Esther 2:3-11

3Let the kingH4428 appointH6485 overseersH6496 in 1allH3605 the provincesH4082 of his kingdomH4438 that they may gatherH6908 everyH3605 beautifulH2896 youngH5291 virginH1330 to the citadelH1002 of SusaH7800, to the haremH1004H802, into the custodyH3027 of 2HegaiH1896, the king’sH4428 eunuchH5631, who is in chargeH8104 of the womenH802; and 3let their cosmeticsH8562 be givenH5414 them. 4Then let the youngH5291 ladyH5291 whoH834 pleasesH3190H5869 the kingH4428 be queenH4427 in placeH8478 of VashtiH2060.” And the matterH1697 pleasedH3190H5869 the kingH4428, and he didH6213 accordinglyH3651.

5Now there was at the citadelH1002 in SusaH7800 a JewH3064 whose nameH8034 was 4MordecaiH4782, the sonH1121 of JairH2971, the sonH1121 of ShimeiH8096, the sonH1121 of KishH7027, a BenjamiteH376H3228, 65whoH834 had been takenH1540 into exileH1540 from JerusalemH3389 with the captivesH1473 whoH834 had been exiledH1540 with JeconiahH3204 kingH4428 of JudahH3063, whomH834 NebuchadnezzarH5019 the kingH4428 of BabylonH894 had exiledH1540. 7He was bringingH539 up HadassahH1919, that is 6EstherH635, his uncle’sH1730 daughterH1323, for she hadH369 noH369 fatherH1 orH369 motherH517. Now the youngH5291 ladyH5291 was beautifulH3303 of formH8389 and 7faceH4758, and when her fatherH1 and her motherH517 diedH4194, MordecaiH4782 tookH3947 her as his own daughterH1323.

8So it cameH1961 about when the commandH1697 and decreeH1881 of the kingH4428 were heardH8085 and 8manyH7227 youngH5291 ladiesH5291 were gatheredH6908 to the citadelH1002 of SusaH7800 into the custodyH3027 of 9HegaiH1896, that EstherH635 was takenH3947 to the king’sH4428 10palaceH1004 into the custodyH3027 of HegaiH1896, who was in chargeH8104 of the womenH802. 9Now the youngH5291 ladyH5291 pleasedH3190H5869 him and foundH5375 favorH2617 with him. So he quicklyH926 providedH5414 her with her 11cosmeticsH8562 and 12foodH4490, gaveH5414 her sevenH7651 choiceH7200 maidsH5291 from the king’sH4428 palaceH1004 and transferredH8132 her and her maidsH5291 to the bestH2896 place in the haremH1004H802. 1013EstherH635 did not makeH5046 knownH5046 her peopleH5971 or her kindredH4138, for MordecaiH4782 had instructedH6680 her that she should not makeH5046 them knownH5046. 11EveryH3605 dayH3117 MordecaiH4782 walkedH1980 backH1980 and forth in frontH6440 of the courtH2691 of the haremH1004H802 to learnH3045 howH7965 EstherH635 was and howH4100 she faredH6213.