(In the Greek Esther, verses 1-6 that follow conclude the Prologue to Chapter 1; in the Hebrew Esther, they would be placed at verse 21 of Chapter 2.)
CHAPTER 12
1 Forsooth Mordecai dwelled (at) that time in the hall of the king, with Bigthan (or Gabatha) and Teresh (or Tharra), the honest servants and chaste (or the honest and chaste servants), [or (the) geldings] of the king, that were porters, (or doorkeepers, or guards), of the palace.
2 And when he had understood the thoughts of them, and had before-seen full diligently their busynesses, he learned that they endeavoured them(selves) to set [or to put] their hand(s) upon the king Ahasuerus, and he told of that thing to the king.
3 And when enquiring was had of ever either of them, the king com-manded them, that acknowledged [or had confessed]their treason, to be led to the death.
4 And the king wrote in books that thing, that was done, and also Mordecai took mind of this thing to be written in letters./Forsooth the king wrote in books that, that was done, but also Mordecai betook the mind, (or the memory, or remem-brance) of the thing to letters.
5 And the king commanded Mordecai, that he should dwell in the hall of the palace, and he gave to him gifts for the telling.
6 Forsooth Haman, the son of Ham-medatha, a Bougaean (or an Agagite), was most glorious before the king, and he would have annoyed (or harmed) Mordecai, and his people, for the twain honest (and chaste) servants (or the two eunuchs) of the king that were slain. Hitherto is the proem; those things, that pursue(or that follow), were set in that place where it is written in the book, And they took away the goods, either the chattels of them; which things we found in the common translation. [Haman forsooth, the son of Hammedatha, (a) gelding, was most glorious before the king, and would annoy (or do harm) to Mordecai, and his people, for the two geldings of the king that were slain. Hitherto the proem; those things, that follow, in that place were put, where is written in the volume, And they wasted the goods, or their substances; the which only in the common translation we have found.]