This verse contains the first direct quotation recorded in the Hebrew version of the book (see the Septuagint 1.13 above). It reports the words that the king addressed to his advisors in the form of a question. It is phrased as a question of law in the formal style of royal speech. The translator should maintain the formality of the original text instead of translating the king’s words as an informal statement.
The words According to the law relate the king’s question back to verse 13, giving it a formal legal context that is consistent with the emphasis on law found throughout the book. Though it is possible to connect these words to the end of the preceding verse, that is, “who sat first in the kingdom according to the law,” such an interpretation is improbable. Some interpreters omit the Hebrew word that means “according to the law” because they regard the word as a scribe’s mistake of repeating some of the letters of the last word in verse 14 (the textual note in Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia suggests this explanation). However, translators are advised to retain the expression, perhaps restating it; for example, “under the law” or “on the basis of what the law says.” It may also be restructured as Today’s English Version has done.
What is to be done is not a quotation, but it restates the question the king was really asking: “What should we do to Queen Vashti?” In other words, “According to what the law says, how should we punish Queen Vashti?” Translators will need to restructure the verse according to the structure of their own language. They should not make explicit more than is necessary to convey the meaning of the verse.
The command of the king is designated here by the fourth word used in the book of Esther to refer to laws or commands. The word is maʾamar from the verb “to speak, to say.” It is apparently used synonymously with davar in verse 12 above.
On conveyed by the eunuchs see comments on 1.12.
Septuagint 1.15
The Greek text of verse 15 says “and told him what must be done to Astin the queen according to the laws because she did not do the things ordered by the king through the eunuchs.” New Revised Standard Version fails to translate the words “according to the laws.” Revised English Bible retains them: “and made known to him what, according to the law, should be done to Queen Astin.” For the third time in the book, nomos occurs, here in the plural and clearly referring to a formal legal code.
New Revised Standard Version specifies that an order had been sent by the king, while Today’s English Version says a “command.” Unlike the Hebrew (see comments above), the Greek does not use a noun as direct object but rather a passive participle, “the [things] commanded [or, ordered] by the king.”
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 .