Esther 2:8-13

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

⁸ When the king’s order and his edict were proclaimed and when many young women were gathered in the citadel of Susa in custody of Hegai, Esther was taken into the king’s palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women.^{(A) 9} The young woman pleased him and won his favor, and he quickly provided her with her cosmetic treatments and her portion of food and with seven chosen maids from the king’s palace, and he advanced her and her maids to the best place in the harem.^{(B) 10} Esther did not reveal her people or kindred, for Mordecai had charged her not to tell.^{(C) 11} Every day Mordecai would walk back and forth in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and how she fared.

¹² The turn came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months under the regulations for the women, since this was the regular period of their cosmetic treatment: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes and cosmetics for women. ¹³ When the young woman went in to the king, she was given whatever she asked for to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace.