Esther Chapter 2
So after all that chaos, once king Ahasuerus chilled out, he started thinking about Vashti and everything that happened with 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.
The king’s crew was like, “Ayo, let’s scope out some cute young ladies for the king.”
Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
So the king was like, “Have some peeps in each province round up all the fine young virgins to Shushan, to hang with Hege, the king’s women boss, and let’s set them up with purification vibes.”
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}: {unto the...: Heb. unto the hand} {Hege: also called, Hegai}
And whoever clicks with the king gets to be queen instead of Vashti. The king was totally vibing with that idea.
And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
In Shushan, there was a Jew named Mordecai, son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, straight from Benjamin.
{Now} in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name {was} Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
He was taken from Jerusalem during the whole captivity with Jeconiah, the king of Judah, by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.
Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. {Jeconiah: also called, Jehoiachin}
He raised Hadassah, aka Esther, his uncle’s kid, since she was orphaned and super cute; Mordecai brought her in like she was his own.
And he brought up Hadassah, that {is}, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid {was} fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. {brought...: Heb. nourished} {fair...: Heb. fair of form, and good of countenance}
So when the king’s orders spread out and all the girls were rounded up in Shushan, Esther got brought to the king’s spot, under Hege’s supervision.
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.
The girl clicked with him, and he showed her mad love; he quickly hooked her up with purification stuff and seven maidens to serve her, putting her in the prime spot in the women’s quarters.
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. {such...: Heb. her portions} {preferred: Heb. changed}
Esther kept her fam and roots on the low; Mordecai told her to keep it hush-hush.
Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew {it}.
Mordecai was out there daily by the women’s crib, checking on how Esther was handling things and what would go down with 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. {to know...: Heb. to know the peace}
When it was time for each girl to head into king Ahasuerus after twelve months of prep (six months with myrrh oil and six months with sweet aromas),
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;)
every chick came to the king, and whatever she wanted was given to her to take from the women’s crib to the king’s palace.
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.
In the evening she went in, and the next day she rolled back to the second women’s house, under Shaashgaz, the king’s concubine overseer; she didn’t see the king again unless he was really into her and called 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.
When it was Esther’s turn, daughter of Abihail, Mordecai’s uncle, she asked for nothing except what Hege, the women’s keeper, suggested. Esther was totally favored by everyone who saw 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.
So Esther was taken to king Ahasuerus’ royal crib in the tenth month, Tebeth, in the seventh year of his 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.
The king was all about Esther, more than any other girl; he gave her mad favor and grace, placing the royal crown on her head and making 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. {favour: or, kindness} {in his...: Heb. before him}
Then the king threw a huge party for all his homies and servants, even Esther’s feast; he made a release for the provinces and dished out gifts based on his royal flair.
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. {release: Heb. rest}
When the virgins gathered again, Mordecai was chilling at the king’s gate.
And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
Esther hadn’t spilled her fam or people yet, just as Mordecai told her to; she was sticking to his orders like back in the day.
Esther had not {yet} shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
While Mordecai was at the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, got mad and schemed against king Ahasuerus.
In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. {Bigthan: also called, Bigthana} {the door: Heb. the threshold}
Mordecai peeped the whole thing and told Esther, who let the king know in Mordecai’s name.
And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told {it} unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king {thereof} in Mordecai's name.
When they checked out the situation, it was confirmed, so they both got hanged on a tree; it was recorded in the chronicles before the king.
And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.