SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2000 – Page 19

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:28

9:28a

by every generation: This refers to the future as well as the present. You could state this explicitly, as in the Good News Translation:

“of every future generation

Paragraph 9:29–32

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:29

9:29

There are many problems in this verse, and if you compare different English versions you will see that they differ from each other in many ways. These Notes give some of the reasons for the differences.

along with Mordecai the Jew: Some commentators and English versions change the place of this phrase in the verse (see, for example, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible) or omit it altogether (Jerusalem Bible, which follows the LXX). However, it is recommended that you follow the Berean Standard Bible, which is the majority view and the clearest way of understanding the Hebrew text.

with full authority: The Hebrew word which the Berean Standard Bible translates “authority” literally means “strength, power.” Here it is referring to the authority Esther had as queen.

to confirm this second letter: This is a very difficult expression to understand. It seems clear from the context that this second letter refers to the letter Esther (and Mordecai) were now writing. The first letter was, then, the letter Mordecai wrote in 9:20. This is the view of most commentators. It is difficult, however, to understand how a letter can confirm itself. It would make more sense if this letter was written to confirm the letter which Mordecai had written (in 9:20). This is how a number of versions have translated it (Good News Translation, New Century Version, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures). If a literal translation of this phrase would be difficult to understand in your language, you could follow one of these versions. See, for example, the New Century Version:

they wrote to prove the first letter was true

Purim: See note on 3:7b.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:30

9:30

And Mordecai sent: The Hebrew is more literally “and he sent.” From the context, it means Mordecai, so this is how the Berean Standard Bible has translated it (also New Century Version, God’s Word). However other versions understand the verb to be a passive (Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible).. If you have a passive in your language, it is recommended that you use it here:

letters were sent

peace: The Hebrew word here, šalom, is often translated “peace,” but it is a word that has many different meanings. Here the literal expression “words of peace” probably means “kind words” or “friendly words.”

truth: Here the literal expression “words of truth” probably means “sincere words.”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:31

9:31a

Purim: See note on 3:7b.

9:31c

the times of fasting and lamentation: The Hebrew is more literally “words of fasting and lamentation.” It probably is a way of referring to certain Jewish holidays. The Jews were in the habit of commemorating certain traumatic events in their history by holding annual fasts. So this verse is saying that they should establish this holiday (Purim) just as they had established these other holidays.

fasting: See note on 4:3b.

lamentation: This refers to pleading with God for something with tears, not to mourning for the dead.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:32

9:32a

decree: See note on 1:19a.

these regulations about Purim: That is, the rules about how and when they were to celebrate the festival.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 10:1

Section 10:1–3

Mordecai received honor in all the kingdom of Xerxes

The book began with a reference to the greatness of King Xerxes. It ends with how the king honored Mordecai, one of the heroes of the story.

Paragraph 10:1–3

10:1

tribute: The Hebrew is more “forced labor.” However the word also came to mean tribute, a sort of tax which the king made the people throughout his kingdom pay. Because of the expenses of the long war against Greece, the king needed money. These taxes would have been paid mainly by food which the people grew or by animals which they reared.

throughout the land, even to its farthest shores: Literally “upon the land and the regions of the sea.” Scholars differ in how they understand this, especially the expression “the regions of the sea.” The two main possibilities are:

(1) “Regions of the sea” means the coast, as distinguished from the interior (Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004)).

(2) “Regions of the sea” means the islands, as distinguished from the mainland (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, Jerusalem Bible).

The expression “regions of the sea” can mean either. The important thing is that the expression “upon the land and the regions of the sea” means that the whole empire was included, and you should make sure that your translation makes this clear.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 10:2

10:2a

all of Mordecai’s powerful and magnificent accomplishments: Literally “all the work of his power and his authority.” The versions understand the pronoun “his” in two ways:

(1) It refers to King Xerxes. This interpretation is followed by the majority of English versions:

(2) It refers to Mordecai. Berean Standard Bible follows this interpretation.

It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1), like the majority of English versions.

powerful and magnificent: The two words powerful and magnificent are synonyms. They refer to the great things the king did.

10:2c

This is a rhetorical question. The Display shows one way of expressing it as a statement.

Book of the Chronicles: See note on 2:23c.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 10:3

10:3b

preeminent among the Jews: Literally “great to the Jews.” The versions understand this in two ways:

(1) It means “great among the Jews,” that is, he was a great leader among the Jews.

(2) It means that the Jews considered him great. It then has a similar meaning to 10:3c. For example, the Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures has:

and was highly regarded by the Jews