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15 Now Esther (star) was the daughter of Abihail (my father is might), the uncle from whom Mordecai (little man) had adopted her as his own daughter. And when it was her turn to go to the king, she did not ask for anything except what Hegai (eunuch), the king’s trusted official in charge of the harem, had advised. And Esther found favor in the eyes of everyone who saw her. 16 She (star) was taken to King Xerxes (I will be silent and poor) in the royal palace in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth (December and January), in the seventh year of his reign. 17 And the king loved Esther (star) more than all the other women, and she found grace and favor in his sight more than all of the other virgins. So he placed the royal crown upon her head and made her queen in place of Vashti (beautiful). 18 Then the king held a great banquet, Esther’s (star) banquet, for all his officials and servants. He proclaimed a tax holiday in the provinces and gave gifts worthy of the king’s bounty. 19 When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai (little man) was sitting at the king’s gate (Mordecai had become a palace official). 20 Esther (star) still had not revealed her lineage or her people, just as Mordecai (little man) had instructed. She obeyed Mordecai’s command, as she had done under his care. 21 In those days, while Mordecai (little man) was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan (Bigthana) and Teresh (strictness), two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, grew angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes (I will be silent and poor). 22 When Mordecai (little man) learned of the plot, he reported it to Queen Esther (star), and she informed the king on Mordecai’s behalf. 23 After the report had been investigated and verified, both officials were hanged on the gallows. And all this was recorded in the Book of the Chronicles (the Book of the Annals) in the presence of the king. Esther 2:15-23, Berean Annotated Bible. Public domain.
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