Esther 2:16-18

Expanded Bible

¹⁶ So Esther was taken to King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] in the royal ·palace [^Lhouse] in the tenth month [^Cearly winter], the month of Tebeth, during ·Xerxes’ [^LAhasuerus’s] seventh year ·as king [of his reign].

¹⁷ And the king ·was pleased with [loved] Esther more than with any of the other ·virgins [young women]. He liked her more than any of the ·others [other virgins], so he put a royal crown on her head and ·made [proclaimed; declared] her queen in place of Vashti. ¹⁸ Then the king gave a great banquet for Esther and invited all his ·important men [nobles; officials] and ·royal officers [ministers; servants]. He announced a holiday for all the ·empire [^Lprovinces] and ·had the government give away gifts [gave gifts with royal liberality/generosity].