Today’s English Version has slightly restructured the last part of verse 8 and the beginning of verse 9. Though the Hebrew introduces the eunuchs in verse 9, Today’s English Version 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 Today’s English Version (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 Today’s English Version 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” (Today’s English Version), 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. Today’s English Version 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 Today’s English Version 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.”

Septuagint 7.9

The name Bugathan replaces the name “Harbona” of the Hebrew text. Bugathan’s remark is prefaced by the emphatic adverb idou, similar to the Hebrew hinneh.

Information of concern to the king: the Greek describes Mordecai as “the one having spoken about [what concerned] the king.” Today’s English Version makes explicit the allusion to the assassination plot that Mordecai discovered and reported.

Let Haman be hanged: the Greek is literally “Let him be crucified on that.” Both New Revised Standard Version and Today’s English Version make the subject of the verb explicit: Haman. Although the verb is the word that is usually used for crucifying, most translations interpret it here to refer to hanging. Since Septuagint 7.10 clearly says that Haman was “hanged,” the same meaning seems intended here by the Greek verb “crucified.”

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 .