On princes and servants see comments on 1.3.

It was Esther’s banquet: literally the Hebrew says “Esther’s banquet,” and the words are not connected grammatically with the rest of the verse. The meaning appears to be that the king “gave a banquet in Esther’s honor” (so Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), not that Esther gave the banquet. Different languages will express in their own ways the idea of giving a feast in honor of someone; for example, “he did a great feast because of [or, for] her.”

He also granted a remission of taxes: the word translated as “a remission of taxes” in Revised Standard Version occurs only here in the Old Testament, and the meaning is disputed by scholars. It probably is related to an Aramaic word meaning “a causing to rest.” Though most interpreters understand the word to mean “a holiday,” that is, a rest from work (so Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised English Bible), other possible meanings are “tax relief” (Revised Standard Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), “exemption from military service” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible margin), “amnesty” (New Jerusalem Bible and New Revised Standard Version margins), “emancipation of slaves” (New International Version margin), and “truce” (Segond). Since interpreters most often understand the meaning to be either “rest from work” or “rest from paying taxes,” translators are encouraged to choose either of these two possible meanings.

Gifts: since this same word is used in Amos 5.11 with reference to wheat or grain, in this passage it may refer to gifts of wheat. Most translations, however, take the word in the more general sense of “gifts.”

With royal liberality: the same Hebrew expression occurs in 1.7, “according to the bounty of the king.” Some translations understand this to mean that the king acted with generosity (Revised Standard Version, Bible en français courant), but it may simply mean “in royal fashion” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). The sentence may then be restated to read “He gave things as kings do” or “in the manner of kings.”

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 .