Recounted: although the significance of what Haman is doing is a boast (see Good News Translation), his procedure is to “enumerate,” to “catalog,” or, in some languages, to “count” his greatness. He narrates a list of facts over which he can boast. Many languages will use a special pronoun called a logophoric to make clear that “his” and “him” refer to Haman, who is speaking, and not to someone else.

The splendor of his riches: this construction is similar to that in 1.4, where the king showed off the greatness of his kingdom, “the riches of his royal glory.” Riches here includes not only money but also possessions. Note that in 1.4 the Hebrew says “riches of his glory,” and here the Hebrew says “the glory [or, splendor] of his riches.” The word translated splendor has a wide range of meanings depending on the context, including “weight,” “possessions,” “impressive appearance,” “splendor,” and “respect.” New Jerusalem Bible says “his great wealth.” New International Version says “his vast wealth,” while Good News Translation says in more ordinary English “how rich he was.”

According to 9.7-10 Haman had ten sons. Though the reader has not yet been told the number at this point in the narrative, the Hebrew word translated as the number in Revised Standard Version means “a large number.” The Hebrew says literally “his sons,” though it is possible to understand this as referring inclusively to both sons and daughters. New Jerusalem Bible says here that Haman held forth about “his many children” (so also An American Translation). In light of 9.10, 13, it seems better here, with most translations, to translate sons with a word that does not include daughters. This is also consistent with the culture of that era, which placed great value on having sons because sons carried forward the family line. At the same time the translator will need to take care that by specifying “sons” or “male children” other cultural implications and questions are not introduced.

Since the pronoun he in the words how he had advanced him may be ambiguous in some languages, translators may want to use the noun “the king,” as do Good News Translation and New Jerusalem Bible. That the king had promoted Haman means that the king had given Haman high rank and dignity in the government or had assigned him special tasks to perform. New International Version says that the king had “honored” him. That the king had advanced him is literally “lifted him up,” meaning that he advanced Haman in rank. This may be restated various ways; for example, “the king had moved him forward, giving him a bigger place [or, job] than before.”

On princes and servants see comments on 1.3.

Haman’s words in verses 11 and 12 set the scene for the great humiliation of his later downfall.

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 .