Nevertheless: in keeping with the events in the story, both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation interpret the conjunction waw here as having concessive and contrastive meaning. The translator will need to translate according to the logic of the story.

Restrained himself: the Hebrew root verb expresses strength and emotion. The author depicts strong emotion on the part of Haman. The author informs the reader that Haman did not react violently to what he clearly took to be very strong provocation. Perhaps an image such as “he overcame himself,” or “he held his head,” or “he controlled his heart” may be appropriate.

Sent and fetched: Haman was a man who held authority. Whom he sent to bring his friends and his wife is not stated, nor is it clear whether his call was a simple “invitation” as Good News Translation implies, or perhaps a stronger command to come. Bible en français courant translates “he had his friends and wife Zeresh come.”

His friends: the same persons are mentioned again in 6.13, where they are identified as his advisors (see comments on “friends” at LXX 1.3, at ESG 1.20[3]).

Zeresh is a Persian name, occurring only in the book of Esther.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Noss, Philip A. A Handbook on Esther (The Hebrew Text). (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .