Esther 2:9-21
English Standard Version
Chapter 2
9And the young woman pleased him and won his favor. And he quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her portion of food, and with seven chosen young women from the king 's palace, and advanced her and her young women to the best place in the harem. 10Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her not to make it known. 11And every day Mordecai walked in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her.
12Now when the turn came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months under the regulations for the women, since this was the regular period of their beautifying, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments for women —
13when the young woman went in to the king in this way, she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the harem to the king 's palace.
14In the evening she would go in, and in the morning she would return to the second harem in custody of Shaashgaz, the king 's eunuch, who was in charge of the concubines. She would not go in to the king again, unless the king delighted in her and she was summoned by name.
15When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king 's eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.
16And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign,
17the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
18Then the king gave a great feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther 's feast. He also granted a remission of taxes to the provinces and gave gifts with royal generosity.
19Now when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king 's gate.
20Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him.
21In those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the king 's gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king 's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.
