Ester 2
2
1After these things, when the wrath of king Achashverosh [I will be silent and poor] was appeased, he remembered Vashti [beautiful], and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
2Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
3And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan [lily] the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hegai [eunuch] the king’s Chamberlain (eunuch or chief servant; one in charge of the king’s quarters), keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given [them]:
4And let the virgin which pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti [beautiful]. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
5 [Now] in Shushan [lily] the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name [was] Mordekhai [little man], the son of Ya’ir [He Enlightens], the son of Shime’i [Fame], the son of Kish [bent], from the tribe of Binyamin [A Son of the Right Hand];
6Who had been carried away from Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace] with the captivity which had been carried away with Y’khanyahu [Yehovah will establish] king of Y’hudah [Let Him (God) Be Praised], whom N’vukhadnetzar the king of Bavel (to jumble, or a confused medley of sounds; confusion; gate of the deity) (Babylon) [confusion] had carried away.
7And he brought up Hadassah, that [is], Ester [star], his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid [was] fair and beautiful; whom Mordekhai [little man], when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
8So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan [lily] the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Ester [star] was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
9And the virgin 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.
10Ester [star] had not showed her people nor her family: for Mordekhai [little man] had charged her that she should not show [it].
11And Mordekhai [little man] walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Ester [star] did, and what should become of her.
12Now when every maid’s turn was come to go in to king Achashverosh [I will be silent and poor], after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, [that is to say], six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with [other] things for the purifying of the women;)
13Then thus came [every] virgin 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.
14In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Sha’ashgaz [servant of the beautiful], the king’s Chamberlain (eunuch or chief servant; one in charge of the king’s quarters), 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.
15Now when the turn of Ester [star], the daughter of Avichayil [Father of Strength] the uncle of Mordekhai [little man], who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s Chamberlain (eunuch or chief servant; one in charge of the king’s quarters), the keeper of the women, appointed. And Ester [star] obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
16So Ester [star] was taken unto king Achashverosh [I will be silent and poor] into his house royal in the tenth month, which [is] the month Tevet [goodness], in the seventh year of his reign.
17And the king loved Ester [star] 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 [beautiful].
18Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, [even] Ester [star]’s feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.
19And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordekhai [little man] sat in the king’s gate.
20Ester [star] had not [yet] showed her family nor her people; as Mordekhai [little man] had charged her: for Ester [star] did the commandment of Mordekhai [little man], like as when she was brought up with him.
21In those days, while Mordekhai [little man] sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigtan [in their winepress] and Teresh [strictness], of those which kept the door, were exceedingly angry, and sought to lay hand on the king Achashverosh [I will be silent and poor].
22And the thing was known to Mordekhai [little man], who told [it] unto Ester [star] the queen; and Ester [star] certified the king [thereof] in Mordekhai [little man]’s name.
23And 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.
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Ester 2: NMV
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