Many translators interpret the Hebrew to mean that the Jews of verses 5-10 were those living in the citadel and not in the city proper (so New Jerusalem Bible and New American Bible). Today’s English Version‘s use of the words “got together again,” however, suggests incorrectly that in verse 15 it is the same people acting again who acted in 9.5-10. Today’s English Version emphasizes this interpretation by saying “more people” and “But again,” although these adverbs do not occur in the original text. The final clause is an exact repetition in the Hebrew of the final clause of verse 10 (see above).

On the Today’s English Version translation of three hundred men as “three hundred people” (also New Revised Standard Version), see comments on 9.6.

Plunder: see comment on verses 7-10 above.

Septuagint 9.15

New Revised Standard Version does not translate the words “of Adar,” which are in the Greek, leaving the month implicit. Today’s English Version adds “again” to make it explicit that this is a second event or a repeat occurrence. Such an addition is misleading in the translation of the Hebrew text of verse 15, but it is acceptable in the translation of the Greek (see Septuagint 9.6).

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 .