Esther’s formal address to the king is less elaborate than earlier. Here she only uses the single basic formula, If it please the king (see comments on 1.19). Her request is that the Jews be allowed to act again in accordance with the “law,” dat, that was in effect on that day (see 8.13, 14). Various versions translate Esther’s request differently, and the translator will need to accommodate the receptor language; for instance, “give the Jews in Susa permission” (New International Version) or “let the Jews in Shushan be permitted” (New Jerusalem Bible). An idiomatic translation may read “Give the road [or, way] to the Jews in Susa to do….”

The reason for Esther’s request here is not clear. Since the original decree stated only one day when the people of the empire were to attack and destroy the Jews (3.12-13), there seems to be no reason for Esther’s request that the Jews be given a second day on which to defend themselves. Within the development of the story, however, this additional day does explain why the date for the celebration of Purim varied in different places.

Since the ten sons of Haman had already been killed, the request here was for their bodies to be hung on the gallows for public display (see Today’s English Version 9.14). Today’s English Version indicates that it was the corpses that were to be hung, by saying “have the bodies … hung.” The point of the hanging was to add the element of shame to their death, as the note in Traduction œcuménique de la Bible states.

Gallows: for comment see 2.23.

Septuagint 9.13

The words “If it please the king” are omitted in the Greek.

The Greek does not say explicitly in this verse that it is the Jews in Susa who are to be allowed to do the same tomorrow; but as verse 15 makes clear, the reference is in fact only to “the Jews in Susa” (Today’s English Version).

The Greek says “hang [up] the ten sons of Haman,” though the meaning is the bodies, as is made explicit in Septuagint verse 14 below (see also comment on the Hebrew text above).

Traduction œcuménique de la Bible interprets Esther’s request to be one and not two, namely, that the king allow the Jews “to proceed similarly tomorrow, in such a way as to hang the ten sons of Haman.” The events in the following verses suggest that the interpretation made by New Revised Standard Version and Today’s English Version is the more accurate.

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 .