Discovery BoxEsther 2:3 
Context2:3 And let the king appoint officers throughout all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the attractive young women to Susa the citadel, to the harem 1 under the authority of Hegai, the king’s eunuch who oversees the women, and let him provide whatever cosmetics they desire. 2
Esther 2:14
Context2:14 In the evening she went, and in the morning she returned to a separate part 3 of the harem, to the authority of Shaashgaz the king’s eunuch who was overseeing the concubines. She would not go back to the king unless the king was pleased with her 4 and she was requested by name.
Esther 2:21
Context2:21 In those days while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan 5 and Teresh, 6 two of the king’s eunuchs who protected the entrance, 7 became angry and plotted to assassinate 8 King Ahasuerus.
1 tn Heb “the house of the women” (so KJV, ASV). So also in vv. 9, 11, 13, and 14.
2 tn Heb “their ointments”; cf. NIV, CEV, NLT “beauty treatments.”
3 tn Heb “second.” The numerical adjective שֵׁנִי (sheniy, “second”) is difficult here. As a modifier for “house” in v. 14 the word would presumably refer to a second part of the harem, one which was under the supervision of a separate official. But in this case the definite article would be expected before “second” (cf. LXX τὸν δεύτερον, ton deuteron). Some scholars emend the text to שֵׁנִית (shenit, “a second time”), but this does not completely resolve the difficulty since the meaning remains unclear. The translation adopted above follows the LXX and understands the word to refer to a separate group of women in the king’s harem, a group housed apparently in a distinct part of the residence complex.
4 tc The LXX does not include the words “was pleased with her.”
5 tn This individual is referred to as “Bigthana,” a variant spelling of the name, in Esth 6:2.
6 tc The LXX does not include the names “Bigthan and Teresh” here.
7 tn Heb “guarders of the threshold”; NIV “who guarded the doorway.”
8 tn Heb “sought to send a hand against”; CEV “decided to kill.”
