Hegai

1Later on, King Ahasuerus stopped being angry. He thought about Vashti again. He remembered what she did and what he had ordered done to her.

After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

NoteVashti was the king's queen before this. She had told the king no in front of his guests. He sent her away, and she could not be queen anymore.

2The men who served the king had an idea. They said, "Let us look for beautiful young women for the king."

Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:

3"Pick officers in every part of your kingdom. Let them bring the beautiful young women to the palace in Shushan. They will stay in the women's house. Hegai, the king's helper, will watch over them. Let the women be given beauty treatments."

And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:

NoteA kingdom this big was split into parts called provinces. Shushan was the city where the king had his palace. The women's house was a big home where the king's women lived. Beauty treatments were sweet oils and perfumes for skin and hair.

4"Then the young woman you like best can be queen instead of Vashti." The king liked this plan, so he did it.

And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

8The king's order was announced everywhere. Many young women were brought to the palace in Shushan for Hegai to care for. Esther was taken to the king's house too. She was put in Hegai's care, since he watched over the women.

So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

9Hegai liked Esther and was kind to her. He quickly gave her beauty treatments and special food. He chose seven servant girls from the king's house to help her. He moved her and her helpers to the best rooms in the women's house.

And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.

10Esther did not tell anyone about her family or her people. Mordecai had told her to keep it a secret.

Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.

11Every day Mordecai walked back and forth outside the women's house. He wanted to know if Esther was well and what was happening to her.

And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.

12Each young woman waited twelve months before her turn to see the king. That was the rule for beauty treatments. For six months she used oil of myrrh. For six more months she used sweet perfumes and other things.

Now when every maid’s turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)

NoteMyrrh is a sticky sap that comes out of a tree. It smells sweet. People mixed it into oil and rubbed it on their skin.

13Then each young woman went to the king. She could take with her anything she asked for from the women's house.

Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king’s house.

14She went in the evening. In the morning she went to a second house for the king's women. Shaashgaz, the king's helper, took care of them there. She did not go back to the king unless he was pleased with her. He had to ask for her by name.

In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.

NoteKings in those days had many wives. A woman brought to the palace stayed there for the rest of her life.

15Then it was Esther's turn to go to the king. She was the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, who had raised her as his own. She asked for nothing except what Hegai told her to take. Everyone who saw Esther liked her.

Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

16Esther was brought to King Ahasuerus in his royal house. It was the tenth month, called Tebeth. It was the seventh year of the king's rule.

So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

NoteTebeth was a month in the Jewish year. It came at about the same time as our December and January.

17The king loved Esther more than all the other women. He liked her more than any of the others. So he put the royal crown on her head. He made her queen instead of Vashti.

And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

18Then the king held a big feast for all his leaders and servants. He called it Esther's feast. He also let the provinces pay less tax. And he gave out gifts, as a rich king would.

Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.

NoteTax is money people must give to the king or the government. Letting them pay less was a gift to celebrate.