She came back to the second harem is literally “she came back to the house of the women, second.” The word “second” is not connected grammatically to the rest of the verse. Probably the meaning is that she was taken to a second harem, since Shaashgaz is in charge now, whereas Hegai was in charge of the first harem (see 2.3). Nearly all translations take “second” as an adjective modifying “the house of the women.” Rather than understanding this to be a “second harem” completely separate from the first harem, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy say “another department [section] of the harem.” It is possible, though, to understand “second” as an adverb meaning “a second time,” that is, she was taken back to the same harem again (a second time), as in verse 3.

The king’s eunuch: see comments on 2.3

Concubines: the women who belonged to the royal harem (compare Dan 5.2, 3, 23, where a different Hebrew term is used for “concubines”). They were considered to be wives of the king, but they were of a lower rank than the one chosen to be queen. In Old Testament times having concubines was not considered to be an adulterous relationship. The translator should therefore avoid using a word with connotations of illicitness. La Bible du Semeur renders this word as “wives of the second rank.” In some cultures they may be referred to as “the king’s other wives.”

Delighted in her: the verb translated delighted has a broad range of meanings, depending on the context. It basically means “to care for [something or someone]” or “to have a joyous desire [for something or someone].” In some contexts it expresses the idea of friendship between two persons. Even in the sexual realm of love between a man and a woman, it sometimes means only “delight in,” without strong sexual connotations. Here, however, “delight” seems to express the sense of sexual desire.

Summoned by name: the meaning here is that, unless a woman was specifically identified by name, she did not go a second time to the king. The importance of the name as a means of designating a woman wanted by the king should be clear in the translation.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Noss, Philip A. A Handbook on Esther (The Hebrew Text). (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .