Esther 1:9

1:9 Queen Vashti ¹  also gave a banquet for the women in King Ahasuerus’ royal palace.

Esther 2:2

2:2 The king’s servants who attended him said, “Let a search be conducted in the king’s behalf for attractive young women. ² 

Esther 2:22

2:22 When Mordecai learned of the conspiracy, ³  he informed Queen Esther, ⁴  and Esther told the king in Mordecai’s behalf. ⁵ 

[1:9]  ¹ sn Vashti is the name of Xerxes’ queen according to the Book of Esther. But in the Greek histories of this period the queen’s name is given as Amestris (e.g., Herodotus, Histories 9.108-13). The name Vashti does not seem to occur in the nonbiblical records from this period. Apparently the two women are not to be confused, but not enough is known about this period to reconcile completely the biblical and extrabiblical accounts.

[2:2]  ² tn Heb “young women, virgins, good of form.” The same phrase also occurs in v. 3.

[2:22]  ³ sn The text of Esther does not disclose exactly how Mordecai learned about the plot against the king’s life. Ancient Jewish traditions state that Mordecai overheard conspiratorial conversation, or that an informant brought this information to him, or that it came to him as a result of divine prompting. These conjectures are all without adequate support from the biblical text. The author simply does not tell the source of Mordecai’s insight into this momentous event.

[2:22]  ⁴ tc The LXX simply reads “Esther” and does not include “the queen.”

[2:22]  ⁵ tc The LXX adds here “the things concerning the plot.”