Discovery BoxEsther 4:16 
Context4:16 “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa and fast in my behalf. Don’t eat and don’t drink for three days, night or day. My female attendants and I 1 will also fast in the same way. Afterward I will go to the king, even though it violates the law. 2 If I perish, I perish!”
Esther 5:8
Context5:8 If I have found favor in the king’s sight and if the king is inclined 3 to grant my request and perform my petition, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet that I will prepare for them. At that time 4 I will do as the king wishes. 5
1 tn Heb “I and my female attendants.” The translation reverses the order for stylistic reasons.
2 tn Heb “which is not according to the law” (so KJV, NASB); NAB “contrary to the law.”
3 tn Heb “if upon the king it is good.” Cf. the similar expression in v. 4, which also occurs in 7:3; 8:5; 9:13.
4 tn Heb “and tomorrow” (so NASB); NAB, NRSV “and then.”
5 tn Heb “I will do according to the word of the king,” i.e., answer the question that he has posed. Cf. NCV “Then I will answer your question about what I want.”
