Esther 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?”

Esther 3:13

3:13 Letters were sent by the runners to all the king’s provinces stating that ³  they should destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews, from youth to elderly, both women and children, ⁴  on a particular day, namely the thirteenth day ⁵  of the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar), and to loot and plunder their possessions.

Esther 4:16

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 ⁶  will also fast in the same way. Afterward I will go to the king, even though it violates the law. ⁷  If I perish, I perish!”

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).

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.

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

⁴ tn Heb “children and women.” The translation follows contemporary English idiom, which reverses the order.

⁵ tc The LXX does not include the words “on the thirteenth day.”

⁵ tn Heb “I and my female attendants.” The translation reverses the order for stylistic reasons.

⁶ tn Heb “which is not according to the law” (so KJV, NASB); NAB “contrary to the law.”