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'shouse.14
In the evening she went , and on the morrow she returned into the secondhouse of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king'schamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the kingdelighted 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 requirednothing but what Hegai the king'schamberlain, the keeper of the women,appointed . And Estherobtainedfavour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
16
So Esther was taken unto kingAhasuerus into his houseroyal in the tenthmonth, which is the monthTebeth, in the seventhyear of his reign.17
And the kinglovedEsther above all the women, and she obtainedgrace and favoura in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royalcrown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.18
Then the kingmade a greatfeast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther'sfeast; and he made a releaseb to the provinces, and gavegifts, according to the state of the king.19
And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecaisat in the king'sgate.20Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Estherdid the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
21
In those days, while Mordecaisat in the king'sgate,two of the king'schamberlains,Bigthanc and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth , and sought to layhand on the kingAhasuerus.22
And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esthercertified the king thereof in Mordecai'sname.23
And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out ; therefore they were bothhanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chroniclesbefore the king.
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