Esther 6:8-9

6:8 let them bring royal attire which the king himself has worn and a horse on which the king himself has ridden – one bearing the royal insignia! ¹  6:9 Then let this clothing and this horse be given to one of the king’s noble officials. Let him ²  then clothe the man whom the king wishes to honor, and let him lead him about through the plaza of the city on the horse, calling ³  before him, ‘So shall it be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!’”

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¹ tc The final comment (“one on whose head the royal crown has been”) is not included in the LXX.

tn Heb “a royal crown on his head.” The reference is to an official decoration or headdress for horses in royal service. See HALOT 506 s.v. כֶּתֶר; DCH 4:477 s.v. כֶּתֶר. Cf. TEV “a royal ornament”; CEV “a fancy headdress.”

² tc The present translation reads with the LXX וְהִלְבִּישׁוֹ (vÿhilbisho, “and he will clothe him”) rather than the reading of the MT וְהִלְבִּישׁוּ (vÿhilbishu, “and they will clothe”). The reading of the LXX is also followed by NAB, NRSV, TEV, CEV, and NLT. Likewise, the later verbs in this verse (“cause him to ride” and “call”) are better taken as singulars rather than plurals.

³ tn Heb “and let them call” (see the previous note).