SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2000 – Page 6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2:21

-22

2:21a

the king’s gate: See note on 2:19b.

2:21b

who guarded the entrance: They guarded the entrance to the palace, and therefore the palace itself.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2:23

2:23b

hanged on the gallows: In the Hebrew, this phrase is more literally “hanged on a tree.” It is possible that Xerxes had these men executed by impaling them on a piece of wood, rather than hanging them by a rope. However, the Hebrew text uses the verb “to hang,” and this is how most English versions translate it. It is recommended that you follow the majority of English translations.

2:23c

Book of the Chronicles: This book recorded all the important happenings in the Persian Empire.

© 2000 by SIL International®
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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 3:1

Section 3:1–6

Haman became angry with Mordecai

The next event in the story was that the king promoted one of his officials called Haman to the highest position in the land, next to the king himself. The king ordered all his servants to bow down to Haman in respect to him, but Mordecai refused to do this because he was a Jew. When Haman heard about this, he was angry and planned to destroy all the Jews in the empire. He cast lots to find out the best day to choose for killing the Jews.

Paragraph 3:1–6

3:1a

After these events: The text doesn’t state an exact time here, but it was probably about four years after Esther had become queen.

honored: No reason is given why the king suddenly decided to honor Haman.

Agagite: Agag was the name of the king of the Amalekites whom King Saul conquered and took prisoner and whom Samuel cut in pieces (1 Samuel 15:8, 33). It may be that Haman was descended from this king.

3:1b

elevating him: This means that Xerxes promoted Haman and gave him a more important position in his government than he had had before.

princes: See note on 1:3b.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 3:2

3:2a

royal servants: See note on “official” at 1:3a.

at the king’s gate: See note on 2:19b.

bowed down: Literally “prostrate oneself,” that is, a person knelt on the ground and bent forward until his head touched the ground. It was a common way of showing respect to someone very important. If such actions in your culture do not mean showing respect, you will have to add this implicit information or state the information in a footnote.

3:2b-c

The text does not explain why Mordecai refused to bow down. The only clue given is 3:4, where he seems to have told the other servants that it was because he was a Jew. Perhaps he refused to bow down because he thought this would be disobeying the second commandment (Exodus 20:4).

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 3:3

3:3a

royal servants: See note on “officials” at 1:3a.

at the king’s gate: See note on 2:19b.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 3:4

3:4

There are several different ways to rearrange this verse and connect the various phrases. The Display follows Good News Translation. Both Contemporary English Version and New Century Version have other models you could follow.

since he had told them he was a Jew: See note on 3:2c.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 3:5

3:5

bow down: See note on 3:2a.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 3:6

3:6a

the identity of Mordecai’s people: That is, that they were Jews. You may need to state this information explicitly here.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2000