Verse 23 is difficult to interpret. According to Revised Standard Version, which is a literal translation of the Hebrew, the Jews undertook to do both as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written to them. But what the Jews had begun was to observe different days (9.17-19), whereas what Mordecai had written to them was that they should observe both days (9.20-22). How could they continue doing both what they had begun and what Mordecai had written, when the two things were contradictory? Apparently the writer of Esther did not intend for these two matters to be different. That is, what they had begun was in agreement with what Mordecai had written to them (see New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).

The following explanation can be offered in support of the Revised Standard Version translation. Most interpreters understand verses 21-22 and 27 to mean that all Jews are to observe both the fourteenth and fifteenth of Adar, and they understand verse 23 to suggest that all Jews had already begun to observe both days before Mordecai sent letters to the Jews. But this contradicts the statement in verse 19, that the Jews in the open towns observe only the fourteenth day. Other interpreters understand verses 21-23 and 27 to mean that every Jew is to celebrate only the one particular day appropriate to where he or she lives. This means that, within Judaism as a whole, both days would be celebrated, although not all would celebrate on the same day. Such an interpretation removes the apparent conflict with the statement here in verse 23, that the Jews were already doing what Mordecai instructs them to do. Another model following that understanding is “And the Jews committed themselves to continuing what they had begun doing and what Mordecai had written to them” (FOX).

New American Bible, however, says “The Jews took upon themselves for the future this observance which they instituted at the written direction of Mordecai.” This appears to say that the Jews began observing both days because of Mordecai’s letter, and no mention is made of the Jews’ undertaking to do something that they had already begun before they had received Mordecai’s letter. Although this eliminates the difficulty of the Revised Standard Version translation noted above, it is doubtful that it accurately represents the Hebrew text of this verse.

New Jerusalem Bible divides the verse differently, joining the second half of verse 23 with the following verse: “Once having begun, the Jews continued observing these practices, Mordecai having written them an account of how Haman … had plotted their destruction.” Such a translation does not seem to be a natural reading of the Hebrew.

Good News Translation only partly translates the intended meaning, that is, “the Jews followed Mordecai’s instructions.” But Good News Translation does not state that in so doing the Jews “undertook to do as they had begun” before Mordecai’s letter was written.

The translator may attempt to incorporate both parts of the verse into a meaningful whole, as New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible have done. Bible en français courant expands slightly to say “The Jews followed Mordecai’s instructions and accepted that the festival celebrated a first time should become a tradition.”

The Hebrew verb translated as undertook is in the singular, but it is widely accepted that there is an error in the Hebrew text here, and that the verb should be in the plural.

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 .