Discovery BoxEsther 1:10-11 
Context1:10 On the seventh day, as King Ahasuerus was feeling the effects of the wine, 1 he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who attended him, 2 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. 3
Esther 1:13
Context1:13 The king then inquired of the wise men who were discerners of the times – for it was the royal custom to confer with all those who were proficient in laws and legalities. 4
Esther 1:17
Context1:17 For the matter concerning the queen will spread to all the women, leading them to treat their husbands with contempt, saying, ‘When King Ahasuerus gave orders to bring Queen Vashti into his presence, she would not come.’
Esther 1:20
Context1:20 And let the king’s decision which he will enact be disseminated 5 throughout all his kingdom, vast though it is. 6 Then all the women will give honor to their husbands, from the most prominent to the lowly.”
Esther 2:1
Context2:1 When these things had been accomplished 7 and the rage of King Ahasuerus had diminished, he remembered 8 Vashti and what she had done and what had been decided 9 against her.
Esther 2:13
Context2:13 the woman would go to the king in the following way: Whatever she asked for would be provided for her to take with her from the harem to the royal palace.
Esther 3:1
Context3:1 Some time later 10 King Ahasuerus promoted 11 Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, exalting him and setting his position 12 above that of all the officials who were with him.
Esther 4:3
Context4:3 Throughout each and every province where the king’s edict and law were announced 13 there was considerable 14 mourning among the Jews, along with fasting, weeping, and sorrow. 15 Sackcloth and ashes were characteristic 16 of many.
Esther 4:5
Context4:5 So Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs who had been placed at her service, 17 and instructed him to find out the cause and reason for Mordecai’s behavior. 18
Esther 4:7
Context4:7 Then Mordecai related to him everything that had happened to him, even the specific amount of money that Haman had offered to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews to be destroyed.
Esther 5:6
Context5:6 While at the banquet of wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your request? It shall be given to you. What is your petition? Ask for as much as half the kingdom, 19 and it shall be done!”
Esther 5:9
Context5:9 Now Haman went forth that day pleased and very much encouraged. 20 But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king’s gate, and he did not rise nor tremble in his presence, 21 Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai.
Esther 8:2-3
Context8:2 The king then removed his signet ring (the very one he had taken back from Haman) and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther designated Mordecai to be in charge of Haman’s estate.
8:3 Then Esther again spoke with the king, falling at his feet. She wept and begged him for mercy, that he might nullify the evil of Haman the Agagite which he had intended against the Jews. 22
Esther 8:7
Context8:7 King Ahasuerus replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Look, I have already given Haman’s estate to Esther, and he has been hanged on the gallows because he took hostile action 23 against the Jews.
Esther 8:12
Context8:12 This was to take place on a certain day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus – namely, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar).
Esther 8:14-15
Context8:14 The couriers who were riding the royal horses went forth with the king’s edict without delay. 24 And the law was presented in Susa the citadel as well.
8:15 Now Mordecai went out from the king’s presence in purple and white royal attire, with a large golden crown and a purple linen mantle. The city of Susa shouted with joy. 25
Esther 9:3-4
Context9:3 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. 9:4 Mordecai was of high rank 26 in the king’s palace, and word about him was spreading throughout all the provinces. His influence 27 continued to become greater and greater.
Esther 9:13
Context9:13 Esther replied, “If the king is so inclined, let the Jews who are in Susa be permitted to act tomorrow also according to today’s law, and let them hang the ten sons of Haman on the gallows.”
1 tn Heb “as the heart of the king was good with the wine.” Here the proper name (King Ahasuerus) has been substituted for the title in the translation for stylistic reasons.
2 tn Heb “King Ahasuerus”; here the proper name has been replaced by the pronoun “him” in the translation for stylistic reasons. Cf. similarly NIV, NCV, CEV, NLT “King Xerxes.”
3 tn Heb “was good of appearance”; KJV “was fair to look on”; NAB “was lovely to behold.”
4 tn Heb “judgment” (so KJV); NASB, NIV “justice”; NRSV “custom.”
5 tn Heb “heard”; KJV, NAB, NLT “published”; NIV, NRSV “proclaimed.”
6 tc The phrase “vast though it is” is not included in the LXX, although it is retained by almost all English versions.
7 tn Heb “after these things” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV). The expression is very vague from a temporal standpoint, not indicating precisely just how much time might have elapsed. Cf. v. 21.
8 sn There may be a tinge of regret expressed in the king’s remembrance of Vashti. There is perhaps a hint that he wished for her presence once again, although that was not feasible from a practical standpoint. The suggestions by the king’s attendants concerning a replacement seem to be an effort to overcome this nostalgia. Certainly it was to their advantage to seek the betterment of the king’s outlook. Those around him the most were probably the most likely to suffer the effects of his ire.
9 tn Or “decreed” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV); TEV “and about his proclamation against her.”
10 tn Heb “after these things” (so KJV, ASV); NAB, NASB, NIV “After these events.”
11 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.
12 tn Heb “chair”; KJV, NRSV “seat”; NASB “established his authority.”
13 tn Heb “reached” (so NAB, NLT); KJV, NASB, NIV “came”; TEV “wherever the king’s proclamation was made known.”
14 tn Heb “great” (so KJV, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NAB “the Jews went into deep mourning.”
15 sn Although prayer is not specifically mentioned here, it is highly unlikely that appeals to God for help were not a part of this reaction to devastating news. As elsewhere in the book of Esther, the writer seems deliberately to keep religious actions in the background.
16 tn Heb “were spread to many”; KJV, NIV “many (+ people NLT) lay in sackcloth and ashes.”
17 tn Heb “whom he caused to stand before her”; NASB “whom the king had appointed to attend her.”
18 tn Heb “concerning Mordecai, to know what this was, and why this was.”
19 sn As much as half the kingdom. Such a statement would no doubt have been understood for the exaggeration that it clearly was. Cf. the similar NT scene recorded in Mark 6:23, where Herod makes a similar promise to the daughter of Herodias. In that case the request was for the head of John the Baptist, which is a lot less than half the kingdom.
20 tn Heb “happy and good of heart”; NASB “glad and pleased of heart”; NIV “happy and in high spirits.”
21 tn Heb “tremble from before him”; NIV “nor showed fear in his presence”; TEV “or show any sign of respect as he passed.”
22 sn As in 7:4 Esther avoids implicating the king in this plot. Instead Haman is given sole responsibility for the plan to destroy the Jews.
23 tn Heb “sent forth his hand”; NAB, NIV “attacked”; NLT “tried to destroy.” Cf. 9:2.
24 tn Heb “making haste and hurrying”; KJV, ASV “being hastened and pressed.”
25 tn Heb “shouted and rejoiced.” The expression is a hendiadys (see the note on 5:10 for an explanation of this figure).
26 tn Heb “great”; NRSV “powerful”; NIV “prominent”; NCV “very important.”
27 tn Heb “the man Mordecai” (so NASB, NRSV).
