SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2000 – Page 3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 1:17

1:17

You may need to add something to what the women are reported as saying in order to make it clear why this worried the nobles. The Display shows one way to do this.

© 2000 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 1:18

1:18a

the king’s officials: See note on 1:3a.

1:18b

much contempt and wrath: There would be discord or quarrels between husbands and their wives, because the husbands would be angry about their wives’ behavior.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 1:19

1:19a-b

So if it pleases the king: This phrase is used often in Esther when someone suggests something to the king. It is a polite way to say “if you agree.”

a royal decree: This means a command or order issued by the king.

1:19c

Vashti shall never again enter the presence of King Xerxes: This implied that the king should never again permit Vashti to approach him either as queen or as wife.

1:19d

her royal position: That is, her position as queen.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 1:20

1:20a

The edict the king issues: This has a similar meaning to “decree” in 1:19a.

1:20b

from the least to the greatest: See note on 1:5c.

Paragraph 1:21–22

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 1:21

1:21

princes: See note on 1:3b.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 1:22

1:22a

letters: This means written messages, which would have been taken by messengers throughout the kingdom.

1:22b

script: This means the alphabet people used to write their language. For example, if you write Hebrew, you use a different script from English.

1:22c

in their own language: This phrase is at the end of the verse in Hebrew and is literally “and speaking according to the language of his people.” Commentators and translators have found it difficult to understand this phrase and have many different solutions. Some of the possibilities are:

(1) It is referring again to the language in which the message was to be written and announced (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New Living Translation (2004)).

(2) The LXX (Greek OT) omitted the phrase completely and some English versions do the same (New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version).

(3) The husband should speak with final authority (Good News Translation).

You may want to follow the interpretation of the major national translation in your area. The Display follows the first interpretation.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2:1

Section 2:1–18

The king chose a new queen

Some time later the king decided to choose a new queen to replace Vashti. Many beautiful girls were brought to the palace and Esther was among them. When her turn came to go to the king, he liked her better than any other girl, so he chose her to be his new queen.

Paragraph 2:1–4

2:1

Some time later: This is a vague term. It may have been three or four years after the events of chapter 1, and after the king had returned from a war with Greece, since 2:16 states that Esther went to the king in the seventh year of Xerxes’ reign.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2:2

2:2a

the king’s attendants: This is the same expression as the Berean Standard Bible translated “who served him” in 1:10b. See note there.

2:2b

Once more the servants were speaking directly to the king. You need to consider how it would be appropriate for them to address him.

virgins: This is a woman who has not had sexual relations with a man.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2000