Haman’s friends and his wise men are most likely the same group of people. Good News Translation helps maintain the identity by repeating the word “friends,” that is, “Then she and those wise friends of his.” This interpretation also makes explicit an element of irony. Probably his wise men were advisers similar to those that the king had (1.13). Indeed, Revised English Bible and New Revised Standard Version use the word “advisers” rather than wise men. Most likely these were the same friends mentioned in 5.10, 14. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project gives the reading his wise men a “B” evaluation. Some translations follow the reading “his friends” instead of his wise men. Translators are encouraged to follow the recommendation of Hebrew Old Testament Text Project here, but for translation purposes it may be helpful to follow the model of Good News Translation and insert the word “friends” to help maintain the identity.

Zeresh’s words, If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not prevail …, must be understood against the background of biblical passages that speak of the ultimate victory of the Jews over the Amalekites (see comments on 3.1). Since Haman had already told his wife and friends that Mordecai was a Jew (see 5.13), the word If does not indicate doubt (see Good News Translation). It rather expresses a condition: if this is true, then that is inevitable.

Of the Jewish people means “of Jewish origin” (New International Version). It may be easier and more accurate for the translator to follow the Hebrew, which says “If Mordecai is of the seed [offspring] of the Jews.”

Fall … prevail: these verbs suggest two images, that of physically falling down and that of a contest between persons. Haman is warned that he has already begun to fall before Mordecai, and that he will not be able to do anything against Mordecai (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), he will not be able “to stand against him” (New International Version). Using very forceful language his wife and his friends state their conclusion that Haman will surely fall before him. This is the Hebrew infinitive absolute that Chouraqui translates with repetition, “Yes, you will fall, you will fall before him.” However, the Hebrew form is similar to a pattern found in many African languages that may be translated “[as for] falling, you will fall before him.”

A literal translation of the words of Haman’s wise men and his wife reads “If from the seed [or, descendants] of the Jews Mordecai whom you began to fall before him, you will not be able against him. Truly to fall you will fall before him.” Good News Translation has restructured considerably, and Revised Standard Version has done so to a lesser degree. Compare also Revised English Bible: “If you have begun to fall before Mordecai, and he is a Jew, you cannot get the better of him; your downfall before him is certain.” Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente restructures as follows: “[This is a] bad sign! With Mordecai you are now losing, and since he is a Hebrew, you will not succeed in winning out. For you, this is the end.” Translators need to be sure that this quotation is expressed in a clear manner in the receptor language.

Good News Translation, as well as some other translations such as New American Bible and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, begins a new section at 6.14. Others begin a new section at the beginning of the next verse, 7.1. For comments on verse 14 see the beginning of the next section.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Noss, Philip A. A Handbook on Esther (The Hebrew Text). (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .