1
And after this the king's anger was pacified, and he no more mentioned Astin, bearing in mind what she had said, and how he had condemned her.
2
Then the servants of the king said, Let there be sought for the king chaste beautiful young virgins.
3
And let the king appoint local governors in all the provinces of his kingdom, and let them select fair chaste young damsels to the city Susa, into the women's apartment, and let them be consigned to the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women; and let things for purification and other attendance be given .
4
And let the woman who shall please the king be queen instead of Astin. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
5
Now there was a Jew in the city Susa, and his name was Mardochaeus, the of Jairus, of Semeias, of Cisaeus, of the tribe of Benjamin;
6
who had been brought a prisoner from Jerusalem, which Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried into captivity.
7
And he had a foster child, daughter of Aminadab his father's brother, and her name Esther; and when her parents were dead, he brought her up for a wife for himself: and the damsel was beautiful.
8
And because the king's ordinance was published, many damsels were gathered to the city Susa under the hand of Gai; and Esther was brought to Gai the keeper of the women.
9
And the damsel pleased him, and she found favour in his sight; and he hasted to give her the things for purification, and her portion, and the seven maidens appointed her out of the palace: and he treated her and her maidens well in the women's apartment.
10
But Esther discovered not her family nor her kindred: for Mardochaeus had charged her not to tell.