7 He had brought up Hadassah (or Esther),2:7. Hadassah was her Hebrew name, Esther her Persian name. his uncle’s daughter, because she had no father or mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was very attractive. After her father and mother died, Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter.
17 The king loved Esther more than all the other women. He treated her more favorably and with greater kindness than all of the other virgins. So he placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
21 At that time, as Mordecai was doing his work at the palace gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two eunuchs who guarded the entrance to the king’s rooms, became furious with King Xerxes and looked for a way to assassinate him. 22 Mordecai found out about the plot and reported it to Queen Esther. Esther in turn told the king on Mordecai’s behalf. 23 When the plot was investigated and found to be true, both men were impaled on poles.2:23. Execution by impaling was the usual method, not by hanging with a noose. This was recorded in the official Book of Records by order of the king.