Since Mordecai was himself included among the king’s officials, Good News Translation adds the word “other,” to show that Mordecai was one of the officials (so also Bible en français courant, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje).

On the king’s gate see 2.19.

The question asked by the king’s servants is cited in direct quotation. This may be more forceful and dramatic than the indirect speech of Good News Translation. The question is posed in the affirmative, but some languages may choose to use a negative construction, “Why do you not obey the king’s command?”

The king’s command was the command to bow down before Haman, mentioned in the previous verse. Here a sixth word, mitswah, is used in the series of Hebrew words for a command.

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 .