Esther 1:2

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

Esther 3:1

Haman Conspires to Destroy the Jews

3:1 Some time later ³  King Ahasuerus promoted ⁴  Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, exalting him and setting his position ⁵  above that of all the officials who were with him.

Esther 5:1

Esther Appeals to the King for Help

5:1 It so happened that on the third day Esther put on her royal attire and stood in the inner court of the palace, ⁶  opposite the king’s quarters. ⁷  The king was sitting on his royal throne in the palace, opposite the entrance. ⁸ 

[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.”

[3:1]  ³ tn Heb “after these things” (so KJV, ASV); NAB, NASB, NIV “After these events.”

[3:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “made great”; NAB “raised…to high rank”; NIV “honored.”

[3:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “chair”; KJV, NRSV “seat”; NASB “established his authority.”

[5:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “of the house of the king”; NASB, NRSV “of the king’s palace.”

[5:1]  ⁶ tn Heb “the house of the king”; NASB “the king’s rooms”; NIV, NLT “the king’s hall.” This expression is used twice in this verse. In the first instance, it is apparently the larger palace complex that is in view, whereas in the second instance the expression seems to refer specifically to the quarters from which the king governed.

[5:1]  ⁷ tn Heb “the entrance of the house” (so ASV).