Esther 1:11

1:11 to bring Queen Vashti into the king’s presence wearing her royal high turban. He wanted to show the people and the officials her beauty, for she was very attractive. ¹ 

Esther 1:18

1:18 And this very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media who have heard the matter concerning the queen will respond in the same way to all the royal officials, and there will be more than enough contempt and anger!

Esther 3:1

Haman Conspires to Destroy the Jews

3:1 Some time later ²  King Ahasuerus promoted ³  Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, exalting him and setting his position ⁴  above that of all the officials who were with him.

Esther 3:9

3:9 If the king is so inclined, ⁵  let an edict be issued ⁶  to destroy them. I will pay ten thousand talents of silver ⁷  to be conveyed to the king’s treasuries for the officials who carry out this business.”

Esther 5:11

5:11 Haman then recounted to them his fabulous wealth, ⁸  his many sons, ⁹  and how the king had magnified him and exalted him over the king’s other officials and servants.

Esther 9:3

9:3 All the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and those who performed the king’s business were assisting the Jews, for the dread of Mordecai had fallen on them.

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¹ tn Heb “was good of appearance”; KJV “was fair to look on”; NAB “was lovely to behold.”

² tn Heb “after these things” (so KJV, ASV); NAB, NASB, NIV “After these events.”

³ tn Heb “made great”; NAB “raised…to high rank”; NIV “honored.”

sn The promotion of Haman in 3:1 for reasons unexplained contrasts noticeably with 2:19-23, where Mordecai’s contribution to saving the king’s life goes unnoticed. The irony is striking.

⁴ tn Heb “chair”; KJV, NRSV “seat”; NASB “established his authority.”

⁵ tn Heb “If upon the king it is good”; KJV “If it please the king.”

⁶ tn Heb “let it be written” (so KJV, ASV); NASB “let it be decreed.”

⁷ sn The enormity of the monetary sum referred to here can be grasped by comparing this amount (10,000 talents of silver) to the annual income of the empire, which according to Herodotus (Histories 3.95) was 14,500 Euboic talents. In other words Haman is offering the king a bribe equal to two-thirds of the royal income. Doubtless this huge sum of money was to come (in large measure) from the anticipated confiscation of Jewish property and assets once the Jews had been destroyed. That such a large sum of money is mentioned may indicate something of the economic standing of the Jewish population in the empire of King Ahasuerus.

⁸ tn Heb “the glory of his riches” (so KJV, NASB); NRSV “the splendor of his riches.”

⁹ sn According to Esth 9:10 Haman had ten sons.