Affair: this is literally the davar, the “plot” that came to the ears of Mordecai and that Esther reported to the king.
The affair was investigated: the affair that Esther reported to the king was looked into; there was an official inquiry. However, the Hebrew text does not say who ordered the investigation and the subsequent hanging, nor does it say who carried them out. The context is that of a royal court, and the investigation and the execution were clearly official acts. If possible the translator should try to avoid making information explicit that is not stated or that is not clearly implicit.
Gallows are a structure made from upright posts and a crossbeam from which a person was hanged with a rope, or he was nailed to the crossbeam. The Hebrew is literally “hanged on a tree [or, wood],” but the exact meaning of this phrase is not entirely clear. It can refer to hanging, but alternatively it can mean “impaled on a stake” (see Ezra 6.11), and historical evidence indicates that the Persians did use that form of punishment. This second interpretation is followed by New Jerusalem Bible, “the two were impaled on stakes.”
Also possible is the view that crucifixion is meant; but because of the height of the structure built by Haman in 5.14, many interpreters think that the references to hanging in Esther 2.23; 5.14; 6.4; 7.9, 10; 8.7; 9.13, 14, 25 all refer to gallows, that is, to strangulation by hanging from a rope that is tied around the neck (so Good News Translation and nearly all translations).
Where structures for hanging are not known, it may be necessary to use a descriptive phrase; for instance, “a wooden structure for hanging [or, killing].”
The Book of the Chronicles, literally “the book of the words [or, affairs] of the days,” does not refer to the biblical books of 1 and 2 Chronicles. The reference is to the “official records of the empire” (see also 6.1). This is sometimes translated as “book of annals” (so New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible). Biblia Dios Habla Hoy may provide a good model for some languages: “in the book in which the history of the nation was written.”
In the presence of the king may be understood to mean that the king commanded this to be written (so Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, New Jerusalem Bible), or it may mean that the king personally oversaw the writing of this account in the official records. Less probable, this phrase may refer to the location of the records: “kept within the king’s apartments” (Moffatt).
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 .