From 566a5d8e19c954f8988c7527bc1a12478b8c33ad Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: BobJ Date: Mon, 23 Oct 2017 14:19:26 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] NFW changes, general edits --- est/front/intro.md | 18 +++++++++--------- 1 file changed, 9 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-) diff --git a/est/front/intro.md b/est/front/intro.md index 50555e01b..ecd9c562b 100644 --- a/est/front/intro.md +++ b/est/front/intro.md @@ -8,39 +8,39 @@ 1. Ahasuerus chooses Esther as the new queen (2:1–23) 1. Haman plots to destroy the Jews (3:1–15) 1. Mordecai asks Esther to help her people (4:1–17) -1. Esther pleads with the King for the Jews (5:1–7:10) +1. Esther pleads with the king for the Jews (5:1–7:10) 1. The result of Haman's plot to destroy the Jews (8:1–9:16) 1. The Feast of Purim (9:17–32) 1. Conclusion (10:1–3) #### What is the Book of Esther about? #### -This book tells how a young Jewish woman named Esther became the queen of Persia. As queen she worked to save the Jews from being destroyed throughout the Persian Empire. +The Book of Esther tells how a young Jewish woman named Esther became the queen of Persia. As queen, she worked to save all the Jews in the Persian Empire from being destroyed. -The Book of Esther ends by explaining why the Jews started celebrating the festival of Purim. The name "Purim" comes from the word "pur." It means "lots" or "dice." Haman, the enemy of Jews, threw dice to determine when to attack and destroy the Jews. The Jews celebrated Purim to remember how God rescued the people from being destroyed. +This book ends by telling why the Jews celebrate the festival of Purim. The name "Purim" comes from the word "pur." It means "lots" or "dice." Haman, the enemy of Jews, threw dice to choose when to attack and destroy the Jews. The Jews celebrate Purim to remember how Yahweh rescued his people from being destroyed. #### How should the title of this book be translated? #### -The traditional title of this book is "The Book of Esther." However, it is possible to make the title clearer in other languages. We recommend, "The Book About Esther" or "The History About Esther." +Translators can use the traditional title of this book, which is "The Book of Esther" or just "Esther." Or they can choose a clearer title, such as "The Book About Esther." ## Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts ## #### What was the Persian Empire? #### -The Persian Empire consisted of many kingdoms and regions that King Cyrus the Great conquered and ruled over. When he conquered Babylonia in 539 B.C., he came into control of the Jews whom the Babylonians had exiled. +King Cyrus the Great conquered and ruled over many kingdoms. This was in the part of the world called Persia, which is now Iran. So people named his kingdom the Persian Empire. When Cyrus conquered Babylonia in 539 B.C., he then controlled the Jews whom the Babylonians had exiled. #### Why were there Jews in Babylonia when the Persians conquered it? #### -The people of Judah had been conquered and taken into exile by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. These Jews and their descendants were still in Babylon when the Persians conquered it. +In 586 B.C., the Babylonians conquered and took into exile the people of Judah. These Jews and their descendants were still in Babylon when the Persians conquered it. #### What was meant by "the laws of the Medes and Persians"? #### -The phrase "the laws of the Medes and Persians" is found in Esther 1:19 and Daniel 6:12. It referred to laws and decrees that could not be changed or removed once they were issued. In the book of Esther, the king made a decree that the people could attack the Jews. Later he regretted that decision but he was not able to reverse the decree. +The phrase "the laws of the Medes and Persians" is found in Esther 1:19 and Daniel 6:12. It referred to laws and decrees that could not be changed or removed once they were issued. In the book of Esther, the king made a decree that the people could attack the Jews. Later he regretted that decision but he was not able to change the decree. -The term "Medes" refers to an ethnic group who had formed their own nation, but who were taken over by the Persians. +The term "Medes" refers to a people group that had formed its own nation, but the Persians conquered them. ## Part 3: Important Translation Issues ## #### What different levels of language are in the Book of Esther? #### -The Book of Esther presents people talking to each other in many different situations. There is the polite and stately language of the Persian court and the language of royal decrees. There is also the language of friends and close relatives who are talking to each other. There is even the language that one uses in speaking to oneself. Translators should use all the ways provided by their own languages in order to represent these different kinds of situations in a way that their readers will identify and understand. \ No newline at end of file +In the Book of Esther, people talk to each other in many different situations. There is the polite and stately talk in the Persian court and the words of royal decrees. Friends and close relatives also talk to each other. There are even the words that one uses in speaking to oneself. Translators should use all the ways used in their own languages in order to express these different kinds of situations in a way that their readers will identify and understand. \ No newline at end of file