1 Some time later, when the anger of King Xerxeshad subsided, he remembered Vashtiand 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.
Esther Finds Favor
5 Now there was at the citadel of Susaa Jewish man from the tribe of Benjamin named Mordecaison of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish. 6 He had been carried into exile from Jerusalemby Nebuchadnezzarking of Babylonamong those taken captive with Jeconiah2:6 Jeconiah is a variant of Jehoiachin; see 2 Kings 24:12.king of Judah.
7 And Mordecaihad 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, Mordecaihad 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 Susaunder the care of Hegai. Estherwas 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 Estherdid not reveal her people or her lineage, because Mordecaihad instructed her not to do so. 11 And every day Mordecaiwould 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 harem2:14 Or to another part of the haremunder 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 Estherwas the daughter of Abihail, the uncle from whom Mordecaihad 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 Estherfound favor in the eyes of everyone who saw her.
16 She was taken to King Xerxesin the royal palace in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth,2:16 Tebeth is the tenth month of the Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of December and January.in the seventh year of his reign.
Esther Becomes Queen
17 And the king loved Esthermore 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, Mordecaiwas sitting at the king’s gate.2:19 Or Mordecai had become a palace official20 Estherstill had not revealed her lineage or her people, just as Mordecaihad instructed. She obeyed Mordecai’s command, as she had done under his care.
Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy
21 In those days, while Mordecaiwas sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan2:21 Bigthan is a variant of Bigthana; see Esther 6:2.and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, grew angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
22 When Mordecailearned 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 Chronicles2:23 Or the Book of the Annals or the Book of the Historical Eventsin the presence of the king.
Pessoa
H325
Ahasuerus
אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁachashəverosh
Ahasuerus, the king of Persia who reigned from India to Ethiopia, deposed Queen Vashti, made Esther queen, and at Esther’s request had Haman hanged (Esther 1:1).
Susa is the citadel where the Jew Mordecai lived, where the edict for the annihilation of the Jews was published, and where the Jews killed five hundred men (Esther 9:6).
Susa is the citadel where the Jew Mordecai lived, where the edict for the annihilation of the Jews was published, and where the Jews killed five hundred men (Esther 9:6).
Mordecai, a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin exiled in Susa, brought up his cousin Esther, refused to bow down to Haman, and helped deliver the Jews from annihilation (Esther 2:7).
Jerusalem is the city of the house of God, where children of Judah and Benjamin lived; the Babylonian army broke down the walls of the city (2 Kings 25:10).
Jehoiachin was king of Judah, son and successor of Jehoiakim; he reigned three months in Jerusalem and was taken prisoner to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. Years later, Evil-merodach king of Babylon freed Jehoiachin from prison (2 Kings 25:27).
Mordecai, a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin exiled in Susa, brought up his cousin Esther, refused to bow down to Haman, and helped deliver the Jews from annihilation (Esther 2:7).
Mordecai, a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin exiled in Susa, brought up his cousin Esther, refused to bow down to Haman, and helped deliver the Jews from annihilation (Esther 2:7).
Susa is the citadel where the Jew Mordecai lived, where the edict for the annihilation of the Jews was published, and where the Jews killed five hundred men (Esther 9:6).
Mordecai, a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin exiled in Susa, brought up his cousin Esther, refused to bow down to Haman, and helped deliver the Jews from annihilation (Esther 2:7).
Mordecai, a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin exiled in Susa, brought up his cousin Esther, refused to bow down to Haman, and helped deliver the Jews from annihilation (Esther 2:7).
Ahasuerus, the king of Persia who reigned from India to Ethiopia, deposed Queen Vashti, made Esther queen, and at Esther’s request had Haman hanged (Esther 1:1).
Mordecai, a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin exiled in Susa, brought up his cousin Esther, refused to bow down to Haman, and helped deliver the Jews from annihilation (Esther 2:7).
Ahasuerus, the king of Persia who reigned from India to Ethiopia, deposed Queen Vashti, made Esther queen, and at Esther’s request had Haman hanged (Esther 1:1).
Mordecai, a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin exiled in Susa, brought up his cousin Esther, refused to bow down to Haman, and helped deliver the Jews from annihilation (Esther 2:7).
Mordecai, a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin exiled in Susa, brought up his cousin Esther, refused to bow down to Haman, and helped deliver the Jews from annihilation (Esther 2:7).
Mordecai, a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin exiled in Susa, brought up his cousin Esther, refused to bow down to Haman, and helped deliver the Jews from annihilation (Esther 2:7).
Mordecai, a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin exiled in Susa, brought up his cousin Esther, refused to bow down to Haman, and helped deliver the Jews from annihilation (Esther 2:7).
Ahasuerus, the king of Persia who reigned from India to Ethiopia, deposed Queen Vashti, made Esther queen, and at Esther’s request had Haman hanged (Esther 1:1).
Mordecai, a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin exiled in Susa, brought up his cousin Esther, refused to bow down to Haman, and helped deliver the Jews from annihilation (Esther 2:7).
Mordecai, a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin exiled in Susa, brought up his cousin Esther, refused to bow down to Haman, and helped deliver the Jews from annihilation (Esther 2:7).