OET interlinear EST 2:8

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-newevent

וַ⁠יְהִ֗י

and=he/it_was

After providing this background information about Mordecai and Esther in verses 5–7, the story now tells what happened as a result of these facts, when the provincial officers described in verse 3 began sending young women to the harem. That is, the story tells what happened to Esther because her family was living in the Persian empire and she was very attractive. Use your language’s way of showing that the events are now moving forward after giving background information. Alternate translation: “and so this is what happened”

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-time-simultaneous

בְּ⁠הִשָּׁמַ֤ע דְּבַר־הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ וְ⁠דָת֔⁠וֹ וּֽ⁠בְ⁠הִקָּבֵ֞ץ נְעָר֥וֹת רַבּ֛וֹת

in/on/at/with,proclaimed word/matter_of the=king and,edict,his and,in/on/at/with,gathered young_women many

This indicates that two actions took place at the same time. You should indicate this with a phrase like “at the same time.”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

בְּ⁠הִשָּׁמַ֤ע דְּבַר־הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ וְ⁠דָת֔⁠וֹ וּֽ⁠בְ⁠הִקָּבֵ֞ץ נְעָר֥וֹת רַבּ֛וֹת

in/on/at/with,proclaimed word/matter_of the=king and,edict,his and,in/on/at/with,gathered young_women many

You can say this with an active form, and you can say who did the action. For example, you can say, “when the messengers proclaimed the king’s decree and the scribes published the king’s law.”

דְּבַר־הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙

word/matter_of the=king

This refers to King Ahasuerus banishing Queen Vashti from his presence.

וְ⁠דָת֔⁠וֹ

and,edict,his

This refers to King Ahasuerus commanding that men would have complete authority over their wives.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

בְּ⁠הִשָּׁמַ֤ע

in/on/at/with,proclaimed

You could also say where they did this action. Alternate translation: “Messengers went throughout the empire and proclaimed”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

וּֽ⁠בְ⁠הִקָּבֵ֞ץ נְעָר֥וֹת רַבּ֛וֹת

and,in/on/at/with,gathered young_women many

You can say this with an active form, and you can say who did the action. See the UST.

Note 6 topic: translate-unknown

שׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַ⁠בִּירָ֖ה

Susa the,citadel

Here again, this likely means “the capital city of Susa.”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אֶל־יַ֣ד הֵגָ֑י

to/towards to/towards custody Hegai

Here, hand is a metaphor meaning power, control, or authority. As the overseer of the women, Hegai was responsible for the women in the harem for virgins. You could say that the officers “put them under the custody of Hegai” or that “Hegai began to take care of them.”

Note 8 topic: grammar-connect-time-simultaneous

וַ⁠יְהִ֗י בְּ⁠הִשָּׁמַ֤ע & וּֽ⁠בְ⁠הִקָּבֵ֞ץ & וַ⁠תִּלָּקַ֤ח

and=he/it_was in/on/at/with,proclaimed & and,in/on/at/with,gathered & and,taken

This means that Esther was brought to the harem of King Ahaserus at the same time as other young women were also being brought to the harem. You can say, “they brought Esther at the same time” or “they also brought Esther.”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

וַ⁠תִּלָּקַ֤ח

and,taken

You can say this with an active form. Alternate translation: “they brought Esther”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וַ⁠תִּלָּקַ֤ח

and,taken

You can explain why this happened. For example, you can say, “Because Esther was exceptionally attractive, the officers also brought her”

בֵּ֣ית הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ

house_of the=king

Alternate translation: “the king’s palace”

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אֶל־יַ֥ד הֵגַ֖י שֹׁמֵ֥ר הַ⁠נָּשִֽׁים

to/towards to/towards to/towards to/towards custody Hegai he/it_was_watching the,women

As earlier in this verse, this means under the custody of Hegai or that Hegai also began to take care of her.

Note 12 topic: writing-background

שֹׁמֵ֥ר הַ⁠נָּשִֽׁים

he/it_was_watching the,women

This means that Hegai took care of the young women who lived in the harem for virgins. If it would be helpful in your language, you could move this information to earlier in the verse when Hegai is first mentioned because it explains why the young women were brought to him.