The verb “to write” in this verse is feminine singular in form, which makes the Revised Standard Version translation questionable, although Revised Standard Version is not alone in making this interpretation. Traduction œcuménique de la Bible and Bible en français courant both use a plural verb to say that Esther and Mordecai wrote. Chouraqui, like Today’s English Version, keeps the verb in the singular but includes Mordecai by saying “with Mordecai.”
To solve the difficulty of the singular verb, the New English Bible and Revised English Bible versions change the Hebrew text slightly to read “to Mordecai” rather than “and Mordecai”: “Queen Esther daughter of Abihail gave full authority in writing to Mordecai the Jew, to confirm this second letter about Purim.” This change of the Hebrew text in New English Bible and Revised English Bible leads to a change in verse 31 also in New English Bible (see comments on verse 31 below). However, no Hebrew manuscripts support the text translated by New English Bible and Revised English Bible. In fact HOTTP gives an “A” evaluation to the Hebrew text.
Another solution to this grammatical problem is to understand the meaning to be that Esther was the daughter of Abihail and of Mordecai (see 2.7, where it is said that Mordecai adopted Esther as his own daughter), as New American Bible does: “Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail and of Mordecai the Jew, wrote to confirm with full authority this second letter about Purim.” According to this punctuation of the text, Mordecai is not a subject of the verb “to write” along with Esther.
Yet another solution has been to alter the order of the words in the Hebrew, supposing that the order of the Hebrew text has been mistakenly changed by copyists. Such is the solution of New Jerusalem Bible: “Then Queen Esther daughter of Abihail wrote a second letter of Purim for the purpose of confirming with full authority the aforementioned one of Mordecai the Jew.”
It is very likely that the Hebrew text originally did not have the words and Mordecai the Jew. They were probably added by a scribe who wished to add the authority of Mordecai also to this letter. Moffatt omits these words from his translation. In any case, translators need to translate the text as it now exists. Probably the best choice is to follow the interpretation found in Today’s English Version and Chouraqui, that is, Esther wrote the letter with the help of Mordecai. Whether the verb will then be in the singular or the plural will depend on the grammar of the receptor language.
Though some languages may need to indicate whether Esther’s letter was written soon after or long after the earlier letter by Mordecai, the text does not provide this information, and either interpretation is possible.
The words this second letter are difficult to interpret, and some interpreters regard them as a later scribal addition and omit them. Four letters are mentioned in the Book of Esther: (1) Haman’s letter in 3.13, (2) Mordecai’s letter in 8.9-13, countering Haman’s letter, (3) Mordecai’s letter in 9.20-22, instituting the festival of Purim, and (4) the letter written by Esther, possibly with Mordecai, in 9.29. The words “the second” that come at the end of verse 29 in Hebrew may refer to letter number 4, the second of the two letters (letters 3 and 4) instituting Purim. In that case “the second” refers to Esther’s own letter (verse 29), and the meaning is that Esther wrote with full authority this second letter about Purim (Mordecai’s letter being the first). This is the interpretation favored in Anchor Bible.
The second letter can also be referring to Mordecai’s second letter (9.20-22), the first being the edict that Mordecai wrote in the king’s name in chapter 8. In this interpretation the meaning is not that Esther’s letter was the second letter about Purim, but rather that Mordecai’s second letter that Esther confirms was a letter about Purim. This interpretation is followed in the notes of New American Bible and seems to be the basis of the Today’s English Version translation. This interpretation seems more likely. Compare also New Jerusalem Bible, which is cited above.
Daughter of Abihail: in the English language, reference is normally made to a child of someone as a son or daughter, and that is what Revised Standard Version and Today’s English Version have done here. However, many languages only specify whether a child is male or female to make a special point. If that is the case the Hebrew may be translated “child of Abihail.”
Full written authority is literally “with all power.” This noun for “power” occurs only three times in the Hebrew Old Testament: here, in 10.2 below, and in Dan 11.17. The sense is that Esther the Queen put her power (or, authority) behind the letter that Mordecai had previously written. As Queen she stood behind the letter. It was written with her royal authority and was not a letter that people could ignore.
Confirming here is the same word that was translated “enjoining” in verse 21 above (see comments on verses 21 and 27 above).
Septuagint 9.29
Esther is called the daughter of Aminadab (see Septuagint 2.7, 15). As in the Hebrew (see discussion above) the verb wrote is a third person singular verb. The emphasis thus seems to be placed on Esther, with Mordecai included secondarily. The word “second” is omitted in the Septuagint; and the letter about Purim apparently refers to the letter written by Mordecai (9.20).
The Greek says “the solid body the foundation of the letter of Purim” but does not mention “power, authority.” New Revised Standard Version and Today’s English Version perhaps are harmonizing with the Hebrew and interpret the Greek expression to mean that Esther and Mordecai wrote the letter with royal authority. Traduction œcuménique de la Bible takes the meaning to be “confirmation”: “[they] put in writing all their deeds as well as the confirmation of the letter…” (so also Bible en français courant). A possible model for the translator is “and they gave solidness to the letter” or “they stood behind the letter about Purim strongly.”
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 .