Good News Translation has slightly restructured the last part of verse 8 and the beginning of verse 9. Though the Hebrew introduces the eunuchs in verse 9, Good News Translation makes their presence explicit in verse 8 by indicating that it was the eunuchs who covered Haman’s head. It should be noted that verse 8 does not have an explicit subject for the verb “covered,” but Good News Translation (also Bible en français courant, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy) is probably correct in assuming that these eunuchs were the persons who covered Haman’s face.

On eunuch see comments on 1.10. The Hebrew says that Harbona was one of the eunuchs who served the king, but Good News Translation says only “the eunuchs” (see verse 8), without stating whether they served the king or the queen. Translators should maintain the information that these were the eunuchs who served the king, and not those who served the queen.

Moreover: not only was Haman guilty of apparently making improper sexual advances toward the queen, he was Moreover guilty of trying to kill the very person who had saved the king’s life (see 2.21-23). Though many translations omit any word or expression that corresponds to Moreover (Revised Standard Version) or “even went so far as” (Good News Translation), the Hebrew word, which means “too, also,” shows that Harbona is providing the king with another reason why Haman should be executed (see Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). This adverb is followed by hinneh (see comments on 6.5), which emphatically introduces the information that Harbona will offer.

The translation of Revised Standard Version, the gallows … is standing in Haman’s house, fifty cubits high may seem to suggest that the gallows was inside the house. Good News Translation more correctly translates “at his house.”

On the gallows see comment on 2.23; on fifty cubits high see 5.14.

The words for Mordecai mean “in order to kill Mordecai.”

Whose word saved the king: this of course is a reference to 2.21-23. Revised Standard Version restates the original, while Good News Translation interprets in idiomatic language. Chouraqui translates quite literally, “who spoke for the good of the king.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible says “whose word was so useful to the king.”

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 .