from which the king governed.

[5:1]  ⁷⁰ tn Heb “the entrance of the house” (so ASV).

[6:9]  ⁷¹ tc The present translation reads with the LXX וְהִלְבִּישׁוֹ (vÿhilbisho, “and he will clothe him”) rather than the reading of the MT וְהִלְבִּישׁוּ (vÿhilbishu, “and they will clothe”). The reading of the LXX is also followed by NAB, NRSV, TEV, CEV, and NLT. Likewise, the later verbs in this verse (“cause him to ride” and “call”) are better taken as singulars rather than plurals.

[6:9]  ⁷² tn Heb “and let them call” (see the previous note).

[1:11]  ⁷³ tn Heb “was good of appearance”; KJV “was fair to look on”; NAB “was lovely to behold.”

[4:5]  ⁷⁴ tn Heb “whom he caused to stand before her”; NASB “whom the king had appointed to attend her.”

[4:5]  ⁷⁵ tn Heb “concerning Mordecai, to know what this was, and why this was.”

[5:2]  ⁷⁶ tn Heb “she obtained grace in his eyes”; NASB “she obtained favor in his sight”; NIV “he was pleased with her”; NLT “he welcomed her.”

[8:10]  ⁷⁷ tn Heb “He”; the referent (Mordecai) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:12]  ⁷⁸ tc The LXX does not include the words “that were required for the women.”

[2:12]  tn Heb “to be to her according to the law of the women”; NASB “under the regulations for the women.”

[3:12]  ⁷⁹ tn Or “secretaries” (so NIV, NRSV, NLT).

[3:12]  ⁸⁰ tn Or “princes” (so NLT); CEV “highest officials.”

[4:3]  ⁸¹ tn Heb “reached” (so NAB, NLT); KJV, NASB, NIV “came”; TEV “wherever the king’s proclamation was made known.”

[4:3]  ⁸² tn Heb “great” (so KJV, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NAB “the Jews went into deep mourning.”

[4:3]  ⁸³ sn Although prayer is not specifically mentioned here, it is highly unlikely that appeals to God for help were not a part of this reaction to devastating news. As elsewhere in the book of Esther, the writer seems deliberately to keep religious actions in the background.

[4:3]  ⁸⁴ tn Heb “were spread to many”; KJV, NIV “many (+ people NLT) lay in sackcloth and ashes.”

[8:17]  ⁸⁵ tn Heb “peoples of the land” (so NASB); NIV “people of other nationalities”; NRSV “peoples of the country.”

[8:17]  ⁸⁶ tn Heb “were becoming Jews”; NAB “embraced Judaism.” However, the Hitpael stem of the verb is sometimes used of a feigning action rather than a genuine one (see, e.g., 2 Sam 13:5, 6), which is the way the present translation understands the use of the word here (cf. NEB “professed themselves Jews”; NRSV “professed to be Jews”). This is the only occurrence of this verb in the Hebrew Bible, so there are no exact parallels. However, in the context of v. 17 the motivation of their conversion (Heb “the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them”) should not be overlooked. The LXX apparently understood the conversion described here to be genuine, since it adds the words “they were being circumcised and” before “they became Jews.”

[8:17]  ⁸⁷ tn Heb “had fallen upon them” (so NRSV); NIV “had seized them.”