Discovery BoxEsther 1:5 
Context1:5 When those days 1 were completed, the king then provided a seven-day 2 banquet for all the people who were present 3 in Susa the citadel, for those of highest standing to the most lowly. 4 It was held in the court located in the garden of the royal palace.
Esther 1:19
Context1:19 If the king is so inclined, 5 let a royal edict go forth from him, and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media that cannot be repealed, 6 that Vashti 7 may not come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king convey her royalty to another 8 who is more deserving than she. 9
Esther 1:22
Context1:22 He sent letters throughout all the royal provinces, to each province according to its own script and to each people according to its own language, 10 that every man should be ruling his family 11 and should be speaking the language of his own people. 12
Esther 2:8
Context2:8 It so happened that when the king’s edict and his law became known 13 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 14 to be under the authority of Hegai, who was overseeing the women.
Esther 2:17
Context2:17 And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she met with his loving approval 15 more than all the other young women. 16 So he placed the royal high turban on her head and appointed her queen 17 in place of Vashti.
1 tc The Hebrew text of Esther does not indicate why this elaborate show of wealth and power was undertaken. According to the LXX these were “the days of the wedding” (αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ γάμου, Jai Jhmerai tou gamou), presumably the king’s wedding. However, a number of scholars have called attention to the fact that this celebration takes place just shortly before Xerxes’ invasion of Greece. It is possible that the banquet was a rallying for the up-coming military effort. See Herodotus, Histories 7.8. There is no reason to adopt the longer reading of the LXX here.
2 tc The LXX has ἕξ ({ex, “six”) instead of “seven.” Virtually all English versions follow the reading of the MT here, “seven.”
3 tn Heb “were found.”
4 tn Heb “from the great and unto the small.”
5 sn Heb “If upon the king it is good”; KJV “If it please the king.” Deferential language was common in ancient Near Eastern court language addressing a despot; it occurs often in Esther.
6 sn Laws…that cannot be repealed. On the permanence of the laws of Media and Persia see also Esth 8:8 and Dan 6:8, 12, 15.
7 sn Previously in this chapter the word “queen” accompanies Vashti’s name (cf. vv. 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17). But here, in anticipation of her demotion, the title is dropped.
8 tn Heb “her neighbor”; NIV “someone else.”
9 tn Heb “who is better than she.” The reference is apparently to worthiness of the royal position as demonstrated by compliance with the king’s wishes, although the word טוֹב (tob, “good”) can also be used of physical beauty. Cf. NAB, NASB, NLT “more worthy than she.”
10 sn For purposes of diplomacy and governmental communication throughout the far-flung regions of the Persian empire the Aramaic language was normally used. Educated people throughout the kingdom could be expected to have competence in this language. But in the situation described in v. 22 a variety of local languages are to be used, and not just Aramaic, so as to make the king’s edict understandable to the largest possible number of people.
11 tn Heb “in his house”; NIV “over his own household.”
12 tc The final prepositional phrase is not included in the LXX, and this shorter reading is followed by a number of English versions (e.g., NAB, NRSV, NLT). Some scholars suggest the phrase may be the result of dittography from the earlier phrase “to each people according to its language,” but this is not a necessary conclusion. The edict was apparently intended to reassert male prerogative with regard to two things (and not just one): sovereign and unquestioned leadership within the family unit, and the right of deciding which language was to be used in the home when a bilingual situation existed.
13 tn Heb “were heard” (so NASB); NRSV “were (had been NIV) proclaimed.”
14 tn Heb “the house of the king.” So also in vv. 9, 13. Cf. NLT “the king’s harem.”
15 tn Heb “grace and loyal love.” The expression is probably a hendiadys.
16 tc The LXX does not include the words “more than all the other young women.”
17 tn Heb “caused her to rule.”
