Esther 2:16-18

International Standard Version

¹⁶ Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus to his royal palace in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

¹⁷ The king loved Esther more than any of the other women, so he favored her and was kinder to her than he was to any of the other virgins. He put the royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti. ¹⁸ The king put on a great banquet for all his officials and ministers^[a] to honor Esther. He declared a holiday for the provinces and gave generous gifts.^[b]