OET interlinear EST 2:21

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-time-simultaneous

בַּ⁠יָּמִ֣ים הָ⁠הֵ֔ם

in_the=days the=those

This resumes the story after the background information that is provided in verse 20. Indicate this in the way that your language resumes a story after giving background information, such as with a connecting phrase like “during that time.”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וּ⁠מָרְדֳּכַ֖י יֹשֵׁ֣ב בְּ⁠שַֽׁעַר־הַ⁠מֶּ֑לֶךְ

and,Mordecai was_sitting in/on/at/with,gate the=king

It is implicit in the story that Mordecai heard the two men talking who are named right afterwards. You can say this explicitly if it helps the readers to understand this part of the story. To do so, add: “he heard two men talking.”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

יֹשֵׁ֣ב בְּ⁠שַֽׁעַר־הַ⁠מֶּ֑לֶךְ

was_sitting in/on/at/with,gate the=king

As in verse 19, this is likely an idiom that means that Mordecai worked for the king in some capacity and was stationed at the gate where officials met to make important decisions.

Note 4 topic: translate-names

בִּגְתָ֨ן וָ⁠תֶ֜רֶשׁ

Bigthan and,Teresh

These are the names of men.

Note 5 topic: translate-unknown

שְׁנֵֽי־סָרִיסֵ֤י הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙

two_of eunuchs the=king

See how you translated this term in 1:10. For the phrase of the king, you can say “royal.”

מִ⁠שֹּׁמְרֵ֣י הַ⁠סַּ֔ף

from,guarded the,threshold

In this case the men were not guardians of one of the harems but guardians of the king’s private rooms. You could say, “they guarded the doorway to the king’s private rooms” or “they protected the doorway to the king’s private quarters.”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וַ⁠יְבַקְשׁוּ֙

and,conspired

Here, seeking means actively trying to do something. Alternate translation: “they were plotting” or “they wanted to find a way”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

לִ⁠שְׁלֹ֣חַ יָ֔ד

to,lay hands

Here the expression to stretch out a hand means to cause someone physical harm with the intention of killing him. You could say, “they were planning to assassinate him.”