Omanson, Roger L. and Noss, Philip A. A Handbook on Esther (The Hebrew Text). New York: UBS, 1997.
Continuing the plural from verse 12, Revised Standard Version here says Esther told them. In the Hebrew the messengers are not even alluded to by pronoun reference. The Hebrew is literally “And Esther said to send to Mordecai” (see verse 13 above).
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Noss, Philip A. A Handbook on Esther (The Hebrew Text). (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
Good News Translation has slightly restructured the last part of verse 8 and the beginning of verse 9. Though the Hebrew introduces the eunuchs in verse 9, Good News Translation 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 Good News Translation (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 Good News Translation 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” (Good News Translation), 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. Good News Translation 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 Good News Translation 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.”
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Noss, Philip A. A Handbook on Esther (The Hebrew Text). (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
This verse is full of both lexical and stylistic repetition from earlier verses. First the days are described, then the month. Next, pairs of opposites are cited in parallel clauses to describe what has taken place. Finally, referring back to their first celebrations, it is spelled out how the Jews are to fulfil the obligation placed upon them in verse 21. The verse states very explicitly the theme of reversal that is central to the book of Esther (see introduction, “Translating the Book of Esther,” A-4, page 3), that the Jews’ situation had changed from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday.
On choice portions see 9.19. Here the detail is added that they are also to send gifts to the poor, that is, to “poor people,” to “people who are in need” or “in want.”
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Noss, Philip A. A Handbook on Esther (The Hebrew Text). (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .