Ester 1:19

1:19 If the king is so inclined, ¹  let a royal edict go forth from him, and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media that cannot be repealed, ²  that Vashti ³  may not come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king convey her royalty to another ⁴  who is more deserving than she. ⁵ 

Ester 2:9

2:9 This young woman pleased him, ⁶  and she found favor with him. He quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her rations; he also provided her with the seven specially chosen ⁷  young women who were from the palace. He then transferred her and her young women to the best quarters in the harem. ⁸ 

Ester 2:17

2:17 And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she met with his loving approval ⁹  more than all the other young women. ¹⁰  So he placed the royal high turban on her head and appointed her queen ¹¹  in place of Vashti.

Ester 5:11

5:11 Haman then recounted to them his fabulous wealth, ¹²  his many sons, ¹³  and how the king had magnified him and exalted him over the king’s other officials and servants.

[1:19]  ¹ 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.

[1:19]  ² sn Laws…that cannot be repealed.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.

[1:19]  ³ 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.

[1:19]  ⁴ tn Heb “her neighbor”; NIV “someone else.”

[1:19]  ⁵ 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.”

[2:9]  ⁶ tn Heb “was good in his eyes”; NLT “Hegai was very impressed with Esther.”

[2:9]  ⁷ tn Heb “being looked at (with favor).”

[2:9]  ⁸ tn Heb “of the house of the women” (so KJV, ASV). So also in vv. 11, 13, 14.

[2:17]  ⁹ tn Heb “grace and loyal love.” The expression is probably a hendiadys.

[2:17]  ¹⁰ tc The LXX does not include the words “more than all the other young women.”

[2:17]  ¹¹ tn Heb “caused her to rule.”

[5:11]  ¹² tn Heb “the glory of his riches” (so KJV, NASB); NRSV “the splendor of his riches.”

[5:11]  ¹³ sn According to Esth 9:10 Haman had ten sons.