1   Later, when the anger of King Artaxerxes had died down, he remembered Astin and what she had done, and how he had given judgement against her. 2   So the king's attendants said: ‘Let beautiful girls of unblemished virtue be sought out for your majesty. 3   Let your

A Jewess becomes queen majesty appoint commissioners in all the provinces of the empire to select these beautiful virgins and bring them to the city of Susa, into the women's quarters. There let them be committed to the care of the king's eunuch in charge of the women, and let them be provided with cosmetics and everything else they need. 4   Then the one who is most acceptable to the king shall become queen in place of Astin.’ The advice pleased the king, and he acted on it.

5   Now there was a Jew in the city of Susa named Mardochaeus, son of Jairus, son of Semeius, son of Kisaeus, of the tribe of Benjamin; 6   he had been carried into exile from Jerusalem when it was taken by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. 7   He had a foster-child named Esther, the daughter of his father's brother Aminadab. She had lost her parents, and he had brought her up to womanhood. She was a very beautiful girl. 8   When the king's edict was proclaimed, many girls were brought to Susa to be entrusted to Gai, who had charge of the women, and among them was Esther. 9   She attracted his notice and received his special favour: he readily provided her with her cosmetics and allowance of food, and also with seven maids assigned to her from the king's palace. He gave her and her maids honourable treatment in the women's quarters.

10   Esther had not disclosed her race or country, because Mardochaeus had forbidden her to do so. 11   Every day Mardochaeus passed along by the forecourt of the women's quarters to keep an eye on Esther and see what would happen to her.

12   The period after which a girl was to go to the king was twelve months. This was for the completion of the required treatment—six months with oil and myrrh and six months with perfumes and cosmetics. 13   Then the girl went to the king. She was handed to the person appointed, and accompanied him from the women's quarters to the king's palace. 14   She entered the palace in the evening and returned in the morning to Gai, the king's eunuch in charge of the women, in another part of the women's quarters. She did not go to the king again unless summoned by name.

15   When the time came for Esther, daughter of Aminadab the uncle of Mardochaeus, to go to the king, she neglected none of the instructions of Gai the king's eunuch in charge of the women; for Esther charmed all who saw her. 16   She was taken to King Artaxerxes in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, in the seventh year of his reign. 17   The king fell in love with her, finding her more acceptable

A Jewess becomes queen than any of the other girls, and crowned her with the queen's diadem. 18   Then the king gave a banquet lasting seven days for all the King's Friends and the officers, to celebrate Esther's marriage. He also granted a remission of taxation to all subjects of his empire.

19    20   Mardochaeus was in attendance in the courtyard. But Esther had not disclosed her country—such were the instructions of Mardochaeus; but she was to fear God and keep his commandments just as she had done when she was with him. So Esther made no change in her way of life.

21   Two of the king's eunuchs, officers of the bodyguard, were offended at the advancement of Mardochaeus and plotted to kill King Artaxerxes. 22   This became known to Mardochaeus, who told Esther, and she revealed the plot to the king. 23   The king interrogated the two eunuchs and had them hanged, and he ordered that the service Mardochaeus had rendered should be recorded in the royal archives to his honour.

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