Esther 2:3

2:3 And let the king appoint officers throughout all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the attractive young women to Susa the citadel, to the harem ¹  under the authority of Hegai, the king’s eunuch who oversees the women, and let him provide whatever cosmetics they desire. ² 

Esther 2:12

2:12 At the end of the twelve months that were required for the women, ³  when the turn of each young woman arrived to go to King Ahasuerus – for in this way they had to fulfill their time of cosmetic treatment: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfume and various ointments used by women –

Esther 3:8

3:8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a particular people ⁴  that is dispersed and spread among the inhabitants ⁵  throughout all the provinces of your kingdom whose laws differ from those of all other peoples. Furthermore, they do not observe the king’s laws. It is not appropriate for the king to provide a haven for them. ⁶ 

Esther 3:13

3:13 Letters were sent by the runners to all the king’s provinces stating that ⁷  they should destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews, from youth to elderly, both women and children, ⁸  on a particular day, namely the thirteenth day ⁹  of the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar), and to loot and plunder their possessions.

Esther 7:8

7:8 When the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet of wine, Haman was throwing himself down ¹⁰  on the couch where Esther was lying. ¹¹  The king exclaimed, “Will he also attempt to rape the queen while I am still in the building!”

As these words left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.

Esther 9:1

The Jews Prevail over Their Enemies

9:1 In the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar), on its thirteenth day, the edict of the king and his law were to be executed. It was on this day that the enemies of the Jews had supposed that they would gain power over them. But contrary to expectations, the Jews gained power over their enemies.

Esther 9:12

9:12 Then the king said to Queen Esther, “In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman! What then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? What is your request? It shall be given to you. What other petition do you have? It shall be done.”

Esther 10:2

10:2 Now all the actions carried out under his authority and his great achievements, along with an exact statement concerning the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king promoted, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?

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¹ tn Heb “the house of the women” (so KJV, ASV). So also in vv. 9, 11, 13, and 14.

² tn Heb “their ointments”; cf. NIV, CEV, NLT “beauty treatments.”

³ tc The LXX does not include the words “that were required for the women.”

tn Heb “to be to her according to the law of the women”; NASB “under the regulations for the women.”

⁴ tn Heb “one people.” Note the subtle absence at this point of a specific mention of the Jewish people by name.

⁵ tn Heb “peoples” (so NASB, NIV); NAB “nations”

⁶ tn Heb “to cause them to rest”; NASB “to let them remain”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “to tolerate them.”

⁷ tn The words “stating that” are not in the Hebrew text but have been supplied in the translation for clarity.

⁸ tn Heb “children and women.” The translation follows contemporary English idiom, which reverses the order.

⁹ tc The LXX does not include the words “on the thirteenth day.”

¹⁰ tn Heb “falling”; NAB, NRSV “had (+ just TEV) thrown himself (+ down TEV).”

¹¹ tn Heb “where Esther was” (so KJV, NASB). The term “lying” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons; cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT “was reclining.”