Esther 1:14

1:14 Those who were closest to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. These men were the seven officials of Persia and Media who saw the king on a regular basis ¹  and had the most prominent offices ²  in the kingdom.

Esther 2:9

2:9 This young woman pleased him, ³  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 ⁴  young women who were from the palace. He then transferred her and her young women to the best quarters in the harem. ⁵ 

Esther 3:4

3:4 And after they had spoken to him day after day ⁶  without his paying any attention to them, they informed Haman to see whether this attitude on Mordecai’s part would be permitted. ⁷  Furthermore, he had disclosed to them that he was a Jew. ⁸ 

Esther 4:8

4:8 He also gave him a written copy of the law that had been disseminated ⁹  in Susa for their destruction so that he could show it to Esther and talk to her about it. He also gave instructions that she should go to the king to implore him and petition him on behalf of her people.

Esther 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.

Esther 5:9

Haman Expresses His Hatred of Mordecai

5:9 Now Haman went forth that day pleased and very much encouraged. ¹¹  But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king’s gate, and he did not rise nor tremble in his presence, ¹²  Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai.

Esther 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, ¹³  for he realized that the king had now determined a catastrophic end for him. ¹⁴ 

Esther 9:26

9:26 For this reason these days are known as Purim, after the name of pur.

¹ tn Heb “seers of the face of the king”; NASB “who had access to the king’s presence.”

² tn Heb “were sitting first”; NAB “held first rank in the realm.”

³ tn Heb “was good in his eyes”; NLT “Hegai was very impressed with Esther.”

⁴ tn Heb “being looked at (with favor).”

⁵ tn Heb “of the house of the women” (so KJV, ASV). So also in vv. 11, 13, 14.

⁵ sn Mordecai’s position in the service of the king brought him into regular contact with these royal officials. Because of this association the officials would have found ample opportunity to complain of Mordecai’s refusal to honor Haman by bowing down before him.

⁶ tn Heb “Will the matters of Mordecai stand?”; NASB “to see whether Mordecai’s reason would stand.”

⁷ sn This disclosure of Jewish identity is a reversal of the practice mentioned in 1:10, 20.

⁷ tn Heb “given” (so KJV); NASB, NRSV, TEV, NLT “issued”; NIV “published”; NAB “promulgated.”

⁹ 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.”

¹¹ tn Heb “happy and good of heart”; NASB “glad and pleased of heart”; NIV “happy and in high spirits.”

¹² tn Heb “tremble from before him”; NIV “nor showed fear in his presence”; TEV “or show any sign of respect as he passed.”

¹³ 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.

¹⁴ 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.”