A search is made for a new queen, and Esther, a Jewish orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, is chosen, though she keeps her heritage secret. Mordecai uncovers a plot against the king and tells Esther, who reports it, and it is recorded.
1 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.
2 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king :
3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom , that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace , to the house of the women , unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain , keeper of the women ; and let their things for purification be given them:
4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti . And the thing pleased the king ; and he did so .
5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew , whose name was Mordecai , the son of Jair , the son of Shimei , the son of Kish , a Benjamite ;
6 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 .
7 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 .
8 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 Hegai , that Esther was brought also unto the king's house , to the custody of Hegai , keeper of the women .
9 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 .
10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred : for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house , to know how Esther did , and what should become of her.
12 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to 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 ;)
13 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 .
14 In the evening she went , and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women , to the custody of Shaashgaz , 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 .
15 Now when the turn of Esther , the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai , 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 , the keeper of the women , appointed . And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month , which is the month Tebeth , in the seventh year of his reign .
17 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 .
18 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 .
19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time , then Mordecai sat in the king's gate .
20 Esther had not yet shewed 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.
21 In those days , while Mordecai sat in the king's gate , two of the king's chamberlains , Bigthan and Teresh , of those which kept the door , were wroth , and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus .
22 And the thing was known to Mordecai , who told it unto Esther the queen ; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name .
23 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 .