2:8 It so happened that when the king’s edict and his law became known 6 many young women were taken to Susa the citadel to be placed under the authority of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the royal palace 7 to be under the authority of Hegai, who was overseeing the women. 2:9 This young woman pleased him, 8 and she found favor with him. He quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her rations; he also provided her with the seven specially chosen 9 young women who were from the palace. He then transferred her and her young women to the best quarters in the harem. 10
2:12 At the end of the twelve months that were required for the women, 11 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 –
2:15 When it became the turn of Esther daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai (who had raised her as if she were his own daughter 12 ) to go to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who was overseer of the women, had recommended. Yet Esther met with the approval of all who saw her.
8:11 The king thereby allowed the Jews who were in every city to assemble and to stand up for themselves – to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any army of whatever people or province that should become their adversaries, including their women and children, 20 and to confiscate their property.
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. 9:2 The Jews assembled themselves in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to strike out against those who were seeking their harm. No one was able to stand before them, for dread of them fell on all the peoples.
9:16 The rest of the Jews who were throughout the provinces of the king assembled in order to stand up for themselves and to have rest from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand 21 of their adversaries, but they did not confiscate their property.
1 tn According to HALOT 64 s.v. II אמן the term אֹמֵן (’omen) means: (1) “attendant” of children (Num 11:12; Isa 49:23); (2) “guardian” (2 Kgs 10:1, 5; Esth 2:7); (3) “nurse-maid” (2 Sam 4:4; Ruth 4:16); and (4) “to look after” (Isa 60:4; Lam 4:5). Older lexicons did not distinguish this root from the homonym I אָמַן (’aman, “to support; to confirm”; cf. BDB 52 s.v. אָמַן). This is reflected in a number of translations by use of a phrase like “brought up” (KJV, ASV, RSV, NIV) or “bringing up” (NASB).
2 sn Hadassah is a Jewish name that probably means “myrtle”; the name Esther probably derives from the Persian word for “star,” although some scholars derive it from the name of the Babylonian goddess Ishtar. Esther is not the only biblical character for whom two different names were used. Daniel (renamed Belteshazzar) and his three friends Hananiah (renamed Shadrach), Mishael (renamed Meshach), and Azariah (renamed Abednego) were also given different names by their captors.
3 tn Heb “for there was not to her father or mother.” This is universally understood to mean Esther’s father and mother were no longer alive.
4 tn Heb “beautiful of form.” The Hebrew noun תֹּאַר (to’ar, “form; shape”) is used elsewhere to describe the physical bodily shape of a beautiful woman (Gen 29:17; Deut 21:11; 1 Sam 25:3); see BDB 1061 s.v. Cf. TEV “had a good figure.”
5 tn Heb “had taken her to him.” The Hebrew verb לָקַח (laqakh, “to take”) describes Mordecai adopting Esther and treating her like his own daughter: “to take as one’s own property” as a daughter (HALOT 534 s.v. I לקח 6).
6 tn Heb “were heard” (so NASB); NRSV “were (had been NIV) proclaimed.”
7 tn Heb “the house of the king.” So also in vv. 9, 13. Cf. NLT “the king’s harem.”
8 tn Heb “was good in his eyes”; NLT “Hegai was very impressed with Esther.”
9 tn Heb “being looked at (with favor).”
10 tn Heb “of the house of the women” (so KJV, ASV). So also in vv. 11, 13, 14.
11 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.”
12 tn Heb “who had taken her to him as a daughter”; NRSV “who had adopted her as his own daughter.”
13 tn Heb “to send a hand against”; KJV, NRSV “to lay hands on.”
14 tn Heb “they had related to him.” For stylistic reasons this has been translated as a passive construction.
15 tc The entire first half of the verse is not included in the LXX.
16 tc This parenthetical phrase is not included in the LXX. Some scholars emend the MT reading עַם (’am, “people”) to עִם (’im, “with”), arguing that the phrase is awkwardly placed and syntactically inappropriate. While there is some truth to their complaint, the MT makes sufficient sense to be acceptable here, and is followed by most English versions.
17 tn The words “stating that” are not in the Hebrew text but have been supplied in the translation for clarity.
18 tn Heb “children and women.” The translation follows contemporary English idiom, which reverses the order.
19 tc The LXX does not include the words “on the thirteenth day.”
20 tn Heb “children and women.” As in 3:13, the translation follows contemporary English idiom, which reverses the order.
21 tc For this number much of the Greek
22 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
23 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Haman) has been specified in the translation for clarity.