As in verse 4, no time frame is provided. Probably all of the trips back and forth between Esther and Mordecai in verses 5-15 occurred in a short space of time, maybe even all on the same day. The Hebrew does not state how quickly all of this happened.

Like verse 6, this is a pivotal verse that shifts the scene back to Esther. The repetition of the names of Esther and Mordecai in the Hebrew (see also Revised Standard Version) is a way of keeping these two people in focus. Hathach is only a messenger carrying out his duty. Today’s English Version shortens this verse considerably in order to avoid repetition. Such avoiding of repetition is characteristic of modern English style but may not be desirable in other languages, especially if it changes the emphasis of the text as it does here.

Septuagint 4.9

Went in refers to Hachratheus’ entrance into the palace where Esther lived (see 4.4). The text affirms that the messenger told her “all these words.” Both Rahlfs and the Göttingen edition of the Septuagint say “Hachratheus … told her.” Some manuscripts, however, have the name Esther in place of the pronoun. It is not clear whether New Revised Standard Version follows those manuscripts or if the mention of Esther is simply stylistic in English. Regarding the shortening of this verse in Today’s English Version, see comments on the Hebrew verse.

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 .