Esther 2:16-18

New Catholic Bible

¹⁶ So, in the seventh year of his reign, in the tenth month, Tebeth,^[a] Esther was brought to King Ahasuerus in the royal palace.

¹⁷ The king loved Esther more than any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti. ¹⁸ Then the king gave a great banquet for all his nobles and administrators to honor Esther. He proclaimed a holiday^[b] throughout the provinces and gave gifts with royal liberality.