Esther 2:5-11
5Now there was at the citadel in Susa a Jew. And his name was aMordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, 6awho had been taken away into exile from Jerusalem with the exiles who had been taken away into exile with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had taken away into exile. 7And he was bringing up Hadassah, that is aEsther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had no father or mother. Now the young lady was beautiful in form and beautiful in appearance, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
Esther Advances in Favor
8Now it happened that when the word and law of the king were heard and amany young ladies were gathered to the citadel of Susa into the hand of bHegai, that Esther was taken to the king’s 1house into the hand of Hegai, who kept charge of the women. 9And the young lady was good in his eyes, and she advanced in lovingkindness before him. So he hurried to give her acosmetics and portions of food to her, and to give to her seven choice young women from the king’s 1house. And he transferred her and her young women to the best place in the harem. 10aEsther did not tell anyone about her people or her kinsmen, for Mordecai had commanded her that she should not tell anyone about them. 11And every day Mordecai walked back and forth in front of the court of the harem to know the well-being of Esther and 1how she fared.