Esther 2

1 Some time later, when the anger of King Xerxes had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done, and what had been decreed against her.

2 Then the king’s attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king,

3 and let the king appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom to assemble all the beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the women, and let them be given beauty treatments.

4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king become queen in place of Vashti.” This suggestion pleased the king, and he acted accordingly.

5 Now there was at the citadel of Susa a Jewish man from the tribe of Benjamin named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish.

6 He had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon among those taken captive with Jeconiah king of Judah.

7 And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah (that is, Esther), the daughter of his uncle, because she did not have a father or mother. The young woman was lovely in form and appearance, and when her father and mother had died, Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter.

8 When the king’s command and edict had been proclaimed, many young women gathered at the citadel of Susa under the care of Hegai. Esther was also taken to the palace and placed under the care of Hegai, the custodian of the women.

9 And the young woman pleased him and obtained his favor, so he quickly provided her with beauty treatments and the special diet. He assigned to her seven select maidservants from the palace and transferred her with them to the best place in the harem.

10 Esther did not reveal her people or her lineage, because Mordecai had instructed her not to do so.

11 And every day Mordecai would walk back and forth in front of the court of the harem to learn about Esther’s welfare and what was happening to her.

12 In the twelve months before her turn to go to King Xerxes, the harem regulation required each young woman to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months, and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months.

13 When the young woman would go to the king, she was given whatever she requested to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace.

14 She would go there in the evening, and in the morning she would return to a second harem under the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he delighted in her and summoned her by name.

15 Now Esther was the daughter of Abihail, the uncle from whom Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter. And when it was her turn to go to the king, she did not ask for anything except what Hegai, the king’s trusted official in charge of the harem, had advised. And Esther found favor in the eyes of everyone who saw her.

16 She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal palace in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

17 And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she found grace and favor in his sight more than all of the other virgins. So he placed the royal crown upon her head and made her queen in place of Vashti.

18 Then the king held a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his officials and servants. He proclaimed a tax holiday in the provinces and gave gifts worthy of the king’s bounty.

19 When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.

20 Esther still had not revealed her lineage or her people, just as Mordecai had instructed. She obeyed Mordecai’s command, as she had done under his care.

21 In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, grew angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.

22 When Mordecai learned of the plot, he reported it to Queen Esther, and she informed the king on Mordecai’s behalf.

23 After the report had been investigated and verified, both officials were hanged on the gallows. And all this was recorded in the Book of the Chronicles in the presence of the king.

1 ¶ After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

2 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:

3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given [them]:

4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

5 [Now] in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name [was] Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;

6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

7 And he brought up Hadassah, that [is], Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid [was] fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.

8 So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, [which were] meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best [place] of the house of the women.

10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew [it].

11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.

12 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, [to wit], six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with [other] things for the purifying of the women;)

13 Then thus came [every] maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.

14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.

15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which [is] the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

18 Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, [even] Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.

19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.

20 Esther had not [yet] shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.

21 ¶ In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told [it] unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king [thereof] in Mordecai's name.

23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

1 After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was abated, he remembered Vasthi, what she had done, and what was decreed concerning her.

2 Then said the king's lads that ministered unto him: Let young virgins be sought for the king;

3 And the king shall appoint showers throughout all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all manner of fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, into the women's chamber, under the hand of Hegai the king's chamberlain, who waiteth upon the women, and give them their jewels;

4 And whichever damsel pleaseth the king, let her be queen in Vashti's stead. And this pleased the king, and he did so.

5 Now there was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, the son of Jemini,

6 Who was carried away with him from Jerusalem, when Jechaniah king of Judah was carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon carried away.

7 And he was a guardian to Hadassah, which is Esther his cousin's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother. And she was a fair and fine damsel. And when her father and her mother were dead, Mordecai took her for a daughter.

8 And it came to pass, when the king's commandment and the king's law were heard, and many damsels were brought home to Shushan the palace, under the hand of Hegai, that Esther also was taken into the king's house, under the hand of Hegai the keeper of the damsels.

9 And the damsel pleased him, and she found mercy in his sight. And he hasted with her jewels, that he might give her her portion, and seven fair damsels of the king's house with her. He put her and her maids in the best place in the women's room.

10 And Esther told him not of her people, nor of her friendship: for Mordecai had commanded her that she should not tell.

11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court in the chamber of the women, to know whether it was well with Esther, and what might befall her.

12 And it came to pass, when the time was come for every damsel to come to king Ahasuerus, after she had been twelve months in adorning herself, (for her adorning must have been so much time, six months with balm and myrrh, and six months with good spices, that the damsels were adorned,)

13 Then went a damsel unto the king, and whomsoever she would, they gave her, that should go with her from the chamber of women unto the king's house.

14 And it came to pass, when one was come in at even, that she went out of him in the morning into the other chamber, under the hand of Saashgah the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the concubines. And she came not again to the king, except the king lusted, and called her by name.

15 And it came to pass, when the time was come for Esther the daughter of Abihail the cousin of Mordecai, whom he had taken for a daughter, to come to the king, that she desired nothing, save what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, spake. And Esther found grace in the sight of all them that looked on her.

16 And Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into the king's house in the tenth month, which is called Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

17 And the king loved Esther above all women, and she found grace and mercy in his sight. above< all virgins. And he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen in Vashti's stead.

18 And the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants. Servants (which was a feast for Esther's sake) and let the countries rest, and gave out royal gifts.

19 And when virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai sat in the king's gate.

20 And Esther had not yet declared her friendship, nor her people, as Mordecai had commanded her. For Esther did according to the word of Mordecai, as though he were her guardian.

21 At the same time that Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Theres, which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay their hands on king Ahasuerus.

22 And it was known unto Mordecai, and he spake it unto Esther the queen; and Esther spake it unto the king in Mordecai's name.

23 And when they searched for them, they found them. And they were both hanged upon trees, and were written in the book of the chronicles before the king.