SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2000 – Page 6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 4:2

4:2a

the king’s gate: See note on 2:19b. Here however it refers literally to the palace entrance.

© 2000 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 6:9

6:9b

Let them array: There is a textual issue here:

(1) The LXX has a singular subject “him.” For example, the New Revised Standard Version has:

Let him robe

(2) The Hebrew text has the plural subject. For example, the English Standard Version has:

Let them dress

It is recommended that you follow the first option, as this makes the most sense in context.

6:9c–d

The same person (or persons) who was the subject of the verb “array” in 6:9b should be the subject of the verbs “parade” in 6:9c and “proclaiming” in 6:9d.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:1

Section 9:1–19

The Jews killed their enemies

When the chosen day arrived, the Jews organized themselves, fought their enemies, and killed many of them. Then Esther begged the king to allow the Jews in Susa to fight their enemies again on the following day. He agreed. After that the Jews celebrated.

Paragraph 9:1–4

9:1a

Adar: See note on 3:7d.

edict: See note on 1:20a.

9:1c

their plan was overturned: This means that the opposite happened. The Jews defeated their enemies, instead of their enemies defeating them.

overpowered: This means “gained control over, got them in their power.” This is the same verb in Hebrew as the Berean Standard Bible translated “overpower” in 9:1b.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 1:5

1:5a

At the end of this time: That is, at the end of the six months.

1:5b

garden court: This means an area outside where there were grass, trees and flowers, and possibly paved areas. It does not mean a place where food is grown. It was probably surrounded by hedges or walls. The Berean Standard Bible states this explicitly by saying garden court.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

enclosed garden (New International Version)
-or-
courtyard (New Century Version)

the royal palace: The Hebrew word which the Berean Standard Bible translates palace probably refers to a small building apart from the main palace buildings. It was a roof set on columns to shelter people from the sun, but allowing the breezes to pass through.

the king held a seven-day feast: It isn’t clear whether this refers to another banquet or the same banquet as the one mentioned in 1:3. In those days, banquets could last as long as six months. However, it is more logical in the context to understand it to mean a separate banquet which was held at the end of the six months. Contemporary English Version and New Century Version have stated that meaning explicitly by adding “another.”

1:5c

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

from the least to the greatest: This was a way of including everyone. least probably refers to the poorest and greatest to the richest in this context.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2:16

2:16

Tebeth: When the story took place, the Hebrew year began in the middle of March. So Tebeth, the tenth month, was from mid-December to mid-January. You could put this information in a footnote if you decide it is important for your readers.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 4:16

-17

4:16a

Go: The Hebrew word leḵ literally means “go.” However, when this word precedes another command, it usually makes the second command more emphatic and so should not be translated literally. In English, “go” can be used

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 7:7

7:7a

The king went out of the room because he was very angry with Haman. He needed time to decide what to do about him and how to help Esther.

Paragraph 7:8–10

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:15

9:15a

Adar: See note on 3:7d.

9:15c

but they did not lay a hand on the plunder: See notes on 9:10b. The same phrase is repeated here.

Paragraph 9:16–19

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2000