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 8:4

8:4 When the king extended to Esther the gold scepter, she ²  arose and stood before the king.

Esther 8:15

8:15 Now Mordecai went out from the king’s presence in purple and white royal attire, with a large golden crown and a purple linen mantle. The city of Susa shouted with joy. ³ 

Esther 1:6

1:6 The furnishings included linen and purple curtains hung by cords of the finest linen ⁴  and purple wool on silver rings, alabaster columns, gold and silver couches ⁵  displayed on a floor made of valuable stones of alabaster, mother-of-pearl, and mineral stone.

Esther 5:2

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.

Esther 4:11

4:11 “All the servants of the king and the people of the king’s provinces know that there is only one law applicable ⁷  to any man or woman who comes uninvited to the king in the inner court – that person will be put to death, unless the king extends to him the gold scepter, permitting him to be spared. ⁸  Now I have not been invited to come to the king for some thirty days!”

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 “Esther.” The pronoun (“she”) was used in the translation for stylistic reasons. A repetition of the proper name is redundant here in terms of contemporary English style.

³ tn Heb “shouted and rejoiced.” The expression is a hendiadys (see the note on 5:10 for an explanation of this figure).

⁴ sn The finest linen was byssus, a fine, costly, white fabric made in Egypt, Palestine, and Edom, and imported into Persia (BDB 101 s.v. בּוּץ; HALOT 115-16 s.v. בּוּץ).

⁵ tn The Hebrew noun מִטָּה (mittah) refers to a reclining couch (cf. KJV “beds”) spread with covers, cloth and pillow for feasting and carousing (Ezek 23:41; Amos 3:12; 6:4; Esth 1:6; 7:8). See BDB 641-42 s.v.; HALOT 573 s.v.

⁵ 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.”

⁶ tn Heb “one is his law”; NASB “he (the king NIV) has but one law”

⁷ tn Heb “and he will live”; KJV, ASV “that he may live”; NIV “and spare his life.”