[Today’s English Version B.6; Revised Standard Version 13.6]

Very likely the plural pronoun we is an epistolary plural (see comments on 13.1). Bible en français courant and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente translate the beginning of this verse as follows: “That’s why I order” (similarly Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). Today’s English Version‘s translation “we recommend” is too weak to express the authority of the royal decree.

Those indicated to you in the letters of Haman: does this refer to the Jewish people in general, or does it refer to specific persons by name? Most translations are vague, as is the Greek. “All the people referred to by Haman” (Today’s English Version) may mean the Jewish people in general or specific individuals. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente reflects the second interpretation: “Haman has compiled for you lists of all the Jews.” Bible en français courant says “all those whom Haman indicates to you in writing,” implying that lists of names will be provided by Haman. It seems very unlikely that Haman actually knew the names of Jews all over the Persian empire, but if translators choose this interpretation, then Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente may provide a good model.

Letters is literally “the writings” or even “the indictments” (Revised English Bible). It is a participle used as a noun. In support of the translation “the indictments” or “the articles of indictments” is the fact that the form of the participle found here was used as a legal term, and such a meaning fits the context of verses 4-6. Though most translations say something like “indicated to you in Haman’s letters,” a better translation is “indicated to you in Haman’s official written charges” or “in Haman’s written accusations.”

Our second father: most translations retain these words without indicating why the king refers to Haman in this way. The meaning seems to be that Haman was held in great esteem by the king and by the people (see 16.11; Addition E.11). Today’s English Version combines the metaphor with who is in charge of affairs into one phrase, “our prime minister.” By merging the two ideas Today’s English Version seems to lose the sense of “honor” in which Haman was held by the people. Some translations turn the metaphor into a simile, “who is like our second father” (so Nueva Biblia Española). The words who is in charge of affairs is more literally “who has been put in charge of the affairs.” Affairs is the same Greek word rendered “government” in verse 5. Compare New Jerusalem Bible: “who was appointed to watch over our interests.” No agent is explicit in Greek, but the sense is “whom I have appointed to be in charge of the administration of the government.”

By the sword of their enemies: the sword is used very often in the Old Testament as a metaphor to refer to a violent death such as in war. The sword represents all weapons that are used for killing. The destruction of the Jews is to be complete, as emphasized in the Greek by the metaphorical use of “root” (so also in Septuagint Job 4.7), for which Revised Standard Version says utterly Chouraqui translates the image “to the root,” while New Jerusalem Bible expands to say “root and branch.” Some languages may use a similar metaphor, “root and all” or “to the very root.”

The accusation has been made in preceding verses that the Jews are hostile to everyone. This implies that they have made everyone their enemy, and now their enemies will destroy them. Today’s English Version reverses the perspective of the sword of their enemies by restating the king’s words to say “They are our enemies.”

Without pity or mercy: this pair of near synonyms further emphasizes the complete annihilation that is planned for the Jews. They are to be destroyed without any compassion and without “pardon” (Chouraqui).

Fourteenth day: according to 16.20 (E.20), as well as 3.13 (Hebrew); 8.12; 9.1, it was the thirteenth day rather than the fourteenth day. However, translations consistently retain what is in the Greek text.

Adar: see comment on 3.7.

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 .