Esther, Chapter 2

1. After these things, when the anger of king Ahasuerus was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.    2. Then said the king's servants that ministered to 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 to Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, to the custody of Hege the king's officer, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:    4. And let the maiden which pleases 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 taken away from Jerusalem with the captives which had been taken away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had taken 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 to Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also to the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.    9. And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness from him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were suitable to be given her, out of the king's house: and he advanced her and her maids to the best place of the house of the women.    10. Esther had not made known her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had instructed her that she should not make it known.    11. And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what would become of her.    12. Now when every maid's turn came to go in to king Ahasuerus, after she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, that is, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)    13. Then thus came every maiden to the king; whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women to 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 officer, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and 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, came to go in unto the king, she asked for nothing but what Hegai the king's officer, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked upon her.    16. So Esther was taken to king Ahasuerus into his royal house 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 favor 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 for all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he provided a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the bounty 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 made known her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had instructed her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, just 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 officers, Bigthan and Teresh, of those who kept the door, were angry, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.    22. And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it to Esther the queen; and Esther informed the king thereof in Mordecai's name.    23. And when inquiry was made concerning 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.