SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2000 – Page 17

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:11

9:11

citadel of Susa: See note on 1:2.

© 2000 by SIL International®
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SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:12

9:12a

In the citadel of Susa: See note on 1:2.

9:12b

What have they done in the rest of the royal provinces?: This is a rhetorical question. It means that if the Jews had killed 500 people in just one city, they must have killed many more than 500 in all the towns throughout the kingdom.

9:12c

These words are similar to what the king said in 5:6 and 7:2. See the notes for those verses.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:13

9:13a

If it pleases the king: See note on 1:19a.

edict: See note on 1:20a.

9:13b

be hanged on the gallows: See note on 2:23b. Here however it was not a method of execution, since Haman’s sons were already dead (see 9:7–10). It was their corpses that Esther wanted displayed on the gallows, as a warning to other people.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:14

9:14b

edict: See note on 1:20a.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:15

9:15a

Adar: See note on 3:7d.

9:15c

but they did not lay a hand on the plunder: See notes on 9:10b. The same phrase is repeated here.

Paragraph 9:16–19

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:16

9:16b

and rid themselves of their enemies: The main difficulty in translating this verse is to decide how to relate this clause to the rest of the verse. All five clauses in this verse are connected by the simple Hebrew conjunction translated as “and.” There is no further indication how rid themselves of their enemies is related to the clauses which precede it and the one which follows it. So different versions have chosen different grammatical structures and punctuation to show the relationship between the clauses. There are two main interpretations:

(1) Killing their enemies was the way in which the Jews got relief from their enemies, as in the Good News Translation:

They rid themselves of their enemies by killing seventy-five thousand people who hated them

(2) The Jews gathered together to protect themselves and to kill their enemies, as in the New Century Version:

the Jewish people in the king’s empire also met to protect themselves and get rid of their enemies

Both structures are possible from the Hebrew. The Display follows Good News Translation and is the recommended interpretation.

rid themselves of: The Hebrew verb which the Berean Standard Bible translates as rid themselves of could be translated “get rid of” or “free themselves from.”

9:16c

but they did not lay a hand on the plunder: This is again the same phrase as in 9:10b. See the notes for that verse.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:17

9:17a

Adar: See note on 3:7d.

9:17c

a day of feasting and joy: It was a day when the Jews held feasts and joyfully celebrated their victory over their enemies.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:18

9:18b

they rested: See note on 9:17b.

9:18c

making it a day of feasting and joy: This is a repeat of 9:17c.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2000