Ester 1:8

1:8 There were no restrictions on the drinking, ¹  for the king had instructed all of his supervisors ²  that they should do as everyone so desired. ³ 

Ester 1:11

1:11 to bring Queen Vashti into the king’s presence wearing her royal high turban. He wanted to show the people and the officials her beauty, for she was very attractive. ⁴ 

Ester 1:13

1:13 The king then inquired of the wise men who were discerners of the times – for it was the royal custom to confer with all those who were proficient in laws and legalities. ⁵ 

Ester 1:15

1:15 The king asked, ⁶  “By law, ⁷  what should be done to Queen Vashti in light of the fact that she has not obeyed the instructions of King Ahasuerus conveyed through the eunuchs?”

Ester 1:19

1:19 If the king is so inclined, ⁸  let a royal edict go forth from him, and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media that cannot be repealed, ⁹  that Vashti ¹⁰  may not come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king convey her royalty to another ¹¹  who is more deserving than she. ¹² 

Ester 1:22

1:22 He sent letters throughout all the royal provinces, to each province according to its own script and to each people according to its own language, ¹³  that every man should be ruling his family ¹⁴  and should be speaking the language of his own people. ¹⁵ 

Ester 2:12-13

2:12 At the end of the twelve months that were required for the women, ¹⁶  when the turn of each young woman arrived to go to King Ahasuerus – for in this way they had to fulfill their time of cosmetic treatment: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfume and various ointments used by women – 2:13 the woman would go to the king in the following way: Whatever she asked for would be provided for her to take with her from the harem to the royal palace.

Ester 3:12-14

3:12 So the royal scribes ¹⁷  were summoned in the first month, on the thirteenth day of the month. Everything Haman commanded was written to the king’s satraps ¹⁸  and governors who were in every province and to the officials of every people, province by province according to its script and people by people according to its language. In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 3:13 Letters were sent by the runners to all the king’s provinces stating that ¹⁹  they should destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews, from youth to elderly, both women and children, ²⁰  on a particular day, namely the thirteenth day ²¹  of the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar), and to loot and plunder their possessions. 3:14 A copy of this edict was to be presented as law throughout every province; it was to be made known to all the inhabitants, ²²  so that they would be prepared for this day.

Ester 4:8

4:8 He also gave him a written copy of the law that had been disseminated ²³  in Susa for their destruction so that he could show it to Esther and talk to her about it. He also gave instructions that she should go to the king to implore him and petition him on behalf of her people.

Ester 4:11

4:11 “All the servants of the king and the people of the king’s provinces know that there is only one law applicable ²⁴  to any man or woman who comes uninvited to the king in the inner court – that person will be put to death, unless the king extends to him the gold scepter, permitting him to be spared. ²⁵  Now I have not been invited to come to the king for some thirty days!”

Ester 4:16

4:16 “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa and fast in my behalf. Don’t eat and don’t drink for three days, night or day. My female attendants and I ²⁶  will also fast in the same way. Afterward I will go to the king, even though it violates the law. ²⁷  If I perish, I perish!”

Ester 6:6

6:6 So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor?” Haman thought to himself, ²⁸  “Who is it that the king would want to honor more than me?”

Ester 6:9

6:9 Then let this clothing and this horse be given to one of the king’s noble officials. Let him ²⁹  then clothe the man whom the king wishes to honor, and let him lead him about through the plaza of the city on the horse, calling ³⁰  before him, ‘So shall it be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!’”

Ester 8:12-13

8:12 This was to take place on a certain day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus – namely, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar). 8:13 A copy of the edict was to be presented as law throughout each and every province and made known to all peoples, so that the Jews might be prepared on that ³¹  day to avenge themselves from their enemies.

Ester 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.

Ester 9:21-22

9:21 to have them observe the fourteenth and the fifteenth day of the month of Adar each year 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.

Ester 9:28

9:28 These days were to be remembered and to be celebrated in every generation and in every family, every province, and every city. The Jews were not to fail to observe these days of Purim; the remembrance of them was not to cease among their descendants.

[1:8]  ¹ tn Heb “the drinking was according to law; there was no one compelling.”

[1:8]  ² tn Heb “every chief of his house”; KJV “all the officers of his house”; NLT “his staff.”

[1:8]  ³ tn Heb “according to the desire of man and man.”

[1:11]  ⁴ tn Heb “was good of appearance”; KJV “was fair to look on”; NAB “was lovely to behold.”

[1:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “judgment” (so KJV); NASB, NIV “justice”; NRSV “custom.”

[1:15]  ⁶ tn These words are not present in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied in the translation for clarity (cf. NIV, NCV, CEV, NLT, all of which supply similar phrases).

[1:15]  ⁷ tc The location of the prepositional phrase “according to law” is somewhat unusual in the Hebrew text, but not so much so as to require emendation. Some scholars suggest deleting the phrase as an instance of dittography from the final part of the immediately preceding word in v. 14. Others suggest taking the phrase with the end of v. 14 rather than with v. 15. Both proposals, however, lack adequate justification.

[1:19]  ⁸ 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]  ⁹ 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]  ¹⁰ 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]  ¹¹ tn Heb “her neighbor”; NIV “someone else.”

[1:19]  ¹² 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.”

[1:22]  ¹³ sn For purposes of diplomacy and governmental communication throughout the far-flung regions of the Persian empire the Aramaic language was normally used. Educated people throughout the kingdom could be expected to have competence in this language. But in the situation described in v. 22 a variety of local languages are to be used, and not just Aramaic, so as to make the king’s edict understandable to the largest possible number of people.

[1:22]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “in his house”; NIV “over his own household.”

[1:22]  ¹⁵ tc The final prepositional phrase is not included in the LXX, and this shorter reading is followed by a number of English versions (e.g., NAB, NRSV, NLT). Some scholars suggest the phrase may be the result of dittography from the earlier phrase “to each people according to its language,” but this is not a necessary conclusion. The edict was apparently intended to reassert male prerogative with regard to two things (and not just one): sovereign and unquestioned leadership within the family unit, and the right of deciding which language was to be used in the home when a bilingual situation existed.

[2:12]  ¹⁶ tc The LXX does not include the words “that were required for the women.”

[2:12]  tn Heb “to be to her according to the law of the women”; NASB “under the regulations for the women.”

[3:12]  ¹⁷ tn Or “secretaries” (so NIV, NRSV, NLT).

[3:12]  ¹⁸ tn Or “princes” (so NLT); CEV “highest officials.”

[3:13]  ¹⁹ tn The words “stating that” are not in the Hebrew text but have been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[3:13]  ²⁰ tn Heb “children and women.” The translation follows contemporary English idiom, which reverses the order.

[3:13]  ²¹ tc The LXX does not include the words “on the thirteenth day.”

[3:14]  ²² tn Heb “peoples” (so NASB, NRSV).

[4:8]  ²³ tn Heb “given” (so KJV); NASB, NRSV, TEV, NLT “issued”; NIV “published”; NAB “promulgated.”

[4:11]  ²⁴ tn Heb “one is his law”; NASB “he (the king NIV) has but one law”

[4:11]  ²⁵ tn Heb “and he will live”; KJV, ASV “that he may live”; NIV “and spare his life.”

[4:16]  ²⁶ tn Heb “I and my female attendants.” The translation reverses the order for stylistic reasons.

[4:16]  ²⁷ tn Heb “which is not according to the law” (so KJV, NASB); NAB “contrary to the law.”

[6:6]  ²⁸ tn Heb “said in his heart” (so ASV); NASB, NRSV “said to himself.”

[6:9]  ²⁹ tc The present translation reads with the LXX וְהִלְבִּישׁוֹ (vÿhilbisho, “and he will clothe him”) rather than the reading of the MT וְהִלְבִּישׁוּ (vÿhilbishu, “and they will clothe”). The reading of the LXX is also followed by NAB, NRSV, TEV, CEV, and NLT. Likewise, the later verbs in this verse (“cause him to ride” and “call”) are better taken as singulars rather than plurals.

[6:9]  ³⁰ tn Heb “and let them call” (see the previous note).

[8:13]  ³¹ tn Heb “this” (so NASB); most English versions read “that” here for stylistic reasons.