SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2000 – Page 18

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:12

9:12a

In the citadel of Susa: See note on 1:2.

9:12b

What have they done in the rest of the royal provinces?: This is a rhetorical question. It means that if the Jews had killed 500 people in just one city, they must have killed many more than 500 in all the towns throughout the kingdom.

9:12c

These words are similar to what the king said in 5:6 and 7:2. See the notes for those verses.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 1:13

1:13a

the wise men who knew the times: There is a textual problem with this verse, in particular with the word translated times by the Berean Standard Bible. The two possibilities are:

(1) The text has the Hebrew word ʿitîm “times.” This is the text followed by the majority of the translations. This means the phrase could refer to astrologers, but here it probably refers to men who were experts in legal matters. For example, the Good News Translation has:

his advisers, who would know what should be done

(2) The text has ḏaṯîm, the plural of the word the Berean Standard Bible translates “law” in 1:13b. For example, the New Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible have:

who knew the laws

It is recommended that you follow the first option like the Good News Translation.

1:13b

law and justice: The Hebrew words daṯ and dîn, translated law and justice in the Berean Standard Bible, go together. The second one probably refers to legal procedures.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 3:3

3:3a

royal servants: See note on “officials” at 1:3a.

at the king’s gate: See note on 2:19b.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 5:8

5:8a

if it pleases the king: See note on 1:19a.

5:8b

banquet: See note on 1:9.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 8:5

8:5a

This part of the verse contains four main clauses:

1. If it pleases the king

2. and if I have found favor in his sight

3. and the matter seems proper to the king

4. and I am pleasing in his sight

Clause 1, If it pleases the king, is similar in meaning to clause 3, and the matter seems proper to the king, and clause 2, and if I have found favor in his sight, is similar in meaning to clause 4, and I am pleasing in his sight.

You need to decide in your translation whether you should translate each clause separately or whether you should combine clauses. Any of these ways is acceptable, so you can choose the one that can be most easily translated into your language. Good News Translation has translated clauses 1 and 3 separately but combined 2 and 4. You could also combine 1 and 3, then combine 2 and 4, as in the Contemporary English Version:

I know you will do the right thing, and that you really love me

8:5b

letters: See note on 1:22a.

Agagite: See note on 3:1a.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:24

9:24a

For: This introduces a summary of the first eight chapters of Esther. It gives once more the reason for the festival of Purim and why it had that name. It may be what Mordecai wrote in his account (see 9:20).

Agagite: See note on 3:1a.

9:24b

Pur: See note on 3:7b.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2:2

2:2a

the king’s attendants: This is the same expression as the Berean Standard Bible translated “who served him” in 1:10b. See note there.

2:2b

Once more the servants were speaking directly to the king. You need to consider how it would be appropriate for them to address him.

virgins: This is a woman who has not had sexual relations with a man.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 3:15

3:15a

The couriers: See note on 3:13a.

spurred on by the king’s command: Since the king himself authorized the order, it was especially important, so it had to be distributed quickly. The verb which the Berean Standard Bible translates spurred on means “to drive, hasten.”

3:15b

the edict: See note on 1:20a.

the citadel of Susa: See note on 1:2.

3:15c

but: The action of the king and Haman, sitting calmly drinking, contrasts very strongly with the confusion among the people of the city.

the city of Susa: This refers to the people living in the city.

in confusion: The text does not explain why the people were in confusion. Most likely it was because they did not understand the reason for the edict and so were upset and confused. Another possibility is that it referred only to the Jews in the city, who were naturally upset because of the content of the edict.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2000