Esther 2:16-18

Contemporary English Version

^15-16Xerxes had been king for seven years when Esther's turn came to go to him during Tebeth,^[a] the tenth month of the year. Everyone liked Esther. The king's personal servant Hegai was in charge of the women, and Esther trusted Hegai and asked him what she ought to take with her.^[b]

¹⁷Xerxes liked Esther more than he did any of the other young women. None of them pleased him as much as she did, and he immediately fell in love with her and crowned her queen in place of Vashti. ¹⁸In honor of Esther he gave a big dinner for his leaders and officials. Then he declared a holiday^[c] everywhere in his kingdom and gave expensive gifts.

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Footnotes

2.15,16 Tebeth: The tenth month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-December to mid-January.
2.15,16 her: The Hebrew text adds, “Esther was the daughter of Abihail and was the cousin of Mordecai, who had adopted her after her parents died” (see verse 7).
2.18 holiday: The Hebrew expression refers to a certain amount of time when the people did not have to pay their regular taxes.