1 Later|strong="H0310", King|strong="H4428" Xerxes stopped being angry|strong="H2534". Then|strong="H0853" he|strong="H0834" remembered|strong="H2142" Vashti|strong="H2060" and|strong="H4428" what|strong="H0834" she|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" done|strong="H6213". He|strong="H0834" remembered|strong="H2142" his|strong="H5921" commands|strong="H1697" about|strong="H5921" her|strong="H5921".
2 Then|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0559" king’s|strong="H4428" personal|strong="H8334" servants|strong="H5288" had|strong="H4428" a|strong="H1245" suggestion. They|strong="H0559" said|strong="H0559", “Search|strong="H1245" for|strong="H1245" beautiful|strong="H4758" young|strong="H5288" virgins|strong="H1330" for|strong="H1245" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428".
3 Let|strong="H5414" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" choose leaders in|strong="H0413" every|strong="H3605" province|strong="H4082" of|strong="H4428" his|strong="H3605" kingdom|strong="H4438". Then|strong="H0853" let|strong="H5414" the|strong="H3605" leaders bring|strong="H5414" every|strong="H3605" beautiful|strong="H4758" young|strong="H5291" virgin|strong="H1330" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" capital city of|strong="H4428" Susa|strong="H7800". These|strong="H3605" young|strong="H5291" women|strong="H0802" will|strong="H4428" be|strong="H3027" put|strong="H5414" with|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" group of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" king’s|strong="H4428" women|strong="H0802". They|strong="H3605" will|strong="H4428" be|strong="H3027" under|strong="H3027" the|strong="H3605" care|strong="H3027" of|strong="H4428" Hegai|strong="H1896", the|strong="H3605" king’s|strong="H4428" eunuch|strong="H5631", who|strong="H3605" is|strong="H3027" in|strong="H0413" charge|strong="H3027" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" women|strong="H0802". Then|strong="H0853" give|strong="H5414" beauty treatments to|strong="H0413" all|strong="H3605" of|strong="H4428" them|strong="H0413".
4 Then|strong="H3651" let|strong="H3651" the|strong="H0834" one|strong="H0834" who|strong="H0834" is|strong="H0834" pleasing|strong="H3190" to|strong="H1697" the|strong="H0834" king|strong="H4428" become the|strong="H0834" new queen in|strong="H4428" Vashti’s place|strong="H8478".” The|strong="H0834" king|strong="H4428" liked|strong="H5869" this|strong="H3651" suggestion, so|strong="H3651" he|strong="H0834" accepted it|strong="H3651".
5 Now|strong="H1961" there|strong="H1961" was|strong="H8034" a|strong="H1961" Jew|strong="H3064" from|strong="H0376" the|strong="H1961" tribe of|strong="H1121" Benjamin named|strong="H8034" Mordecai|strong="H4782". Mordecai|strong="H4782" was|strong="H8034" the|strong="H1961" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Jair|strong="H2971", and|strong="H1121" Jair|strong="H2971" was|strong="H8034" the|strong="H1961" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Shimei|strong="H8096", and|strong="H1121" Shimei|strong="H8096" was|strong="H8034" the|strong="H1961" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Kish|strong="H7027". Mordecai|strong="H4782" was|strong="H8034" in|strong="H0376" the|strong="H1961" capital city, Susa|strong="H7800".
6 Mordecai had|strong="H0834" been|strong="H0834" carried|strong="H1540" into|strong="H1540" captivity|strong="H1540" from|strong="H1540" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" by|strong="H3389" King|strong="H4428" Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019" of|strong="H4428" Babylon|strong="H0894". He|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" with|strong="H5973" the|strong="H0834" group that|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" taken|strong="H1540" into|strong="H1540" captivity|strong="H1540" with|strong="H5973" King|strong="H4428" Jehoiachin|strong="H3204" of|strong="H4428" Judah|strong="H3063".
7 Mordecai|strong="H4782" had|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" cousin named Hadassah|strong="H1919". She|strong="H1931" didn’t have|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" father|strong="H0001" or|strong="H0369" a|strong="H1961" mother|strong="H0517", so|strong="H3947" Mordecai|strong="H4782" took|strong="H3947" care of|strong="H1323" her|strong="H3947". Mordecai|strong="H4782" had|strong="H1961" adopted her|strong="H3947" as|strong="H1961" his|strong="H3947" own|strong="H1961" daughter|strong="H1323" when|strong="H3588" her|strong="H3947" father|strong="H0001" and|strong="H0001" mother|strong="H0517" died|strong="H4194". Hadassah|strong="H1919" was|strong="H0369" also|strong="H0853" called Esther|strong="H0635". She|strong="H1931" had|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" very pretty face|strong="H4758" and|strong="H0001" a|strong="H1961" good|strong="H2896" figure|strong="H8389".
8 When|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0413" king’s|strong="H4428" command|strong="H1697" had|strong="H1961" been|strong="H1961" heard|strong="H8085", many|strong="H7227" young|strong="H5291" women|strong="H0802" were|strong="H1961" brought|strong="H3947" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0413" capital city of|strong="H4428" Susa|strong="H7800". They|strong="H3027" were|strong="H1961" put|strong="H3947" under|strong="H3027" the|strong="H0413" care|strong="H3027" of|strong="H4428" Hegai|strong="H1896". Esther|strong="H0635" was|strong="H1961" one|strong="H0802" of|strong="H4428" these|strong="H3947" women|strong="H0802". She|strong="H0635" was|strong="H1961" taken|strong="H3947" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0413" king’s|strong="H4428" palace|strong="H1004" and|strong="H3027" put|strong="H3947" into|strong="H0413" Hegai’s care|strong="H3027". Hegai|strong="H1896" was|strong="H1961" in|strong="H0413" charge|strong="H3027" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0413" king’s|strong="H4428" women|strong="H0802".
9 He|strong="H5414" liked|strong="H5869" Esther. She|strong="H2896" became|strong="H7200" his|strong="H5414" favorite, so|strong="H5414" he|strong="H5414" quickly|strong="H0926" gave|strong="H5414" Esther beauty treatments and|strong="H4428" special food|strong="H4490". He|strong="H5414" chose|strong="H5375" seven|strong="H7651" slave women|strong="H0802" from|strong="H6440" the|strong="H0853" king’s|strong="H4428" palace|strong="H1004" and|strong="H4428" gave|strong="H5414" them|strong="H5414" to|strong="H5414" Esther. Then|strong="H0853" he|strong="H5414" moved Esther and|strong="H4428" her|strong="H0802" seven|strong="H7651" women|strong="H0802" servants into|strong="H5414" the|strong="H0853" best|strong="H2896" place|strong="H5414" where|strong="H1004" the|strong="H0853" king’s|strong="H4428" women|strong="H0802" lived.
10 Esther|strong="H0635" didn’t|strong="H3808" tell|strong="H5046" anyone|strong="H3588" she|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" a|strong="H3588" Jew. She|strong="H0834" didn’t|strong="H3808" tell|strong="H5046" anyone|strong="H3588" about|strong="H5921" her|strong="H5046" family background, because|strong="H3588" Mordecai|strong="H4782" had|strong="H0834" told|strong="H5046" her|strong="H5046" not|strong="H3808" to|strong="H5921".
11 Every|strong="H3605" day|strong="H3117" Mordecai|strong="H4782" walked|strong="H1980" back|strong="H1980" and|strong="H1980" forth|strong="H3045" near|strong="H6440" the|strong="H3605" area where|strong="H4100" the|strong="H3605" king’s women|strong="H0802" lived. He|strong="H3117" did|strong="H6213" this|strong="H3117" because|strong="H6440" he|strong="H3117" wanted to|strong="H1980" find|strong="H3045" out|strong="H3045" how|strong="H4100" Esther|strong="H0635" was|strong="H0802", and|strong="H1980" what|strong="H4100" was|strong="H0802" happening to|strong="H1980" her|strong="H3605".
12 Before|strong="H0413" a|strong="H1961" young|strong="H5291" woman|strong="H0802" could take|strong="H1961" her|strong="H0413" turn|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0413" go|strong="H0935" in|strong="H0935" before|strong="H0413" King|strong="H4428" Xerxes, she|strong="H3588" had|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0413" complete|strong="H4390" twelve|strong="H6240" months|strong="H2320" of|strong="H4428" beauty treatments—six|strong="H8337" months|strong="H2320" with|strong="H4390" oil|strong="H8081" of|strong="H4428" myrrh|strong="H4753" and|strong="H0935" six|strong="H8337" months|strong="H2320" with|strong="H4390" perfumes and|strong="H0935" cosmetics|strong="H8562".
13 When|strong="H0834" her|strong="H3605" time|strong="H5704" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" go|strong="H0935" in|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428", she|strong="H0834" could|strong="H2088" choose to|strong="H0413" wear or|strong="H5704" take|strong="H0935" whatever|strong="H0834" she|strong="H0834" wanted from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" women’s living area.
14 In|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3588" evening|strong="H6153" the|strong="H3588" young woman|strong="H0802" would|strong="H4428" go|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3588" king’s|strong="H4428" palace|strong="H1004". And|strong="H0935" in|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3588" morning|strong="H1242" she|strong="H1931" would|strong="H4428" return|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" another|strong="H8145" area where|strong="H3808" the|strong="H3588" king’s|strong="H4428" women|strong="H0802" lived. Then|strong="H0935" she|strong="H1931" would|strong="H4428" be|strong="H5750" placed under|strong="H3027" the|strong="H3588" care|strong="H3027" of|strong="H4428" a|strong="H3588" man named|strong="H8034" Shaashgaz|strong="H8190". He|strong="H1931" was|strong="H8034" the|strong="H3588" king’s|strong="H4428" eunuch|strong="H5631" in|strong="H0935" charge|strong="H3027" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3588" slave women|strong="H0802". She|strong="H1931" would|strong="H4428" not|strong="H3808" go|strong="H0935" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3588" king|strong="H4428" again|strong="H5750" unless|strong="H0518" he|strong="H1931" was|strong="H8034" pleased|strong="H2654" with|strong="H0413" her|strong="H0413". Then|strong="H0935" he|strong="H1931" would|strong="H4428" call|strong="H7121" her|strong="H0413" by|strong="H3027" name|strong="H8034" to|strong="H0413" come|strong="H0935" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413".
15 The|strong="H3605" time|strong="H1961" came|strong="H0935" for|strong="H3588" Esther|strong="H0635" to|strong="H0413" go|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428". She|strong="H0834" was|strong="H1961" the|strong="H3605" one|strong="H3605" Mordecai|strong="H4782" had|strong="H0834" adopted, the|strong="H3605" daughter|strong="H1323" of|strong="H4428" his|strong="H3605" uncle|strong="H1730" Abihail|strong="H0032". All|strong="H3605" she|strong="H0834" wanted|strong="H1245" to|strong="H0413" take|strong="H3947" with|strong="H0413" her|strong="H3605" was|strong="H1961" what|strong="H0834" Hegai|strong="H1896", the|strong="H3605" king’s|strong="H4428" officer|strong="H5631" in|strong="H0935" charge|strong="H8104" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" women|strong="H0802", suggested. Everyone|strong="H3605" who|strong="H0834" saw|strong="H7200" Esther|strong="H0635" liked|strong="H5869" her|strong="H3605".
16 So|strong="H3947" Esther|strong="H0635" was|strong="H1931" taken|strong="H3947" to|strong="H0413" King|strong="H4428" Xerxes in|strong="H8141" the|strong="H0413" palace|strong="H1004". This|strong="H1931" happened in|strong="H8141" the|strong="H0413" tenth|strong="H6224" month|strong="H2320", the|strong="H0413" month|strong="H2320" of|strong="H4428" Tebeth|strong="H2887", in|strong="H8141" the|strong="H0413" seventh|strong="H7651" year|strong="H8141" of|strong="H4428" his|strong="H3947" rule|strong="H4438".
17 The|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" loved|strong="H0157" Esther|strong="H0635" more than|strong="H4428" any|strong="H3605" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" other|strong="H3605" young women|strong="H0802", and|strong="H4428" she|strong="H0635" became|strong="H4427" his|strong="H3605" favorite. He|strong="H0853" approved of|strong="H4428" her|strong="H3605" more than|strong="H4428" any|strong="H3605" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" others. So|strong="H5375" King|strong="H4428" Xerxes put|strong="H7760" a|strong="H7760" crown|strong="H3804" on|strong="H8478" Esther’s|strong="H0635" head|strong="H7218" and|strong="H4428" made|strong="H7760" her|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" new queen in|strong="H4428" place|strong="H8478" of|strong="H4428" Vashti|strong="H2060".
18 And|strong="H3027" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" gave|strong="H5414" a|strong="H5414" big party for|strong="H3027" Esther|strong="H0635". It|strong="H5414" was|strong="H4428" for|strong="H3027" all|strong="H3605" his|strong="H3605" important|strong="H1419" people and|strong="H3027" leaders|strong="H8269". He|strong="H6213" announced a|strong="H5414" festival in|strong="H4428" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" provinces|strong="H4082" and|strong="H3027" sent|strong="H5414" out|strong="H3605" gifts|strong="H4864" to|strong="H5414" people, because|strong="H3027" he|strong="H6213" was|strong="H4428" a|strong="H5414" generous king|strong="H4428".
19 Mordecai|strong="H4782" was|strong="H4428" sitting|strong="H3427" next|strong="H8145" to|strong="H4428" the|strong="H6908" king’s|strong="H4428" gate|strong="H8179" at|strong="H3427" the|strong="H6908" time|strong="H8145" the|strong="H6908" young women|strong="H1330" were|strong="H3427" gathered|strong="H6908" together|strong="H6908" the|strong="H6908" second|strong="H8145" time|strong="H8145".
20 Esther|strong="H0635" had|strong="H0834" still kept|strong="H6213" it|strong="H5921" a|strong="H1961" secret that|strong="H0834" she|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0369" a|strong="H1961" Jew. She|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" not|strong="H0369" told|strong="H5046" anyone|strong="H0834" about|strong="H1961" her|strong="H5046" family background. This|strong="H0834" is|strong="H0369" what|strong="H0834" Mordecai|strong="H4782" had|strong="H0834" told|strong="H5046" her|strong="H5046" to|strong="H1961" do|strong="H6213". She|strong="H0834" still obeyed Mordecai|strong="H4782" just|strong="H0834" as|strong="H0834" she|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" done|strong="H6213" when|strong="H1961" he|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0369" taking care|strong="H0545" of|strong="H5921" her|strong="H5046".
21 During|strong="H3117" the|strong="H3117" time|strong="H3117" Mordecai|strong="H4782" was|strong="H4428" sitting|strong="H3427" next|strong="H3027" to|strong="H7971" the|strong="H3117" king’s|strong="H4428" gate|strong="H8179", this|strong="H3117" happened: Bigthana|strong="H0904" and|strong="H3027" Teresh|strong="H8657", two|strong="H8147" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3117" king’s|strong="H4428" officers|strong="H5631" who|strong="H3427" guarded|strong="H8104" the|strong="H3117" doorway, became|strong="H7107" angry|strong="H7107" with|strong="H3027" the|strong="H3117" king|strong="H4428". They|strong="H1992" began to|strong="H7971" make|strong="H3027" plans to|strong="H7971" kill King|strong="H4428" Xerxes.
22 But|strong="H4428" Mordecai|strong="H4782" learned|strong="H3045" about|strong="H1697" these plans and|strong="H4428" told|strong="H5046" Queen|strong="H4436" Esther|strong="H0635". Then|strong="H0559" she|strong="H0635" told|strong="H5046" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428". She|strong="H0635" also|strong="H4428" told|strong="H5046" him|strong="H5046" that|strong="H3045" Mordecai|strong="H4782" was|strong="H8034" the|strong="H0559" one|strong="H1697" who|strong="H4428" had|strong="H4428" learned|strong="H3045" about|strong="H1697" the|strong="H0559" evil plan|strong="H1697".
23 Then|strong="H4428" the|strong="H6440" report|strong="H1697" was|strong="H4428" checked out|strong="H6440". It|strong="H5921" was|strong="H4428" learned that|strong="H3117" Mordecai’s report|strong="H1697" was|strong="H4428" true. The|strong="H6440" two|strong="H8147" guards who|strong="H4428" had|strong="H4428" planned to|strong="H5921" kill the|strong="H6440" king|strong="H4428" were|strong="H3117" hanged|strong="H8518" on|strong="H5921" a|strong="H4672" post. All|strong="H3117" these things|strong="H1697" were|strong="H3117" written|strong="H3789" down|strong="H3789" in|strong="H5921" a|strong="H4672" book|strong="H5612" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H6440" king’s|strong="H4428" histories in|strong="H5921" front|strong="H6440" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H6440" king|strong="H4428".