1:13 The king then inquired of the wise men who were discerners of the times – for it was the royal custom to confer with all those who were proficient in laws and legalities. 4
8:14 The couriers who were riding the royal horses went forth with the king’s edict without delay. 13 And the law was presented in Susa the citadel as well.
2:8 It so happened that when the king’s edict and his law became known 19 many young women were taken to Susa the citadel to be placed under the authority of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the royal palace 20 to be under the authority of Hegai, who was overseeing the women.
2:12 At the end of the twelve months that were required for the women, 21 when the turn of each young woman arrived to go to King Ahasuerus – for in this way they had to fulfill their time of cosmetic treatment: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfume and various ointments used by women –
9:1 In the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar), on its thirteenth day, the edict of the king and his law were to be executed. It was on this day that the enemies of the Jews had supposed that they would gain power over them. But contrary to expectations, the Jews gained power over their enemies.
9:13 Esther replied, “If the king is so inclined, let the Jews who are in Susa be permitted to act tomorrow also according to today’s law, and let them hang the ten sons of Haman on the gallows.”
1 tn Heb “the drinking was according to law; there was no one compelling.”
2 tn Heb “every chief of his house”; KJV “all the officers of his house”; NLT “his staff.”
3 tn Heb “according to the desire of man and man.”
4 tn Heb “judgment” (so KJV); NASB, NIV “justice”; NRSV “custom.”
7 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).
8 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.
10 tn Heb “peoples” (so NASB, NRSV).
13 tn Heb “runners.” So also in 8:10, 14. Cf. NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV “couriers.”
14 tn Or “went forth in haste” (so ASV).
15 tn Heb “with the word of the king.”
16 sn The city of Susa was in an uproar. This final statement of v. 15 is a sad commentary on the pathetic disregard of despots for the human misery and suffering that they sometimes inflict on those who are helpless to resist their power. Here, while common people braced for the reckless loss of life and property that was about to begin, the perpetrators went about their mundane activities as though nothing of importance was happening.
16 tn Heb “this” (so NASB); most English versions read “that” here for stylistic reasons.
19 tn Heb “making haste and hurrying”; KJV, ASV “being hastened and pressed.”
22 sn Heb “If upon the king it is good”; KJV “If it please the king.” Deferential language was common in ancient Near Eastern court language addressing a despot; it occurs often in Esther.
23 sn Laws…that cannot be repealed. On the permanence of the laws of Media and Persia see also Esth 8:8 and Dan 6:8, 12, 15.
24 sn Previously in this chapter the word “queen” accompanies Vashti’s name (cf. vv. 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17). But here, in anticipation of her demotion, the title is dropped.
25 tn Heb “her neighbor”; NIV “someone else.”
26 tn Heb “who is better than she.” The reference is apparently to worthiness of the royal position as demonstrated by compliance with the king’s wishes, although the word טוֹב (tob, “good”) can also be used of physical beauty. Cf. NAB, NASB, NLT “more worthy than she.”
25 tn Heb “were heard” (so NASB); NRSV “were (had been NIV) proclaimed.”
26 tn Heb “the house of the king.” So also in vv. 9, 13. Cf. NLT “the king’s harem.”
28 tc The LXX does not include the words “that were required for the women.”
31 tn Heb “reached” (so NAB, NLT); KJV, NASB, NIV “came”; TEV “wherever the king’s proclamation was made known.”
32 tn Heb “great” (so KJV, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NAB “the Jews went into deep mourning.”
33 sn Although prayer is not specifically mentioned here, it is highly unlikely that appeals to God for help were not a part of this reaction to devastating news. As elsewhere in the book of Esther, the writer seems deliberately to keep religious actions in the background.
34 tn Heb “were spread to many”; KJV, NIV “many (+ people NLT) lay in sackcloth and ashes.”
34 tn Heb “given” (so KJV); NASB, NRSV, TEV, NLT “issued”; NIV “published”; NAB “promulgated.”
37 tn Heb “peoples of the land” (so NASB); NIV “people of other nationalities”; NRSV “peoples of the country.”
38 tn Heb “were becoming Jews”; NAB “embraced Judaism.” However, the Hitpael stem of the verb is sometimes used of a feigning action rather than a genuine one (see, e.g., 2 Sam 13:5, 6), which is the way the present translation understands the use of the word here (cf. NEB “professed themselves Jews”; NRSV “professed to be Jews”). This is the only occurrence of this verb in the Hebrew Bible, so there are no exact parallels. However, in the context of v. 17 the motivation of their conversion (Heb “the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them”) should not be overlooked. The LXX apparently understood the conversion described here to be genuine, since it adds the words “they were being circumcised and” before “they became Jews.”
39 tn Heb “had fallen upon them” (so NRSV); NIV “had seized them.”
40 tn Heb “I and my female attendants.” The translation reverses the order for stylistic reasons.
41 tn Heb “which is not according to the law” (so KJV, NASB); NAB “contrary to the law.”
43 tn Heb “one is his law”; NASB “he (the king NIV) has but one law”
44 tn Heb “and he will live”; KJV, ASV “that he may live”; NIV “and spare his life.”