Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this {is} Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, {over} an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)

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;)

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.

In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of {their} tinkling ornaments {about their feet}, and {their} cauls, and {their} round tires like the moon, {cauls: or, networks}

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. {such...: Heb. her portions} {preferred: Heb. changed}

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.

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.

And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.

Then {wrote} Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, {and} the Elamites, {companions: Chaldee, societies}

{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;

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.

{That} in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which {was} in Shushan the palace,

{So} the posts that rode upon mules {and} camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.