Ester 1:15

1:15 The king asked, ¹  “By law, ²  what should be done to Queen Vashti in light of the fact that she has not obeyed the instructions of King Ahasuerus conveyed through the eunuchs?”

Ester 2:8

2:8 It so happened that when the king’s edict and his law became known ³  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 ⁴  to be under the authority of Hegai, who was overseeing the women.

Ester 2:21

2:21 In those days while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan ⁵  and Teresh, ⁶  two of the king’s eunuchs who protected the entrance, ⁷  became angry and plotted to assassinate ⁸  King Ahasuerus.

Ester 4:13

4:13 he ⁹  said to take back this answer to Esther:

Ester 5:2

5:2 When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she met with his approval. ¹⁰  The king extended to Esther the gold scepter that was in his hand, and Esther approached and touched the end of the scepter.

Ester 10:2

10:2 Now all the actions carried out under his authority and his great achievements, along with an exact statement concerning the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king promoted, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?

[1:15]  ¹ tn These words are not present in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied in the translation for clarity (cf. NIV, NCV, CEV, NLT, all of which supply similar phrases).

[1:15]  ² tc The location of the prepositional phrase “according to law” is somewhat unusual in the Hebrew text, but not so much so as to require emendation. Some scholars suggest deleting the phrase as an instance of dittography from the final part of the immediately preceding word in v. 14. Others suggest taking the phrase with the end of v. 14 rather than with v. 15. Both proposals, however, lack adequate justification.

[2:8]  ³ tn Heb “were heard” (so NASB); NRSV “were (had been NIV) proclaimed.”

[2:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “the house of the king.” So also in vv. 9, 13. Cf. NLT “the king’s harem.”

[2:21]  ⁵ tn This individual is referred to as “Bigthana,” a variant spelling of the name, in Esth 6:2.

[2:21]  ⁶ tc The LXX does not include the names “Bigthan and Teresh” here.

[2:21]  ⁷ tn Heb “guarders of the threshold”; NIV “who guarded the doorway.”

[2:21]  ⁸ tn Heb “sought to send a hand against”; CEV “decided to kill.”

[4:13]  ⁹ 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.

[5:2]  ¹⁰ 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.”