SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2000 – Page 18

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:19

9:19a

the rural Jews, who live in the villages: The word which the Berean Standard Bible translates as villages means a small town or village which did not have a wall around it as bigger towns had.

Adar: See note on 3:7d.

a day of joy and feasting: See note on 9:17c.

9:19b

gifts: Literally “part, portion.” The gifts were mainly of food, hence many versions translate this word “gifts of food.” See 9:19 in Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Revised Standard Version. The Berean Standard Bible translates the same word as “gifts” in 9:22d. It is recommended that you translate this word “gifts” in both verses, as the Berean Standard Bible does.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:20

Section 9:20–32

How the Jews began to celebrate the festival called Purim

Mordecai sent out letters to tell the Jews to hold a celebration each year to remember the victory of the Jews over their enemies. This annual festival was called Purim because Haman had cast lots called purim to choose the best day to kill the Jews. Jews still celebrate this festival today.

Paragraph 9:20–23

9:20a

these events: This probably refers to the massacre by the Jews and not to all the events recorded in Esther.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:21

9:21

the fourteenth and fifteenth days: According to the letter Mordecai wrote, the Jews were to celebrate the feast of Purim on both days.

Adar: See note on 3:7d.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:22

-23

9:22a

gained rest from their enemies: See note on 9:16b.

9:22b

their sorrow turned to joy and their mourning into a holiday: There are two parallel expressions in the Hebrew:

their sorrow wa

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:24

9:24a

For: This introduces a summary of the first eight chapters of Esther. It gives once more the reason for the festival of Purim and why it had that name. It may be what Mordecai wrote in his account (see 9:20).

Agagite: See note on 3:1a.

9:24b

Pur: See note on 3:7b.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:25

9:25a

when it came before the king: Literally “when she came before the king.” It is not clear to whom the feminine pronoun “she” refers. There are two possibilities:

(1) The word it to refer back to Haman’s plot, as in the Berean Standard Bible. This is grammatically possible because the Hebrew word translated “plot” is of feminine gender and so the pronoun used in this verse would be correct.

(Berean Standard Bible, New Century Version, God’s Word, Revised English Bible)

(2) The word it, which is feminine in Hebrew, refers to Esther. This seems logical because of what happened earlier in the story, but grammatically it is unlikely since Esther has not been mentioned by name since 9:13. For example, the Good News Translation has:

But Esther went to the king

It is recommended that you follow the Berean Standard Bible (interpretation 1).

9:25b

should come back upon his own head: That is, that he should suffer the very same fate that he had planned for the Jews.

9:25c

hanged on the gallows: This refers back to two different events, those recorded in 7:9–10 and 9:13–14.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:26

9:26a

Therefore: This part of the verse is a parenthesis and refers back to 9:24b. You may need to state this reference explicitly. The Display shows one way to do this.

Purim: This is the plural form of “pur” in Hebrew. See note on 3:7b.

9:26b

9:26b–9:27c is one sentence in the Berean Standard Bible and most other versions. It is long and complex, so you may need to divide it into shorter sentences before you translate it. The Display shows one way to do this.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:27

9:27b

and all who join them: This refers to people from other races who would change their religion and become Jews. See 8:17.

9:27c

at the appointed time each and every year, according to their regulation: That is, exactly as Mordecai had instructed in his letter.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2000