And the king said introduces a new development in the narrative. It may be appropriate to indicate this by a major discourse marker in the receptor language; for example, “and then it happened that….” In many languages it will also be expected that a verb of motion will introduce the king’s speech; for example, “Then the king went [or, came] and said to Esther.” But the author does not indicate where or how this encounter between the king and queen took place.
On Susa the capital and five hundred men, see comments on 9.6. The words “in Susa the citadel” are in emphatic position in Hebrew. Good News Translation brings out this emphasis by adding the word “alone,” that is, “In Susa alone” (so also Anchor Bible and New Jerusalem Bible).
What then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces!: was the king expressing astonishment or simply asking a question? Revised Standard Version‘s insertion of the word then into the translation of the Hebrew text and the use of an exclamation mark suggests that King Xerxes was appalled at what the Jews must have done in the rest of the countryside (so also New Jerusalem Bible). New Revised Standard Version is perhaps a better translation of the Hebrew: “What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces?” (so New International Version also). Notice again the formal style of the king’s reference to himself.
What then…? Now what…? And what…?: it may be noted that the question “what” occurs three times in close succession in the king’s words to Esther. In the Hebrew text the “what” is even more striking, because in the king’s first question it occurs toward the end of the sentence, “… what have they done?” The second question follows immediately and begins with “And what…?” The third question follows in the same pattern, “And what…?” The translator should try to emphasize the questions as the Hebrew has done.
Revised Standard Version introduces the king’s requests for Esther’s petitions with an emphatic Now, which translates the Hebrew conjunction “and.” Good News Translation expresses the same implied contrast by placing “now” at the end of the first request. This contrast is made explicit in the second request by the Hebrew “again, further, yet.” The king here repeats his earlier double question and promise to Esther, except that this time he does not offer the half of his kingdom (see translation and comments on 5.6; 7.2).
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 .