This verse is full of both lexical and stylistic repetition from earlier verses. First the days are described, then the month. Next, pairs of opposites are cited in parallel clauses to describe what has taken place. Finally, referring back to their first celebrations, it is spelled out how the Jews are to fulfil the obligation placed upon them in verse 21. The verse states very explicitly the theme of reversal that is central to the book of Esther (see introduction, “Translating the Book of Esther,” A-4, page 3), that the Jews’ situation had changed from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday.

On choice portions see 9.19. Here the detail is added that they are also to send gifts to the poor, that is, to “poor people,” to “people who are in need” or “in want.”

Septuagint 9.22

Enemies: the word here is not adversaries, but the “hated [or, hateful]” ones, the same word that has been applied to Haman (Septuagint 7.6; 9.10).

The Greek inserts the words namely, Adar to make clear which month is being referred to. Today’s English Version omits these words since verse 21 had mentioned the name of the month. The Greek is literally “a time for weddings and gladness” (so Revised English Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). According to the Greek, gifts are to be sent to [their] friends and to the poor. The poor are “those who are in need.”

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