Ester 1:22--2:1

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, ¹  that every man should be ruling his family ²  and should be speaking the language of his own people. ³ 

Esther Becomes Queen in Vashti’s Place

2:1 When these things had been accomplished ⁴  and the rage of King Ahasuerus had diminished, he remembered ⁵  Vashti and what she had done and what had been decided ⁶  against her.

Ester 2:8

2:8 It so happened that when the king’s edict and his law became known ⁷  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 ⁸  to be under the authority of Hegai, who was overseeing the women.

Ester 2:18

2:18 Then the king prepared a large banquet for all his officials and his servants – it was actually Esther’s banquet. He also set aside a holiday for the provinces, and he provided for offerings at the king’s expense. ⁹ 

Ester 3:1

Haman Conspires to Destroy the Jews

3:1 Some time later ¹⁰  King Ahasuerus promoted ¹¹  Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, exalting him and setting his position ¹²  above that of all the officials who were with him.

Ester 5:11

5:11 Haman then recounted to them his fabulous wealth, ¹³  his many sons, ¹⁴  and how the king had magnified him and exalted him over the king’s other officials and servants.

[1:22]  ¹ 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]  ² tn Heb “in his house”; NIV “over his own household.”

[1:22]  ³ 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.

[2:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “after these things” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV). The expression is very vague from a temporal standpoint, not indicating precisely just how much time might have elapsed. Cf. v. 21.

[2:1]  ⁵ sn There may be a tinge of regret expressed in the king’s remembrance of Vashti. There is perhaps a hint that he wished for her presence once again, although that was not feasible from a practical standpoint. The suggestions by the king’s attendants concerning a replacement seem to be an effort to overcome this nostalgia. Certainly it was to their advantage to seek the betterment of the king’s outlook. Those around him the most were probably the most likely to suffer the effects of his ire.

[2:1]  ⁶ tn Or “decreed” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV); TEV “and about his proclamation against her.”

[2:8]  ⁷ tn Heb “were heard” (so NASB); NRSV “were (had been NIV) proclaimed.”

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

[2:18]  ⁹ tc The LXX does not include the words “and he provided for offerings at the king’s expense.”

[3:1]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “after these things” (so KJV, ASV); NAB, NASB, NIV “After these events.”

[3:1]  ¹¹ tn Heb “made great”; NAB “raised…to high rank”; NIV “honored.”

[3:1]  sn The promotion of Haman in 3:1 for reasons unexplained contrasts noticeably with 2:19-23, where Mordecai’s contribution to saving the king’s life goes unnoticed. The irony is striking.

[3:1]  ¹² tn Heb “chair”; KJV, NRSV “seat”; NASB “established his authority.”

[5:11]  ¹³ tn Heb “the glory of his riches” (so KJV, NASB); NRSV “the splendor of his riches.”

[5:11]  ¹⁴ sn According to Esth 9:10 Haman had ten sons.