Ester 4:16--5:2

4:16 “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa and fast in my behalf. Don’t eat and don’t drink for three days, night or day. My female attendants and I ¹  will also fast in the same way. Afterward I will go to the king, even though it violates the law. ²  If I perish, I perish!”

4:17 So Mordecai set out to do everything that Esther had instructed him.

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, ³  opposite the king’s quarters. ⁴  The king was sitting on his royal throne in the palace, opposite the entrance. ⁵  5:2 When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she met with his approval. ⁶  The king extended to Esther the gold scepter that was in his hand, and Esther approached and touched the end of the scepter.

[4:16]  ¹ tn Heb “I and my female attendants.” The translation reverses the order for stylistic reasons.

[4:16]  ² tn Heb “which is not according to the law” (so KJV, NASB); NAB “contrary to the law.”

[5:1]  ³ tn Heb “of the house of the king”; NASB, NRSV “of the king’s palace.”

[5:1]  ⁴ 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]  ⁵ tn Heb “the entrance of the house” (so ASV).

[5:2]  ⁶ 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.”