Chapter 2 After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was appeased,
he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what was decreed against her.
Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair
young virgins sought for the king, and let the king appoint officers in all
the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young
virgins unto Shushen, the palace, to the house of the women, unto the
custody of Hege, the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women, and let there things
for purification be given them, and let the maiden which pleaseth the king
be queen instead of Vashti.
And the thing pleased the king, and he did so.
Now in Shushen the palace there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai,
the son of Jea, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, who had been
carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with
Jeconiah, king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon,
had carried away.
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.
So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard,
and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace,
to the custody of Haggai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house,
to the custody of Haggai, keeper of the women.
And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him, and he speedily
gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her,
and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her out of the king's house.
And he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.
Esther had not showed her people nor her kindred, for Mordecai had charged her that
she should not show it.
And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how
Esther did, and what should become of her.
Now when every maid's turn was come to go into king Ahasuerus, after that she had
been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, for so were the days
of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh,
and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of
the women.
Then thus came every maiden unto the king.
Whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women,
unto the king's house.
In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the
women, to the custody of Shayashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the
concubines.
She came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her,
and that she were called by name.
Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihel, the uncle of Mordecai,
who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king,
she required nothing but what Haggai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the
women, appointed, and Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that
looked upon her.
So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month,
which is the month Tebith, in the seventh year of his reign.
And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour
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.
Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even
Esther's feast, and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts,
according to the state of the king.
And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai
sat in the king's gate.
Esther had not yet showed her kindred nor her people, as Mordecai had charged her.
For Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up
with him.
In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's
chamberlains, Bigthan and Tirish, of those which kept the door, were wroth
and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen,
and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.
And when inquisition was made of 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.