2:1These things having been thus done, after the indignation of King Ahasuerus had cooled, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, or what she had suffered: and the king's servants and his ministers said: "Let girls be sought for the king, virgins and beautiful, and let men be sent to look through all the provinces for beautiful girls and virgins: and let them bring them to the city of Susa, and hand them over into the house of the women under the hand of Hegai the eunuch, who is the overseer and guardian of the royal women: and let them receive women's adornment, and the other things necessary for use.
2:4And whichever among them all pleases the eyes of the king, let her reign in place of Vashti." 2:4The word pleased the king: and he ordered it to be done just as they had suggested. 2:5There was a Jewish man in the city of Susa, Mordecai by name, son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, of the stock of Jemini, who had been carried away from Jerusalem at that time at which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away Jeconiah king of Judah, who was the foster-father of his brother's daughter Hadassah, who was called by another name Esther, and had lost both parents: very beautiful, and comely of face.
2:7And her father and mother having died, Mordecai adopted her for himself as a daughter. 2:8And when the king's command had spread abroad, and according to his order many beautiful virgins were being brought to Susa, and were being handed over to Hegai the eunuch, Esther too among the other girls was handed over to him, to be kept in the number of the women. 2:9She pleased him, and found favour in his sight. 2:9And he ordered the eunuch to hasten the women's adornment, and to give her her portions, and seven very beautiful girls from the king's house, and to adorn and refine both her and her maids. 2:10She would not reveal to him her people and her country: for Mordecai had instructed her to keep entirely silent about this matter: who walked about daily before the entrance of the house in which the chosen virgins were kept, taking care for the welfare of Esther, and wishing to know what was happening to her.
2:12But when the time had come for the girls, each in turn, to go in to the king, all the things having been completed which belonged to women's adornment, the twelfth month was turning: in such a way, namely, that for six months they were anointed with oil of myrrh, and for another six they used certain cosmetics and spices. 2:13And going in to the king, whatever they had asked for belonging to adornment, they received: and adorned as it had pleased them, they passed from the dining-room of the women to the king's bedchamber. 2:14And she who had gone in in the evening went out in the morning, and from there was led into the second house, which was under the hand of Shaashgaz the eunuch, who presided over the king's concubines: nor did she have the power of returning to the king any more, unless the king had wished it, and had ordered her by name to come.
2:15Now, the time having rolled on in order, the day was at hand on which Esther, daughter of Abihail, the brother of Mordecai, whom he had adopted for himself as a daughter, was to go in to the king. 2:15She did not seek women's adornment, but whatever Hegai the eunuch, the guardian of the virgins, wished, this he gave her for adornment. 2:15For she was very lovely, and of unbelievable beauty: she seemed gracious and lovable in the eyes of all. 2:16She was led therefore to the bedchamber of King Ahasuerus in the tenth month, which is called Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 2:17And the king loved her more than all the women, and she had favour and mercy before him above all the women: and he placed the diadem of the kingdom on her head, and made her reign in the place of Vashti.
2:18And he ordered a very magnificent banquet to be prepared for all his princes and servants for the union and wedding of Esther. 2:18And he gave rest to all the provinces, and lavished gifts according to princely magnificence. 2:19And when virgins were being sought a second time and gathered together, Mordecai was staying at the king's gate: not yet had Esther revealed her country and her people, according to his instruction. 2:20For whatever he instructed, Esther observed: and she did all things just as she had been accustomed at that time when he was bringing her up as a little girl. 2:21At that time therefore, at which Mordecai was lingering at the king's gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two eunuchs of the king, who were doorkeepers and presided at the first threshold of the palace, became angry: and they wished to rise up against the king, and kill him.
2:22This did not escape Mordecai, and at once he reported it to Queen Esther: and she to the king in the name of Mordecai, who had brought the matter to her. 2:23It was inquired into, and found out: and both of them were hanged on a gibbet. 2:23And it was committed to the histories, and handed down in the annals before the king.