Esther · Unlocked Literal Bible
Esther 2 Unlocked Literal Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 After these things, when the anger of King Ahasuerus subsided, he thought about Vashti and what she had done. He also thought about the decree that he had made against her.
1 After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
2 Then the king's young men who served him said, “Let a search be made on the king's behalf for beautiful young virgins.
2 Then the king’s servants who served him said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king.
3 Let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, to gather together all the beautiful young virgins to the harem in the fortress in Susa. Let them be put under the care of Hegai, the king's official, who is in charge of the women, and let him give them their cosmetics.
3 Let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins to the citadel of Susa, to the women’s house, to the custody of Hegai the king’s eunuch, keeper of the women. Let cosmetics be given them;
4 Let the young girl who pleases the king become queen in the place of Vashti.” This advice pleased the king, and he did so.
4 and let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” The thing pleased the king, and he did so.
5 There was a certain Jew in the fortress of Susa whose name was Mordecai son of Jair son of Shimei son of Kish, who was a Benjamite.
5 There was a certain Jew in the citadel of Susa whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,
6 He had been taken away from Jerusalem with the exiles along with those taken with Jehoiachin, king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylonia carried away.
6 who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
7 He was caring for Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter, because she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely in appearance. Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
7 He brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.
8 When the king's order and decree were proclaimed, many young women were brought to the fortress of Susa. They were put under Hegai's care. Esther also was taken into the king's palace and put under the care of Hegai, the overseer of the women.
8 So, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to the citadel of Susa, to the custody of Hegai, Esther was taken into the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
9 The young girl pleased him, and she found favor with him. Immediately he provided her with cosmetics and her portion of food. He assigned to her seven servant girls from the king's palace, and he moved her and the servant girls to the best place in the house of the women.
9 The maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness from him. He quickly gave her cosmetics and her portions of food, and the seven choice maidens who were to be given her out of the king’s house. He moved her and her maidens to the best place in the women’s house.
10 Esther had not told anyone who her people or relatives were, for Mordecai had instructed her not to tell.
10 Esther had not made known her people nor her relatives, because Mordecai had instructed her that she should not make it known.
11 Every day Mordecai walked back and forth in front of the courtyard outside the house of the women, to learn about Esther's welfare, and about what would be done with her.
11 Mordecai walked every day in front of the court of the women’s house, to find out how Esther was doing, and what would become of her.
12 When the turn came for each girl to go to King Ahasuerus—complying with the regulations for the women, each girl had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments, six months with oil of myrrh, and six with perfumes and cosmetics—
12 Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after her purification for twelve months (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet fragrances and with preparations for beautifying women).
13 when a young woman went to the king, whatever she desired was given to her from the house of the women, for her to take to the palace.
13 The young woman then came to the king like this: whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the women’s house to the king’s house.
14 In the evening she would go in, and in the morning she would return to the second house of the women, and to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's official, who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king again unless he had taken great pleasure in her and called for her again.
14 In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second women’s house, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who kept the concubines. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name.
15 Now when the time came for Esther (daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter) to go in to the king, she did not ask for anything but what Hegai the king's official, who was in charge of the women, suggested. Now Esther received the favor of all who saw her.
15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, came to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the keeper of the women, advised. Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her.
16 Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus into the royal residence on the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
16 So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus into his royal house in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17 The king loved Esther more than all the other women and she received acceptance and favor before him, more than all the other virgins. So he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
17 The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
18 The king gave a great feast for all his officials and his servants, “Esther's feast,” and he granted relief from taxation to the provinces. He also gave gifts with royal generosity.
18 Then the king made a great feast for all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces, and gave gifts according to the king’s bounty.
19 Now when the virgins had been gathered together a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate.
19 When the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate.
20 Esther had not yet told anyone about her relatives or her people, as Mordecai had instructed her. She continued to follow Mordecai's advice, as she had done when she was raised by him.
20 Esther had not yet made known her relatives nor her people, as Mordecai had commanded her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai, like she did when she was brought up by him.
21 In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, two of the king's officials, Bigthana and Teresh, who guarded the doorway, became angry and sought to do harm to King Ahasuerus.
21 In those days, while Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, who were doorkeepers, were angry, and sought to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus.
22 When the matter was revealed to Mordecai, he told Queen Esther, and Esther spoke to the king in the name of Mordecai.
22 This thing became known to Mordecai, who informed Esther the queen; and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name.
23 The report was investigated and confirmed, and both the men were hanged from a gallows. This account was written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.
23 When this matter was investigated, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the king’s presence.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Abihail
Mordecai’s uncle and the father of Esther, who had died, leaving Esther to be adopted by Mordecai.
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:15; Esther 9:29
Bigthan
With Teresh, a doorkeeping eunuch who conspired to assassinate Xerxes; Mordecai exposed the plot and both were hanged. (Esther 6:2 spells the name Bigthana.)
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:21; Esther 6:2
Esther
Hadassah, an orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, was made queen in place of Vashti; she risked her life to plead for her people, exposed Haman, and with Mordecai confirmed the…
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:7; Esther 2:17; Esther 5:2
Hegai
The king’s eunuch who oversaw the harem; he favored Esther, gave her beauty treatments and the best place, and advised her.
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:3; Esther 2:8; Esther 2:15
Jair
Named as the father of Mordecai and the son of Shimei.
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:5
Kish
Benjaminite named at the head of Mordecai’s ancestry; the text does not say whether he is Saul’s father.
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:5
Mordecai
Benjaminite of Susa, exiled with Jeconiah, who raised his cousin Esther, exposed the plot of Bigthan and Teresh, refused to bow to Haman, was honored by the king, and became…
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:5; Esther 2:22; Esther 3:2
Shaashgaz
The king’s eunuch over the second harem where women returned after their night with the king.
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:14
Shimei
Son of Kish and father of Jair in Mordecai’s ancestry; "son" may mean descendant.
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:5
Teresh
With Bigthan, a doorkeeping eunuch who conspired to assassinate Xerxes and was hanged after Mordecai reported the plot.
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:21; Esther 6:2
Xerxes
King who reigned over 127 provinces from Susa; he deposed Vashti, made Esther queen, honored Mordecai, hanged Haman and allowed the Jews to defend themselves. Ezra 4:6 mentions an…
Cited in the guide: Ezra 4:6; Esther 1:1; Esther 2:16
Cross references (22)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Esther 7:10; Daniel 6:14–18; Esther 1:12–21
- 2 1 Kings 1:2; Esther 6:14; Genesis 12:14; Esther 1:14; Esther 1:10
- 3 Esther 2:8–9; Esther 2:12–15; Esther 1:1–2; Isaiah 3:18–23
- 4 Matthew 14:6; Matthew 20:16; Matthew 22:14; Esther 3:9–10; 2 Samuel 17:4
- 5 2 Samuel 16:5; Esther 2:3; 1 Samuel 9:1; Esther 1:2; Esther 5:1
- 6 2 Kings 24:14–15; 2 Chronicles 36:20; Jeremiah 24:1; 2 Kings 24:6; Jeremiah 22:24
- 7 Esther 2:15; Esther 1:11; Ephesians 6:4; 2 Corinthians 6:18; 1 John 3:1
- 8 Esther 2:3; Esther 2:15
- 9 Genesis 39:21; Proverbs 16:7; Esther 2:12; Esther 2:3; Daniel 1:9
- 10 Esther 2:20; Matthew 10:16; Esther 3:8; Ephesians 6:1; Esther 4:13–14
- 11 Genesis 37:14; 1 Samuel 17:18; Acts 15:36; Esther 2:13–14
- 12 Proverbs 7:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:4–5; Isaiah 57:9; Song of Songs 3:6; Luke 7:37–38
- 14 Esther 4:11; Genesis 34:19; Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 45:4; Isaiah 62:4–5
- 15 Song of Songs 6:9; Esther 2:3; Esther 9:29; Acts 7:10; Song of Songs 8:10
- 16 Esther 8:9; Esther 2:3; Esther 2:1; Ezra 7:8
- 17 Psalm 113:7–8; Luke 1:48–52; Ezekiel 17:24; Psalm 75:6–7; 1 Samuel 2:8
- 18 Genesis 29:22; Judges 14:10–17; 1 Samuel 25:8; Matthew 22:2; Esther 1:3–5
- 19 Esther 2:21; Esther 2:3–4; Esther 3:2–3; Esther 5:13
- 20 Esther 2:10; Ephesians 6:1–3; Esther 2:7
- 21 Esther 6:2; 2 Kings 12:20; 2 Kings 21:23; 1 Kings 16:9; 2 Samuel 4:5–6
- 22 Esther 6:1–2; Acts 23:12–22; Romans 11:33; Philippians 2:4; Ecclesiastes 10:20
- 23 Genesis 40:19; Genesis 40:22; Esther 10:2; Joshua 8:29; Esther 5:14–6:2
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences