Esther 1:7

1:7 Drinks ¹  were served in golden containers, all of which differed from one another. Royal wine was available in abundance at the king’s expense.

Esther 3:1

Haman Conspires to Destroy the Jews

3:1 Some time later ²  King Ahasuerus promoted ³  Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, exalting him and setting his position ⁴  above that of all the officials who were with him.

¹ tn Heb “to cause to drink” (Hiphil infinitive construct of שָׁקָה, shaqah). As the etymology of the Hebrew word for “banquet” (מִשְׁתֶּה, mishteh, from שָׁתָה, shatah, “to drink”) hints, drinking was a prominent feature of ancient Near Eastern banquets.

² tn Heb “after these things” (so KJV, ASV); NAB, NASB, NIV “After these events.”

³ tn Heb “made great”; NAB “raised…to high rank”; NIV “honored.”

⁴ tn Heb “chair”; KJV, NRSV “seat”; NASB “established his authority.”