Esther 1:2

1:2 In those days, as King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa ¹  the citadel, ² 

Esther 2:21

2:21 In those days while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan ³  and Teresh, ⁴  two of the king’s eunuchs who protected the entrance, ⁵  became angry and plotted to assassinate ⁶  King Ahasuerus.

Esther 3:4

3:4 And after they had spoken to him day after day ⁷  without his paying any attention to them, they informed Haman to see whether this attitude on Mordecai’s part would be permitted. ⁸  Furthermore, he had disclosed to them that he was a Jew. ⁹ 

Esther 5:11

5:11 Haman then recounted to them his fabulous wealth, ¹⁰  his many sons, ¹¹  and how the king had magnified him and exalted him over the king’s other officials and servants.

Esther 9:1

The Jews Prevail over Their Enemies

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.

Esther 9:22

9:22 as the time when the Jews gave themselves rest from their enemies – the month when their trouble was turned to happiness and their mourning to a holiday. These were to be days of banqueting, happiness, sending gifts to one another, and providing for the poor.

Esther 10:2

10:2 Now all the actions carried out under his authority and his great achievements, along with an exact statement concerning the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king promoted, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?

[1:2]  ¹ tn Heb “Shushan” (so KJV, ASV). Most recent English versions render this as “Susa.”

[1:2]  ² tn The Hebrew word בִּירָה (birah) can refer to a castle or palace or temple. Here it seems to have in mind that fortified part of the city that might be called an acropolis or citadel. Cf. KJV “palace”; NAB “stronghold”; NASB “capital”; NLT “fortress.”

[2:21]  ³ tn This individual is referred to as “Bigthana,” a variant spelling of the name, in Esth 6:2.

[2:21]  ⁴ tc The LXX does not include the names “Bigthan and Teresh” here.

[2:21]  ⁵ tn Heb “guarders of the threshold”; NIV “who guarded the doorway.”

[2:21]  ⁶ tn Heb “sought to send a hand against”; CEV “decided to kill.”

[3:4]  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.

[3:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “Will the matters of Mordecai stand?”; NASB “to see whether Mordecai’s reason would stand.”

[3:4]  ⁷ sn This disclosure of Jewish identity is a reversal of the practice mentioned in 1:10, 20.

[5:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “the glory of his riches” (so KJV, NASB); NRSV “the splendor of his riches.”

[5:11]  ⁸ sn According to Esth 9:10 Haman had ten sons.