Esther 2:16-18

Evangelical Heritage Version

¹⁶ Esther was taken to King Xerxes at the royal palace in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, during the seventh year^[a] of his reign.

¹⁷ The king loved Esther more than he loved all the other women. She won his favor and approval more than all the other virgins did. He placed the crown of the kingdom on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

¹⁸ The king gave a great banquet in honor of Esther for all his officials and administrators. He declared a tax holiday for the provinces and gave gifts as only the king could give.