Ester 1:7

1:7 Drinks ¹  were served in golden containers, all of which differed from one another. Royal wine was available in abundance at the king’s expense.

Ester 2:9

2:9 This young woman pleased him, ²  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 ³  young women who were from the palace. He then transferred her and her young women to the best quarters in the harem. ⁴ 

Ester 2:18

2:18 Then the king prepared a large banquet for all his officials and his servants – it was actually Esther’s banquet. He also set aside a holiday for the provinces, and he provided for offerings at the king’s expense. ⁵ 

Ester 3:8

3:8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a particular people ⁶  that is dispersed and spread among the inhabitants ⁷  throughout all the provinces of your kingdom whose laws differ from those of all other peoples. Furthermore, they do not observe the king’s laws. It is not appropriate for the king to provide a haven for them. ⁸ 

[1:7]  ¹ tn Heb “to cause to drink” (Hiphil infinitive construct of שָׁקָה, shaqah). As the etymology of the Hebrew word for “banquet” (מִשְׁתֶּה, mishteh, from שָׁתָה, shatah, “to drink”) hints, drinking was a prominent feature of ancient Near Eastern banquets.

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

[2:9]  ³ tn Heb “being looked at (with favor).”

[2:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “of the house of the women” (so KJV, ASV). So also in vv. 11, 13, 14.

[2:18]  ⁵ tc The LXX does not include the words “and he provided for offerings at the king’s expense.”

[3:8]  ⁶ tn Heb “one people.” Note the subtle absence at this point of a specific mention of the Jewish people by name.

[3:8]  ⁷ tn Heb “peoples” (so NASB, NIV); NAB “nations”

[3:8]  ⁸ tn Heb “to cause them to rest”; NASB “to let them remain”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “to tolerate them.”