The words the Jews gathered in their cities can be understood to mean (1) that the Jews gathered together in whatever cities they lived in, that is, “in their cities” (so most translations), or (2) that the Jews in the cities where they lived gathered to defend themselves in the Jewish quarter of those cities, that is, “their cities” means the Jewish quarters within the city as a whole (so Today’s English Version and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). The words their cities are simply ambiguous. Translators will need to choose between these two interpretations and perhaps place the alternative translation in a footnote.

To lay hands on is literally “to stretch forth a hand against.” As in 2.21 and 3.6, this phrase means “to kill” (so Anchor Bible and Moffatt; see also Gen 37.22), though most translations say “to attack.”

On such as sought their hurt is both a literal translation and old-fashioned English. The author uses a word here that he previously used in two forms in relation to Haman (see comments on raʿah in 7.7). It is not easy to reproduce this play on words in translation, but Haman was “evil,” and he received a punishment of “evil” because he had plotted to bring “evil” upon the Jews.

No one could make a stand against them: unlike in the Septuagint, the sense is not that the Gentiles did not attack or resist the Jews. Rather they were not able to withstand the onslaught of the Jews. This may be expressed “no one was able to stand in front of them.”

The fear of them in this verse is the fear that the non-Jewish people had of the Jews (see comment on 8.17). Today’s English Version uses a verbal construction, “were afraid,” rather than a noun as in Revised Standard Version. The receptor language should use an appropriate expression; for example, “fear of the Jews fell upon all peoples” or perhaps “fear of the Jews seized the hearts of all peoples.” This is not merely “everybody” but the peoples scattered throughout the provinces of the empire.

Septuagint 9.2

The first part of this verse is considerably different in the Greek from the Hebrew.

On that same day: the thirteenth of Adar (see verse 1 above). The Greek does not make explicit who “wiped out” the enemies of the Jews, but no doubt the Jews themselves were the agents who destroyed the enemies, though in the Hebrew text the royal officials helped the Jews (9.3).

Enemies: although this is a different word from that used in Septuagint 8.13, the meaning here too is those who were in opposition, those who were against the Jews. The word here is the same as the second of the two synonyms in Septuagint 8.11.

They [the enemies] feared them [the Jews]. The Greek differs from the Hebrew in saying that no one resisted, or “no one opposed [them], no one stood against [them].” Today’s English Version harmonizes with the Hebrew by suggesting that some people tried to oppose the Jews but were not able to do so. Translators should follow the Greek and clearly state that no one resisted.

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 .